I'm on vacation this week. So far, it has been convenient to keep up with email because I can connect once a day and get through emails quickly. Then connect again, if and when I wish. This helps avoid having piles of email to plow through upon my return.

Many of you know where I am but for those who don't, here are some hints:

• The city is home to the largest inter-city park in the world; some 5 times larger than New York City's Central Park. What I love about all of the local green space is the number of parakeets you see throughout the city.
• A 30-min train ride brings you to the world's second biggest wool-selling center. We made a visit to this area yesterday.
• The state represents approximately one third of the continent's land area but contains less than one eighth of the population.
• Pinnacles National Park is a 2-hr drive away. We are heading there for the evening.

Figured it out? I'll have more hints next week. I suspect many of you have been here before, given how well traveled UC ANR personnel are. I ran into someone with a Cal Bears sweatshirt on; he spent a sabbatical leave at UCB.

On Sunday, we head to our second destination during the 2-week vacation, then back home. I suspect even less work will be completed next week, other than thinking.

Here's one last quiz. What is the animal in the photo, below? Need a hint? It is only found on the island just off the coast of my current location. We haven't made a trip to the island yet; that's on tomorrow's agenda. In case I don't find one to photograph, Mark helped out by sending me one.

What am I? Photo courtesy of Mark Bell