Apple's headquarters are located in Cupertino and opened in 2017. The building, built by Norman Foster's company, is circular and encloses a large park accessible only to employees. There's a theater stage, yoga classes, and sports activities for the sought-after IT employees that Google and Microsoft are also vying for in Silicon Valley. The site is more than 2.8 million square feet and is surrounded by 80% green space and over 9,000 trees. Next to the headquarters is a lovely café with an attached Apple Store. From an observation deck, you can admire the interesting building while enjoying a nice coffee. At the Apple Store, you can try out the latest Apple products and take classes. When I was there, a class on image editing and photography was taking place. Apple was founded in Cupertino in 1977 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.

Stanford was founded in 1885 by Leland Stanford, a railroad entrepreneur. The campus covers 8,180 acres, and the architecture is reminiscent of Spanish colonialism. It's fun to walk around the campus, admire the mosaic at the Memorial Church, and enjoy a view of Silicon Valley from the Hoover Tower. There is a campus store and plenty of green spaces ideal for picnics. The university has produced numerous Nobel Prize winners and entrepreneurs, some of whom have gone on to make significant IT inventions in Silicon Valley. Among those who have studied here are Reid Hastings (co-founder of Netflix), Peter Thiel (co-founder of PayPal), Elon Musk (co-founder of Tesla and SpaceX), Sergey Brin (co-founder of Google), Sundar Pichai (CEO of Google), Brian Acton (co-founder of WhatsApp), Tiger Wood (golfer), Reese Witherspoon (actress), and Rishi Sunak (former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom).

The Art Deco-style Hoover Tower was built in 1941 to commemorate Stanford University's 50th anniversary. It's 285 feet tall and not only offers fantastic views of Silicon Valley, but also houses the research library of Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States. Tickets cost only $8, but you can't take bags or backpacks upstairs. There are lockers where you can leave your bags, but they can't be locked. Therefore, have someone watch your bags downstairs, or keep your valuables in your pocket.

Herbert Hoover, later US President, founded the Hoover Institution in 1919. Originally focused on researching World War I, the institution now researches revolutions, conflicts, and political developments throughout the world and records them in its archives. The institution is a world-renowned think tank and frequently hosts exhibitions and events. The institution awards fellowships, some of which, thanks to the think tank's networks and resources, reach the highest levels of corporations and governments. These include Milton Friedman (Nobel Prize winner), Condoleezza Rice (former U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor; Rice served as the Director of the Hoover Institution), and Rishi Sunak (former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom).

The San Jose Civic Center was built in 1936 and has hosted numerous celebrities, including Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, The Rolling Stones, and, at the time of my visit, John Cleese from Monty Python.

Broadway San Jose at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts is the largest stage for musicals and theater performances in San Jose. Designed by Frank Gehry in 1972, it hosts performances of The Lion King, Hamilton, Les Miserables, and Wicked for over 2,600 attendees.

The IMAX Dome in San Jose is one of the largest in the Western world. Here, you can watch not only regular movies but also amazing documentaries about science and nature. The screen surrounding you is eight stories high and offers a highly immersive experience. The dome is part of "The Tech Interactive Scene and Technology Center".

St. Joseph's Cathedral was built in 1877 and rebuilt after its destruction in the 1906 earthquake. It is the oldest parish in San Jose and the seat of the diocese. John Paul II declared the church a basilica in 1997. The architecture is very impressive, featuring beautifully decorated windows and a neoclassical design. At night, the church is illuminated in white and gold.

The Winchester House belonged to Sarah Winchester, the widow of William Wirt Winchester, who manufactured the famous Winchester rifles and became very wealthy. She began construction of the building in 1884, but over the years she added more and more staircases, doors, and extensions. She was convinced she was haunted by the ghosts of those shot by Winchester rifles. Therefore, she built secret staircases, hidden entrances, and other architectural secrets to confuse the ghosts. Today, you can take spooky tours of the house with candles, and explore the haunted house. There is a film that deals with the suffering of the widow after the death of her husband and child and the resulting fear of ghosts in the house: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Juc2cL26mg&pp=ygUSd2luY2hlc3RlciB0cmFpbGVy

At the end of the year, our SAGE group took a farewell trip. We went to Top Golf in San Jose. It's a multi-story building, open on one side, where players tee off at targets from a static position. The computer automatically counts the scores and displays a computer graphic showing the ball's flight. I'd never played golf before in my life, so I was very nervous. At first, I had a hard time hitting the ball, but after trying out a few clubs and memorizing the motion, I was able to hit many good shots. To my surprise, I was the best player on my team (a householder from Mexico, a volunteer from Germany, and three residents)! I was very proud and thankful for the opportunity to have this new experience. There's also a restaurant here with delicious fried chicken and fries. It's a lot of fun to spend time here with friends!