Pictures of trip to Californa and Nevada in July 2011

During the last half of August we were in California and Las Vegas. This picture is in Santa Monica, near the beach, but you know, palm trees are everywhere in LA.

This tree is in the yard of a friend in Yucca Valley. in the high desert where plants have a bit more difficulty growing than under a sprinkler in Santa Monica.

More space there than at home.

We rented a compact car and Avis provided us with a Mustang instead. I would never get one of those but it really liked to get photographed.

Before engaging with Las Vegas, we first dropped by at the Hoover Dam, so technically we were briefly in Arizona as well. This are the water inlet contraptions and the white band above the water level of Lake Mead shows how much the water level has gone down since the start of the dam.

Downstream side of the dam.

In front of the Paris hotel of Las Vegas

The fountain of the Bellagio.

Inside the hotel.

On our way to Death Valley we passed the Amargosa Opera House. It is so in the middle of nowhere that it is not even in Death Valley Park. We got the impression that the 'opera' troupe consists of one woman who has been owning and playing for several decades, alledgedly sometimes without anyone in the audience.

Along the descent into Death Valley.

The lowest point of Death Valley, and of North America, called badwater because of the saltiness of the water (that largely used to be) there.

A long road to Lone Pines, just East of the High Sierras.

On our way to Mammoth Lakes we passed some hot spring. In high school I learnt the lichens are the first to disappear with sulfur dioxide pollution but here you could smell the sulfur and the lichens seem to be doing fine. I suppose that it is largely in the form of hydrogen sulfide but I would think that at least some would oxidize.

One of the cable cars of Mammoth.

All in yo National Forest!

One of the spectacular waterfalls in Yosemite Park.

Next sights are from the Big Sur area.

Elephant seals near San Simeon

We also visited Hearst Castle. This is one of the guest houses.

The tour information advises visitors to imagine being one of the celebrity guests of Mr Hearst during the glory days of the estate. John took that advice quite seriously.

The last picture of this page is in Santa Barbara.