After yesterday’s super-chilled day, I figured it was time to do something vaguely exciting with my Sunday, so that I’d have something to tell you, dearest reader, about this evening. As much fun as lounging on my couch is, it doesn’t exactly make for a riveting read. So…what to do?
Again, like yesterday, the weather this morning was pretty crappy – overcast and a bit cold. I remember when I first moved here last year (approaching my official 1 yr anniversary – huzzah!) being taken aback by how chilly it was, especially compared to the blistering heat of NYC that i’d just left. I’m not missing the NYC summers or the crushing humidity yet – its been quite a pleasant relief not to have to put up with the continual frizz and Jackson-Five’esque ‘fro the summer heat used to turn my hair into.
Anyway, there’s this exhibition at the California Academy of Sciences that I’ve been dying to check out – all about earthquakes! Its probably a bit morbid, given we’re in spitting distance of the San Andreas (and other) faults, but as I’ve yet to (noticeably) feel my first earthquake, I figured I go find out what all the fuss is about. Here’s the blurb from the exhibition:
Earthquake Exhibit
 |
Walk-through Earth
What happens on Earth’s surface is directly related to what is happening inside the planet. Step into Earth’s interior to see what drives plate tectonics. Examine geologic specimens related to the core, mantle and crust. Explore how earthquake waves tell us about the inner workings of Earth’s solid core.
|
 |
Life Drifts
Meet live African ostrich chicks, flightless birds whose closest relatives are South American rheas, Australian emus and New Zealand kiwis. What do these birds and earthquakes have in common? Both have connections to moving tectonic plates. Find out how the relentless movement of the Earth’s crust has influenced the evolution and diversity of life on our planet inEarthquake.
|
 |
San Francisco Shakes
The Shake House is back! Travel back in time to see, hear and feel two earthquakes—an updated version of one of the Academy’s most popular past exhibits—lets you experience the sustained tremors of the city’s two biggest quakes, the 6.9–magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake and the 7.9–magnitude Great San Francisco quake of 1906.
This immersive experience puts you inside the dining room of a classic Victorian-era home with a window view of San Francisco’s famed “Painted Ladies” houses of Alamo Square. You’ll travel back in time to feel the difference between these two quakes and learn useful tips on preparing for the Bay Area’s next one.
|
Sounds great, right? Especially the Shake House!! Well, unfortunately, the rest of SF and apparently all tourists within the Bay Area also thought so, cos I got there around 11.45am and the whole place was already completely heaving! The exhibit only opened at 11am but – by the time I arrived – every single conceivable parking space, both on the roads and in the car parks, was already taken! So, nothing else for it, but to drive back home again!! Lesson learned – on a crappy Sunday morning in SF, you might not be the only person who has the bright idea to go and visit the museums…..
In case you are interested in just how many earthquakes we have daily, here’s a link to the government’s official quakewatch list… not for the faint of heart…..
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqscanv/FaultMaps/San_Francisco_eqs.html
One last thought – what happens if you’re at the Earthquake exhibition and there’s an earthquake? How would you know? If you’re in the Shake House and the big one hits, do you suffer a double strength impact? Or do they cancel each other out, and you step out of the Shake House, shaken but not stirred? And craving a gin martini?
