Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/07/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]A few weeks ago I returned from a three week trip to Southern California. While there, we went to the Mission Inn in Riverside with Margie's sister and brother-in-law and we were walking around outside and inside the inn. http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=898233 http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=898239 There was some sort of party going on in the street area. While wandering around, we found the spiral stairs but they were behind a glass door, and only inn guests could enter. Margie (my wife) and Alice walked a bit further, but I was trying to get a shot through the glass (http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=898259), when a lady who must have been runnng the street party walked up to the door and was going to enter. She asked if we had any questions about the stairs or the Inn, and Joe said no, but that I would like to get a good shot of them. She kind of looked, smiled and said she couldn't really let us in. She then started to open the door and said that if we followed her in, there was really nothing she could do about that. With a smile, she entered and we followed. She then said that perhaps we had better follow her to her office, as security was probably watching. Her office was just a few feet into the stair well, so we followed and as she opened her office door she gave us some history and told us about the symbols in the stairs. She bid us good-by and I got my shot of the stairs from the entry level. http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=898258 We then decided to climb the stairs. Margie and Alice had wandered back to the door while I was taking my photo, and Joe said he couldn't let them in, as security was watching. I would have let them in. They wandered off and we then wandered up the stairs, (http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=898256) to the penthouses and presidential suites that go for $1000 a night and spent about 45 minutes wandering all over that place. There is way more to that place than meets the eye. Lots of courtyards, levels, stairs, wallkways... Quite a place. Here are some shots that only the registered guests are privilaged to. http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=898244 http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=898241 http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=898245 http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=898263 http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=898248 http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=898250 http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=898238 We found our way out and then tried to find Margie and Alice. We looked for about 15 minutes and then we found them. Well, they were anything but pleased to see us. They had been walking around the outside in 100 degree heat for an hour looking for us. They verbially assulted us in the street and if they had been violent people, I am sure Joe and I would have ended up in the emergency room. Even swinging my heavy R8 would not have stopped them. Margie still won't look at these photos. And, as Paul Harvey would say, and that's the rest of the story. Aram This message is made of 100% recycled electrons. No new atoms were destroyed in making it. Aram Langhans Science Teacher, Naches High School 101 W. 5th. St / P. O. Box 159 Naches, WA 98937 "Science Rules" - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html