Google HQ - Friday 22nd November

Prepare to be WOWed at Google HQ!  Check out The Internship, it's exactly like that!  "Home" to 15,000 people as they go about their daily grind, having fun, being innovative, creating the stuff of movies, Google Glass, driver-less cars... I sound like a TV ad now, but I confess, I was at least a little impressed...

Google HQ, Mountain View, Silicon Valley

Reception and "That" Dance Floor! 

(That's me, the short one, second from left)

Check out the steps with the LED lighting indicating top down, up to the minute, the most popular search on Google right now... When we arrived, it was the 50th anniversary of JFK's assassination in Dallas, no prizes for guessing what the top searches were that day 

(JFK was rather ignominiously replaced by Miley Cyrus by our return on Monday!)

 Fancy a game of Crazy Golf?

 Or prefer to check out Google Earth???

Pause as we all hail Android

 Perhaps a cycle around the campus on one of the 10,000 bikes dotted around the place?

A slide down the slide?  Go on... you know you want to!

Lunch at Charlie's?  Founded by Charlie Ayer's, executive chef 

formerly known as the chef to the stars, servicing the dietary needs of the Grateful Dead

 

Stuff to see, wherever you look!

Virgin Galactic, prototype

... or shop on campus for those special little gifts...

 Take your dog to work? Sure, not a problem!

Looks fun?  Sure was, lots of WOW factor but honestly, we did do some work too!   No my team back in Bris-Vegas don't believe me either, but we were fortunate to have personalised presentations from Alberto Savoia, who calls himself an Innovation Expert but who is so much more and Mike Yapp (Director @ The Zoo, a Google creative team) as well as several others equally worthy of note.

But finally, back to San Fran and dinner at One Market

On Monday, we head back to Google, with an opportunity to check out Google Glass... check back in for more great pics... but first we have our hop-on/hop-off bus tour on Saturday as well as wine tasting in the Napa Valley to look forward to .... exhausting!

San Francisco - Arrival!

Well, this is it!! We have arrived... home for the next few days, The Westin St Francis, Union Square San Francisco! 

The Westin Hotel, Union Square, San Francisco

A room with a view!  The Westin

Day 1, a business meeting then, quick, get changed, lets go sight seeing...

Hop on the tram down to Fisherman's Wharf

Pop into Ghirardelli's Chocolate Factory en route

Check out the seals at Pier 39

Alcatraz in the setting sun

Back to base in Union Square, ice skating anyone?

Macy's Xmas tree, Union Square

... and tomorrow??? Off to Google HQ!

San Francisco - look out!

This is it - my first trip to the US!!! I am heading out on a business trip to San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Google Headquarters.... more to come.... watch this space, lets hope for some awesome pics!

Riverfire ...

Words can't describe the fun of the fireworks... a 30 minute spectacular as bridge and city light up...

If you would like to see some additional pics, they can be viewed on my Flickr account, here 

Brisbane RiverFire - Precursor

So, if you plan to come to Brisbane, try and visit in September and be sure to catch our river festival.  The festival always culminates in the biggest and best firework display ever ... here are a few shots to keep us entertained as we wait for the main event... we are lucky, this is the view from our balcony!

As many as 500,000 people descend on Brisbane to watch and our military (RAAF) put on a spectacular show throughout the afternoon to keep the crowds entertained and far from bored...

Super Hornets do a flypast .... weaving their way through city buildings ... the power and the noise defy description ...

Helicopters thrill the crowds as they sweep and turn around the river ... hovering ... the wind from their blades sweeping across the crowds ...

a final flypast from the Hornets before the main event ... when the city lights up and the crowds stand agog awaiting the wondrous performance of fireworks and lights ....

What? Never been to Sydney?

What the?   I can't believe you haven't checked out Sydney yet!  Let me share some pics with you so you can see what you are missing!!!!

 

Sydney Harbour, with its Harbour Bridge, reminiscent of a coathanger.

If you are super fit, why not take a walk and climb to the top?










Then of course, is our ever familiar and iconic Sydney Opera House ... unique and instantly recognisable.

Linger awhile at The Rocks, full of historic buildings and home to many great restaurants?

A great place for dinner or people watching ... you never know who you might meet, just ask our very own Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark ... future Queen of Denmark ...

.... and stay awhile in history as you consider how it was before and after the arrival of The First Fleet ...

Catch the best snaps from here to post on Facebook and make your friends jealous!

...  nearby?


Cruise ships dwarf our Opera House....

Why not take time out from exploring, have lunch and check out a bar at Darling Harbour ...

... or catch a ferry from Circular Quay to one of the many beautiful beaches on the North Shore ...

Manly Beach

Hungry for more?

.... Visit www.sydney.com.au/sites

Check out Hugh Jackman's guide to Sydney on TripAdvisor

What about movie locations? Remember The Matrix? Tom Cruise in MI:2?   Click here for more information and more great places to see...