Meeting up with my Friend in San Jose - USA-

Catching up with my old friend in San Jose was such a delightful experience; it's been over 30 years since we last saw each other in Japan, so I couldn't wait to see her again! San Jose is known as a tech town in Silicon Valley, where prestigious IT companies are located alongside shops and galleries open to the public.

1. A Silicon Valley tour.

We started our tour at Intel, where we explored a hands-on company history museum associated with the main building. One highlight was a comic foreground featuring the factory uniform, which was quite fun to see!

Next, we visited Google. The place looked like a university, with vast fields, parks, hills, and pathways adorned with art pieces, so we never got bored. One thing we found disappointing was that the small shop selling their products and the café next to it were the only areas open to the public. I’ve heard there used to be more spots for visitors to enter, but that’s no longer the case due to confidentiality policies I guess. The photo on the bottom right shows their head office, with its iconic organic-shaped roof, and the left side captures the colorful bicycles provided for employees. My favorite art piece was a bear made of pennies to mimic fur. The heaps of copper coins stuck in its body made the coat look incredibly realistic.

The last spot we visited was Stanford University. Wow, I felt smarter just walking around the campus! The academic vibe was palpable, with displays of award-winning students framed on the walls. I was also amazed at the women’s restroom, which was spotless and featured beautifully designed toiletries.

2. Cathedral Basiliaca of St. Joseph.

I have never felt such empathy for any cathedral before. This church has been destroyed three times—twice by earthquakes and once by fire. However, the beautiful structure has been reconstructed and serves the local community. We were fortunate to catch a free guided tour during our visit, where the guide navigated us through each section and explained the history in English.

3. The pink salt ponds.

Located within Alviso Marina County Park, part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the reddish-pink color of the salt ponds is truly unique. We enjoyed exploring the park's trails and boardwalks and even spotted some birds and squirrels crossing our path!