Thanks so much to everyone who replied to my questions about safety in the neighborhoods of Berkeley and Piedmont. I was born and raised in California, so it's not a matter of watching too much TV or thinking all Californians are weird or dangerous. I have been in other areas of the country taking pictures of houses my ancestors lived in and sometimes I didn't get out of the car because I didn't feel safe in doing so. Maybe I'm being overcautious, but better to be safe than sorry. Thanks to all your replies I know that we will not need to be afraid to get out of the car this trip. By the way, I've been on many genealogy mailing lists, and the NORCAL AND CASANFRA lists are the two best! I have found more help from y'all (I've lived in the south for awhile now<g>) than anywhere else in the country (special thanks to Dee and Gary). Thanks again! Cindy Native Californian now living in NC