Do You Know the Way to San Jose?

Urban areas are rarely a part of my world but they are part of Our World.  A recent tour of wildlife refuges found us spending the night in San Jose, California.

It is not so much the urban landscape that I don't care for but the masses of people and traffic we often encounter.  I appreciate the man made landscape.  I love the mirror like reflective quality of many new buildings.

I am not particularly enamored with the building on the right.  It reminds me of the uninspired architecture of my youth.

The building on the left is what draws my attention.  It is the old Bank of America Building.  Built in 1925-1926 it is said to be the first earthquake resistant skyscraper.

I like the detail in this Mediterranean Revival-Beaux-Arts Archeticture.  No central air-conditioning here, an eclectic mix of window air conditioners poke through the windows.

The restored Hotel De Anza, built in the 1930s, still sports its Art Deco detail.

The 25 foot high diving lady was first painted on the building in 1951 to advertise the hotel's heated pool.

On narrow city streets, sometimes the best shot of a building is its reflection as with this Beaux-Arts San Jose Building and Loan Association building.

The oldest building in San Jose is the Peralta Adobe built in 1797.  The Adobe is behind the San Pedro Square Market and I didn't see any signs indicating when it might be open for tours.

If one tires of the urban scene the nearby Guadalupe River Park and Gardens is a lovely place to relax.  The Heritage Rose Garden still had a few blooms in early December.

To see more views of our world, go to Our World, Tuesday, hosted for us by Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia and Sandy.