Whenever I travel, even when it is to go back home to the Bay Area, I like to throw some mini adventures into my bigger adventure. My friend, Chris, who I have known since I was 6 or 7, has a delightful stepdaughter named Lucy. She is the same age as my daughter, Mollie. Lucy was off school for spring break also, so Mollie and I picked her up and took her with us.
I call them adventures, because I do not plan them. I open up my mind and just go where the mood takes me. This time, I thought it would be fun to explore this beautiful old hotel…
It is called the Claremont, and it is located in the North of Berkeley, only a few miles from my mom’s house.
For whatever reason, I have only been inside this place once in my life. When I was rather young, my parents took my three brothers and I there for a brunch. I barely remember it. But you can see this grand old building from miles away, nestled in the greenery of the hillside, and I have always planned on checking it out.
There is a stately majesty to old hotels. They make me think of an earlier time, and an America that is long gone.
We walked all around the place, even back behind where the dumpsters are, and we saw where all the workers hang out… it was sort of a behind-the-scenes, self-guided tour.
There was a faded glory to this remnant of the past, as if its best days were behind it, but it is struggling valiantly to remain in the present.
I hope it stays alive.
Of course we went inside. We found a balcony and enjoyed the view… you can make out Mollie and Lucy sitting on a comfy couch looking at San Francisco in the hazy distance… or maybe they were both texting people on their phones…
Funny how, on a day that is both hazy and foggy, San Francisco seems like a faded memory.
We wandered around inside for a while. The lobby wasn’t all that exciting, but there were some very expensive shops.
That was the beginning of our little adventure. I hope you join me later for the rest of it.
Pouring My Art Out 
And I also love beautiful works done on houses by men as well as beauty occurring in nature.
architecture is an art
I agree. And a pointer to the immaterial wonders bestowed upon humanity. That something beautiful could come from our warped minds.
It has been known to happen
Indeed it has.
ha
Yup
whee
That is one of those places that makes you feel like you have stepped back in time. It is glorious. The imagination is running wild thinking of what went on there in its heyday.
don’t get too carried away with that line of thought…
Goodness… just breathtaking.
You are in a complimentary mood today
I love those pictures…. we are craving sunshine.
We are keeping it safe for you
We have some right now…. but got snow yesterday. It had all melted off my deck, all of it. Now it’s covered again.
Winter is a cruel mistress
She’s a fickle bitch, to be honest.
I can see how you would feel that way
Very nice! I think that I need some adventure in my life! In Edmonton, just 4 hours from us, they have a huge mall with a roller coaster. We’ve never been and I want to go! Add in that my Hubby has never been on a roller coaster.
what are you waiting for???
Time,money,my Hubby…
you get one life… live it
I know but I have to go with Hubby and to get Hubby to go is no easy thing…
I bet you could sweet talk him
I’ve been working on him believe me! We even have a really trustworthy good kid that’s amazing with animals including snakes willing to come and look after ours while we’re gone…
well then…
Wow! What a place! I wouldn’t mind wandering around it myself. Time for a road trip!
Everybody should go to the Bay Area… not at the same time, maybe
Isn’t the Claremont featured in several movies? In this sentence I, should be me.”my parents took my three brothers and I” It’s a pet peeve of mine when I see the usage done incorrect. I wrote a post about it. I don’t mean to offend sorry if I did. http://wp.me/p28tjX-DZ
I am not that good at grammar… but I am not that good at being offended either… ha. I think the Coronado hotel in San Diego was in some movies… I did posts about it too.
Sounds fun.
It was
soo cooool!! I wonder if it is haunted. It kinda looks like it. We don’t have the same kinda views (but we have our share of breathtaking views too) here but there is some fabulous architecture and lotsa history here. Have you ever read Devil in the White City? It is a true story about the world’s fair when it was hosted in Chicago. I plan on going on a guided tour when the weather really and truly breaks.
I passed through Chicago once but didn’t stop… I do love a nice haunted place…
I can pretend Lake Michigan is the bay, or the ocean. You should stop next time, it really is a pretty city. I will even buy you a beer
you have a deal