San Francisco, California
An overnight bus ride is no fun. We arrive blurry eyed and the-opposite-of-bushy tailed at 7am.
We head straight for the nearest Cafe, which happens to have the convenient add-on of a laundromat. We do a load of washing and have a huge breakfast. We are obviously getting close to the Mexican border again because Jeff has a breakfast burrito with eggs and brocoli. That and a couple of strong coffees and we are alive again.
We train it out to our air bnb place. It's out of the city a bit, but it's a very nice house. We have run of the whole top floor. Our hosts are a retired couple in their 50s. The wife has long flowing, grey hair. The husband is an ex-Aussie from Tasmania with a strange accent. You can picture these guys in the 70s with flowers in their hair etc.
We avoid the temptation to nap and head for the city. We walk past the main points of interest Downtown and keep walking to Golden Gate Park, which is supposed to be bigger than central park.
It's a fair walk and when we get their the sun is starting to bite. We find some shade and do some reading overlooking a big part of the park. We people watch and eavesdrop on people's conversations. Everyone seems to be smoking weed. The smell is everywhere.
We walk to the middle of the park and find a lake. It's nice. The gulls are big. We wander around a bit more and get lost in some over the beaten track paths.
Time for some food. Why not another burrito? Sold. We both get one. It's awesome and filling. Washed down with an IPA, life is good. Jeff holds down the fort while Courtney heads next door to get nails done and stuff.
It's gone dark outside and all of a sudden we crash. Time to go home and sleep. We've clocked up the Kms today and have a big day planned for tomorrow as well.
Day 2
Courts is very excited to visit Alcatraz and gives Jeff a hard time about not having seen the film 'the Rock'. She's sure he's been living under a rock. They watch it the night before in preparation for their visit.
We rise early and our host has prepared a lovely spread for breakfast for us. We wolf it down and head for the Bart (also known as a train). We arrive at the pier with time to spare and admire the model Alcatraz that had been made. On to the ferry we hop.
About 15 minutes later and we've arrived. It's a beautiful sunny day with just the right amount of fog covering the skyline. Very San Fran. We are welcomed to the Rock by a ranger and then let loose. We head to the cells and peak through the locked door to the morgue. Creepy. We grab a couple of headsets and take the audio tour through the cells, library, control tower and dining room. It's really interesting tour and we learn there were 36 attempt escapes in the 29 years the prison was open for accommodation. Most failed at their attempts but there were a couple of inmates who were never found. Al Capone did a stint at the Rock also.
We wander around outside and Courts comments that it really isn't such a bad place to be doing your time. The view is glorious and apparently the inmates would be able to hear music and frivolity drifting over from the mainland during celebrations such as New Years. The guards and their families actually used to live on the island and would commute to the city for school and shopping via the ferry.
The prison closed down due to wear and tear and you can see why. Some. Parts are really crumbled but u think it just adds to the charm. We were unable to go looking under the cells and in the tunnels like in the Rock but apart from that, it was a really cool experience.
We hop back on the ferry and head to a place called Hollywood Cafe and have a second breakfast. What can we say, they know how to do breakfast in the US. We wander around Fisherman's Wharf which is a hive of activity with a band on the street and people dancing to the music. Jeff spots an arcade with antique arcade machines in there and there goes the next hour and a bunch of quarters.
It's been a busy day so far, we feel we've earnt a beer. We wander down the street looking for the best happy hour deal. Have you ever seen those people who sit on the side walk 'hiding' behind a leafy branchs ready to jump out at unsuspecting victims? Courts hasn't and has the absolute life scared out of her on the street. Head in the clouds that one. And the best part is she didn't know what was happening so it was like:
guy with branch: 'rahhhh'
Courts: 3 second pause.... 'ahhh' squealing like the girl she isn't.
Courtney is confused about who would actually tip these people. But then realises that this was almost the highlight of the trip for Jeff.
Now it's definitely time for a beer. We park up at a spot with a great view of the rock. We can't stop for long though, we want to get to the Golden Gate Bridge for sunset. It's huge walk but we need the exercise. Along the way we stop at the museum of fine arts and at a jetty to admire some sea lions. Just under the bridge is an old fort they used to use to keep the baddies out and we make it just in time before they close and get some good shots of the sun setting view.
We finally make it to the GGB and get walking. We just catch the sunset and walk to middle of the bridge. It's not as nice as the Brooklyn Bridge we decide, and too high up from the water. Not good for two scared of heights babies.
It's been a huge day, we stop on the way home for some Hawaiian food, which is deliciously marinated chicken, beef or pork served with salad and rice. We treat ourselves to some ice cream then head home to rest our weary bodies. Another hard day at the office.
Day 3
The Mission district is another cool area of San Fran that we have to check out. Another big breakfast and off we go.
We get of the Bart and walk up the steps. The first thing we notice are the bible bashers preaching away in Spanish. Along with everyone else on the street. This area is very multicultural, with a heavy Latin American influence.
We are looking for a cafe to chill out, drink some coffee and make our next plans.
We find a very cool spot and sit out the back for a few hours. We do some reading and book some accommodation and flights. The coffee is interesting. Jeff's is nutty. Jeff is a nut. It works.
Time for lunch. We find another Man Vs Food spot called Taqueria La Cumbre and have their signature Super Burrito. Very authentic. Very tasty.
We hop across the road and have a Mexican beer in a Mexican bar. It brings back good memories of 2 months ago.
There is a brewery with a tour and tastings not too far away. We set off in that direction. We quickly leave the liveliness of the Mission District and step straight into the ghetto. Some interesting business deals taking place on the street. We double check the info on this brewery and realise it's not open today. We do a 180 and walk straight back to the Mission District.
We head to a bar and play some more shuffle board. All square on the score board, so no bragging rights this time.
The other main area to check out in San Fran is the Ferry Building District. We are running out of time in this cool city so we hurry onto a trolley (tram) and head out there.
An outdoor market is just packing up for the day. There is an indoor market as well which seems to be winding up as well. Looked very cool though. Lots of good food and drink. We wander through but don't by anything. Those burritos did the job.
A few happy snaps with the other San Fran bridge in the background. We think it actually looks nicer than the Golden Gate.
We head home to get some some sleep before our red eye to San Diego tomorrow.