Pics from Mountain View

[compilerbitch]

Here is the first batch of photos from Mountain View, all shot with my diddy new Panasonic Lumix LZ5.



Castro Street


The B&W conversion here is a bit weird -- I used channel mixer in Photoshop CS with blue set heavily negative to darken the sky. It doesn't look good in the thumbnail, but the bigger version is OK.

Mountain View Alleyway


More B&W messing about.

My new apartment


This architectural shot is actually inside my new apartment. It's right on Castro Street, there's a Starbucks actually in the building effectively, and my favourite bookshops are about a 4 minute walk.

Castro again


This was shot looking down the road, standing outside the Scientology shop/church/warren/nest/hive/whatever/thingy.

Chicken Katsu


Hawaiian fast food, anyone? It is basically, well, schnitzel. With dip that tastes extremely close to mango chutney.

Fountain


This is more or less below my apartment (slighty along a bit).

I see mountains!


This is a (fairly narrow) view from my bedroom window.

Crappy pano of the big windows in the living room


My apartment has a hugely high ceiling in the living room. This is a craply rapidly thrown together pano (the Lumix isn't nearly wide enough).

Lounge windows


Another arty architectural shot.

Outside the apartment


Another bad pano, but it gives you the idea. The top left balcony that you can see is mine.

Self-portrait




... because doseybat would shoot me if I didn't.

Comments

[x-mass.livejournal.com]

apparently your living in the very representative street of mountain view accoding to wikipedia (and google images) and apparently your street was named after Don Mariano Castro.
I don't believe it you move to the states and there is an indian just down the road...
for pete's sake sarah :)
big hugs
kate

[x-mass.livejournal.com]

oh and here's the menu list
http://www.shivasrestaurant.com/menu.htm

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

There are actually four nearby, two a bit further down Castro than Shiva's, and IMO the best is on El Camino real about a mile north (Passage to India has a lovely buffet). I admit that calling a restaurant Shiva makes me wary...

[x-mass.livejournal.com]

I sit corrected and having never been west of the north east coast I'm doing this all from teh comfort of google. I still hugely impressed!!!!

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

I should try some of them -- being a typical Brit, I am addicted to Indian food. I do remember going to the lunchtime buffet in the one that was at the Caltrain end of Castro (on the left hand side as you walk away from the train). I thought it was pretty terrible, but I'm probably spoiled. I'll give the others a fair chance, though -- I'll make it a quest! :-)

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

The one closest to the tracks (Sue's?) is indifferent-at-best, the next one closer is IMO better.