California Academy of Sciences

This place frankly is amazing, ten years and 500 million in the making. The Result? Sustainable architecture, forward thinking, the greenest museum on the planet.

From there site (as frankly I'm pretty much speechless) "The Academy is now the largest public Platinum-rated building in the world, and also the world’s greenest museum. The Academy earned the platinum rating (highest rating possible) for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). This commitment to sustainability extends to all facets of the facility - from the bike racks and rechargeable vehicle stations outside the building to the radiant sub-floor heating inside the building to the energy-generating solar panels on top of the building! "

Go on line and check out the building, and do the tour.. seriously. The Aquarium is the best I have seen ever. Full stop. (sorry GBRMPA).

Anyway we took young madeleine and she completely loved it. Here are some snaps of the day.

Rainforest dome




The rainforest (base drops through into the tunnel of the aquarium)


(you can see people below)


Miss madeleine


How could you ever want to leave this face? sniff





dressed by auntie jaja / kiki / ja - ki / gaga (frankly I dont care!)


With her mummy



Completely fascinated by the leaf lizard





See below for more images from the aquarium and swamp!

California Academy of Sciences

The tunnel


view up

Tor and Maddie

View of tank
Reef talk

Cool fish eye
Diver Dan
The wave educational centre
Reef Tank
Eeeeeellls!!
Frogs!
Jelly Fish
Gators
The Albino Alligator after feeding
Albino from Above
Picture of the living roof

La La Land

We spent 48 hours in LA and had an absolute ball, whilst it wasnt the kind of place either of us could ever imagine living full time, we loved the hedonistic lifestyle - just for a little while.

Here are some images from the Getty Museum - which is free - a fact that still blows me away.

After lunch we hit west hollywood for lunch and a spot of shopping, then back to Santa Monica for after noon swims and cocktails by the pool.

What followed was perhaps the best Appletini AND the best meal I have ever had - it beats French Laundry hands down. Then of course we hit the bars for a spot of River dance (thanks mon-si)

My gawd-dorta is just divine but those pix will be on FerryPhoto, along with all other images.. and yes there are many!

Enjoy.

More of the Getty

Every part of the Getty is gorgeous - inside and out. The whole place has been designed perfectly- from the colour of the trees and layout to the soft marble (travertine) against the aluminium.



Whilst I was completely distracted by how wonderful and playful and happy maddie is - Simon took my baby for a spin. He shot these (under my close instruction) but on the Creative mode instead of the normal point and shoot.

LA


Tors and I


Me teaching (ie bossing/instructing) Simon what to shoot next.

"The Sky, the corner of the building, the curve of the next building, and the staircases.."

The Getty

Tori has written a far better entry than I could ever do (so go to the jefferson file), and also has some of my pictures up - so I have attempted to put other ones up to save duplication, here are some from the getty.

The Jeffersons with LA in the back ground



One of the most amazing buildings I have ever seen.. and its free entry (Larry!!)


Guess Who??

eating again..

The sculpture building

The cactus Garden with LA (in smog) in the back ground.


The jeffersons



with gorgeous mama


happy happy happy


wouldnt you love parents like this??

Burlesque Dancers At the Spindle Sideshow