We got to our room at the Airport Hyatt where I read and slept, ate some Cracker Jacks and drank some wine and was done for the night. (Health nut! fiber and antioxidants)
Lar watched some of the World Series, spoke with son and grandson Larry and then went down to the sports bar in the hotel for dinner – wearing his Phillies hat. He watched the rest of the game there, but I was asleep and unreachable by phone, by chat or in any other way!
Sunday 1 November 2009
What a beautiful day! We had coffee in bed; we both read some and then headed down for breakfast. The hotel has a gorgeous atrium, live jazz playing softly in the background and a terrific buffet. Seattle’s Best Coffee – it really is the best!
We departed from the hotel and drove with perfect instructions from “Pete” the GPS to The Wharf. I snapped some pictures entering the city – the old Stadium and the new AT and T. We got registered and moved into our terrific room at the Radisson. Lar unpacked some of his things, but I am a bit terrified to even open my suitcase. Get it opened it might explode. Take anything out and we might not get it back. We have misplaced the confirmation for our tour tomorrow, so Lar called and discovered we will need to have a 0630 wake up call. Since that will actually feel like something nearer to 9 or 9:30 am it might not be bad.
We checked with the concierge on directions for the Wharf, but as I was making sure of what I’d learned on line, he laughed and said, “you really know it all!” so I guess the internet did have me prepared.
Went to Boudins for lunch – Lar had clam chowder and I organic tomato soup both in sour dough bowls. They deserve their reputation – really good food. We both had a Red Tail beer – recommended by our cashier…a young girl who says if we liked that we should try Hawk’s Eye (I think)….we did like the Red Tail, but never did get to try the other.
We walked along enjoying the sun, the shops, and the atmosphere. The Wharf gets some bad press, people saying it is too touristy, etc., but we really enjoyed it… - but then….we were tourists! We took pictures of each other at the Fishermans Wharf sign which I believe might be a requirement to prove you are a dorky tourist.
Finally found the cable car station, after walking quite a way the wrong way, and got aboard. For the ride up, we were seated inside, it was difficult to see and almost impossible to take any pictures. Coming down, Lar held us back so we were first in line for the next car and we got to sit in front…..wow! What a crazy city…..you can’t even comprehend those hills, those streets, those buildings on such a slant! What fun! Sometimes I got distracted thinking about how one would go about building the jam-packed buildings that appear to be holding on with their finger nails. Amazing.
Walking back to the Wharf, we stopped for post cards and I was able to find a snow globe for oldest granddaughter. We stopped back at Boudins for a sourdough baguette, a chunk of Organic Spring Hill Jersey Jack Cheese (fabulous!) and a Pinot Noir by Buena Vista Carneros – very robust! As we were taking it back to our room to enjoy with the baseball game we met an Irish couple from Cork. Had a lovely chat with them and then up to our simple meal as we watched the game. I took a picture of Lar with the food and wine to send to Richard and Jois – reminded us of our similar meal with them in our room in New England.
I finished reading “Killed by Clutter” Leslie Caine.
Monday 2 November 2009
Slept in 20 minute increments, up at 5:30 AM. Begin to read “Critical” by Robin Cook. Wrote a few postcards.
Down to the lobby to print confirmation for our tour. We took our breakfast from a little food cart – coffee, muffin, banana, and an apple for later. We sat outside around a fire pit, cozy and the fire was needed to take the chill off. There was a couple taking pictures of each other, I offered to take some of them both. We got to talking and discovered they are from Bucks County PA, near the Buck Hotel and he was originally from Mayfair. Talked quite some time. He told us his parents have been on over 70 (!) cruises. Maybe one day we’ll make that a goal!
Then another couple sat with us a while – from Wisconsin. We chatted until time for our bus.
Our tour guide was Troy…and he was a terrific guide. We were off for Muir Woods. Troy had great patter, kept us entertained and informed. After seeing various city sites as well as the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate (painted a garish orange/red?) , we climbed the steep and winding road to Muir Woods. I would not want to drive a car up that road, let alone the small bus! Muir is an amazing place. As I understand it, the local Indian population believed it to be the home of evil spirits. It certainly does have an “other-worldly” feel, and it does seem very spiritual, but I never felt any evil or even slightly naughty-ness….just this truly holy aura, a feeling that makes everyone there whisper….you travel the walkway in awe, looking ever upward to see if these red wood giants ever do stop. They stand in all their glory, in a kind of strength that makes you feel nothing could ever happen to this planet with them holding on. And the air! Sweet and almost spicy scented…as Troy warned us, “you may smell an oddly different smell but do not be frightened. It is what is called ‘fresh air’ and will not harm you!” I kept taking deep, appreciating breaths and wishing I could film it, bottle it, somehow to share it at home. I am sure that many of the pictures I did take on our two mile walk will be keepers….
After leaving the Woods, we proceeded to Sausalito for lunch. We didn’t have the time to really see that town. By the time we had got our food, I had a hot dog with everything and water, Lar had fish and chips it was nearly time to get back to the bus. We did take the time to have a cone each, I had organic blueberry ice yogurt (live culture) and Lar had caramel macadamia nut ice cream.
Troy took us on a side trip for a photo op with the Golden Gate as a backdrop. He was kind enough to take our picture there. And then on to the Alcatraz tour.
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