San Fancisco, days 2 & 3
We have enjoyed the last two days in San Francisco much more than Sunday.
We woke on Monday to a warmer and sunnier day. There were far fewer people and even though the streets were still dirty, they had obviously been swept during the night. We took a boat trip round the bay, under the Golden Gate bridge and past Alcatraz. I had done this trip before 15 years ago so just took lots of photos, while Nicky and Claire listened to audio commentaries.
We returned to the hotel for a comfort break and then went off to the the cable car stop. Even though we had to wait a while, it was worth it as the trip into town up and down the hills was wonderful and peppered with spectacular views. We alighted in Chinatown. Claire and I had gelato, and we found a shipping office to buy stamps and send some gifts. After a bit of a wander we caught another cable car back towards Fisherman's Wharf, but unfortunately it was the wrong one. Instead of ending up where we started the terminus was right next to a big Barnes & Noble book store. So, I had coffee while N & C wallowed in the printed word.
For dinner we walked to a restaurant down the road which looked Italian and OK. It was OK, and the food (red snapper, prawn scampi and lasagne) was very good.
We had also booked a hire car on Sunday, we which collected on Tuesday morning. The plan was to drive down to Cupertino to see the Apple offices and visit the Retail Store to buy goodies. This we did, and as we went south the weather got warmer and brighter. We parked in a Brewhouse car park as all the Apple car parks had very threatening signs. We had fun choosing Apple merchandise in the shop. We returned to the Brewhouse in need of a drink, and after looking at the menu ordered some bruschetta and and apple crisp. Both were fantastic. Black napkins here with the most delicious pineapple juice and lemonade we've ever tasted. We suspect freshly crushed juice was used.
After this repose we headed of towards Santa Cruz to find the coast road which I had driven along 15 years ago. Our route took us through redwood forest which was gorgeous. We stopped in Boulder Creek to have a wander, and then picked up the coast road and turned north. We stopped at a Scott Creek beach and had a walk down to the sea, along with enjoying the coastal scenery. I was reminded how much I want to be near the sea. It was lovely seeing the snowy plover near their breeding ground.
We drove back to San Francisco and parked the hire car (keys will go back Wednesday), freshened up at the hotel, and then walked to a place offering the best pizza in SF which Claire had spotted. We had also been recommended it by a chap Nicky and I had met in the lift on the way to our morning swim, who had said not to be put off by the way it looked. It didn't look fantastic, but both the pizza and the cheesecake were very good.
Then it was off to bed again. I haven't come to terms with how tired we are getting but we are sleeping quite well now. Tomorrow is our last day in America. It has been a wonderful trip and experience.
Rick
We woke on Monday to a warmer and sunnier day. There were far fewer people and even though the streets were still dirty, they had obviously been swept during the night. We took a boat trip round the bay, under the Golden Gate bridge and past Alcatraz. I had done this trip before 15 years ago so just took lots of photos, while Nicky and Claire listened to audio commentaries.
We returned to the hotel for a comfort break and then went off to the the cable car stop. Even though we had to wait a while, it was worth it as the trip into town up and down the hills was wonderful and peppered with spectacular views. We alighted in Chinatown. Claire and I had gelato, and we found a shipping office to buy stamps and send some gifts. After a bit of a wander we caught another cable car back towards Fisherman's Wharf, but unfortunately it was the wrong one. Instead of ending up where we started the terminus was right next to a big Barnes & Noble book store. So, I had coffee while N & C wallowed in the printed word.
For dinner we walked to a restaurant down the road which looked Italian and OK. It was OK, and the food (red snapper, prawn scampi and lasagne) was very good.
We had also booked a hire car on Sunday, we which collected on Tuesday morning. The plan was to drive down to Cupertino to see the Apple offices and visit the Retail Store to buy goodies. This we did, and as we went south the weather got warmer and brighter. We parked in a Brewhouse car park as all the Apple car parks had very threatening signs. We had fun choosing Apple merchandise in the shop. We returned to the Brewhouse in need of a drink, and after looking at the menu ordered some bruschetta and and apple crisp. Both were fantastic. Black napkins here with the most delicious pineapple juice and lemonade we've ever tasted. We suspect freshly crushed juice was used.
After this repose we headed of towards Santa Cruz to find the coast road which I had driven along 15 years ago. Our route took us through redwood forest which was gorgeous. We stopped in Boulder Creek to have a wander, and then picked up the coast road and turned north. We stopped at a Scott Creek beach and had a walk down to the sea, along with enjoying the coastal scenery. I was reminded how much I want to be near the sea. It was lovely seeing the snowy plover near their breeding ground.
We drove back to San Francisco and parked the hire car (keys will go back Wednesday), freshened up at the hotel, and then walked to a place offering the best pizza in SF which Claire had spotted. We had also been recommended it by a chap Nicky and I had met in the lift on the way to our morning swim, who had said not to be put off by the way it looked. It didn't look fantastic, but both the pizza and the cheesecake were very good.
Then it was off to bed again. I haven't come to terms with how tired we are getting but we are sleeping quite well now. Tomorrow is our last day in America. It has been a wonderful trip and experience.
Rick
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