The SSSS tour of celebrations.

[JohnM]

Stealing my thunder by including pics of the species names, I see... .

 

[drron]

Stealing my thunder by including pics of the species names, I see... .

I let you get away with it once!

 

[drron]

I do like roses-

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Next was the herb garden though not at it's best now.The big purple leaves are the big leaved mustard.Then a Chinotto orange-

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[drron]

Next was the main house with the Huntington's early art collection.They obviously loved portraits especially those of English origin-

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The furniture also had an English/European feel-

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[drron]

And what better place to have Dr.Johnson than the library-

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[drron]

Some of the works left an Impression-

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[drron]

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A wall of late 18th century Wedgwood-

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[drron]

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[drron]

The view from the home-

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[drron]

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Son that is the last of the main collection.We leave past the Christmas tree and then on our way to the next building-

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[JessicaTam]

And what better place to have Dr.Johnson than the library-

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Well he is but a harmless drudge.

 

[OATEK]

And what better place to have Dr.Johnson than the library-

Well he is but a harmless drudge.

Contrafibularity? Damn!

 

[drron]

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Then we arrived at the next building-part museum and part art gallery-

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[drron]

Many of the rooms are set up with furniture lights etc from the Arts and Craft movement-

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[drron]

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Quite a few American artists spent time in france just over 100 years ago.
Next the glass house.

 

[VPS]

Looks an amazing place to visit

 

[drron]

So now I walked to the greenhouse whilst mrsdrron went back to the shop for a little retail therapy.

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Many orchids in the greenhouse which I do like-

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Also several education sites set up for kids.Impressive-

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[drron]

Out the back of the greenhouse more gardens with a childrens garden again set up to educate-

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[drron]

So the last of the gardens.Now this is not real only a plaster caste but the odour would probably not be pleasant if this was a real Rafflesia.

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Now the walk back to mrsdrron.The mountains are a beautiful backdrop-

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The gift store here really is good.a great range of stock with something for everyone.Turned out to be an expensive free day!

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We finished with coffees and a couple of decadent cakes from their coffee shop.
I can thoroughly recommend Huntington Gardens.If you like gardens,art-particularly English Portrait artists,the Impressionists were a temporary exhibhition-or if you have a young family there is really something for most travellers.Pasadena is not a bad place to stay in the LA area.

Now we were tired after a long day so dinner was in the hotel lounge.We also had to be up early to get back to LAX for our flight to Hawaii.That next.

 

[drron]

Now mrsdrron is just a little Type A in nature so we had to leave Pasadena at 0400 with our flight departing LAX at 0822.Now even though I had to refuel and drop the car off at Avis we were checking in at 0500.No one else in line!So soon through to the lounge as no stopping long at security with a full body scanner in use.The AC are being refurbed in T4.But still a reasonable selection of brekkie food in the Flagship lounge.And no we did not even consider trying for the QF lounge at TBIT.There were 2 dogs in the lounge.From the lounge-

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Left the lounge at 0740 and arrived at the gate just as they announced priority boarding so straight to our seats.We are on an AA award in their F cabin.40000 miles and $US5.60 each.

AA31. LAX-HNL. ETD-0822. Push back-0817. Take off-0841. A321. Seats-2A,C.
ETA-1239. Landed-1150. At gate-1154. But for the second time in 2 flights had to wait several minutes for the air bridge to be operated.
An uneventful flight.I watched All The Way which was interesting-the story of LBJ from the time of JFKs death until his election win.
This was a "snack" flight but it was substantial.A chicken and cheese slider.As usual tasted better than it looked-

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A little bumpy coming in to HNL but views of Pearl Harbour as we were landing-

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A long walk to baggage carousel.Our bags were out in the first 25% but we had to wait as we had booked the Starwood shuttle and there was another pax whose bag came out last.Did notice quite a few priority tags in the last few out.when the other woman had her bag there was another 20 minute wait for the shuttle.So next time we will save time not money and get a cab.
Next the Sheraton Waikiki.