While in San Francisco, another hotel I stayed in was the legendary
Sir Francis Drake, right off Union Square Park, seen above; a fantastic central location only blocks from the
Fairmont. 
Opened in 1928, the hotel saw its heyday up till WWII when it was used primarily by the military for army housing.
The Drake has always been known as a party venue for locals and tourists alike from it's Prohibition Era roots, with its
Persian Room and the
Starlight Roof restaurant and bar with city views.
The lobby retains the glamorous decorations from it's beginnings: considered modern in the 20s, it now is one of those 'grand old spaces'.
I loved these original murals depicting Sir Francis Drake's near discovery of the San Franciso area.
Despite a major renovation a few years ago by the Kimpton Group of hotels (a company that I really admire for their appreciation of historic buildings,rehabilitation and reuse policies) the hotel is a bit tired now, especially the rooms.
It's an old hotel and as can be expected, these rooms are TINY. Thats fine for most travelers as you spend little time in them but they also are a bit....worn shall we say? The rates reflect this and it has really become a budget hotel in a great location.
The Drake respects their party roots and this lovely bar has been added to the lobby -a great way to enjoy a beautiful space! It's not the Fairmont, but still a great venue at a great value.
Recently, an Australian friend of mine went on a worldwide tour and sent me back lots of his photos he thought I would enjoy. I was immediatly struck by the beauty of the Frauenkirche in Dresden but even more so by its' fascinating story!
The baroque styled Lutheran church was originally finished in 1743, by George Bahr. The sandstone dome dominated the skyline of the city until it was finally completely destroyed in 1945 during WWII, along with much of the city. It lay in rubble for many years until it was declared a landmark in 1966.
However, the church was finally rebuilt in 2004, after the fall of communism, with only this one wall (the dark portion) being original. A happy case of restoration prooving you can't always keep a good building down!
Playing with architecture has a fruitful history. Across the street from this very house is an example: Egyptian Revival, probably from the early 1920s. Don't tell me they weren't being playful! If you can't be playful with your own house, where can you?
After leaving San Francisco, my next stop was Carmel where I spent the majority of my vacation. Yes, this is the week of hotels at ArchitectDesign!
Because of this, it has become the hangout of many locals, who were so incredibly friendly that within an HOUR of arriving I had made a few friends I spent time with throughout the week: all at the bar of the Cypress Inn!
It's right out of an old movie: a glamorous place to have a drink or meet friends.
Near the ballroom on one of the lower levels is the famous 
It was sadly closed on the days we stayed in the hotel, but I managed to sneak in for a peak!
How I would have loved to eat here!
The floors above are also nicely decorated with some interesting chinoiserie art, this piece faced the door to our room.
Also loved these fabulous mirrors at the end of the hallways. The hotel is really immense, it was a bit of a hike from the elevator.
The room was basic but comfortable; light filled and cheerful.
None of the furniture was quite standard issue.
And just to part, the closet was immense - probably the size of my apartment here in DC! Seriously, you could have fit a double bed in here with room to spare, the picture doesn't quite capture that. My 3 shirts hanging there sure do look lonely though!