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Published: July 23rd 2015
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Arriving at San Francisco airport I immediately felt more at home - the first thing I saw was a book shop rather than the slot machines that littered the airport in Vegas. Our last minute change of hotel was favourable, we have been given a deluxe king suite - nice to have a separate bedroom from the kids again. Our first stop this morning was a trip to Alcatraz. The island often referred to as 'The Rock' became a federal penitentiary in 1933 and housed many notorious prisoners over the next thirty years, including Al Capone and The Birdman. The audio cell tour gave a fascinating and detailed history for the nerdy historian in me while Bruce chatted with a former inmate, an eighty year old who has served the best part of fifty years of his life in prison for producing counterfeit money. As we were leaving the docks to catch the ferry back to Pier 33, an island employee asked if we'd enjoyed our time on Alcatraz and where we were from. As soon as we mentioned Perth he started rattling off the names of restaurants - The Witches Cauldron and Frasers. He told us to avoid Northbridge or
we might get in a fight, and asked about the man who got stuck between a train and the platform! We all just stood there with our mouths agape. Obviously he had some kind of genius memory brain! The ferry ride was the scene of 'random quote of the day' (not surprisingly it was by Izzy). "I like to dribble in bed because it makes me feel comfortable. Waking up with crusty eyes gives me comfort too." We were all rendered speechless by that little statement!
After an enjoyable morning on the island, we wandered along the docks to Fisherman's Wharf to get our much anticipated world famous clam chowder. A recommendation from Aunty Janet led us to the Boudin Bakery where we devoured our delicious chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. Rachel Helwig, you must put this on your bucket list!
Next on the day's itinerary was a ride on the famous San Francisco cable car. Joining a long queue we waited in line for nearly an hour. There followed an altercation with a very rude conductor who sold us day passes instead of the three day passes that we asked for and refused to change them.
He told us to go to the office, which we did, only to be met by another rude staff member who told us only the conductor could change them. After much heated debate, another staff member stepped in who told us to sell our tickets to the next people in line and then buy our three day passes. He told us he would take us to the front of the queue and then many more staff members began to shout at us for being in an area we shouldn't be in! There was one guy waving us forward and the other guys telling us to go back. It seems you have to have a degree in rudeness and zero customer service skills to work for the cable car company. Our ride eventually began and we had fun hanging off the side while the car climbed the steep hills. We made a stop at Lombard Street, dubbed the most crooked street in the world, made famous by many movies including Hitchcock's Vertigo and the car chase scene in Bullit. The crooked part of the road is not as long as expected and consists of eight hairpin bends. It's absolute chaos from
top to bottom with cars driving down in convoy, people hanging out of the windows with go-pro's and selfie sticks. Although it's a sought after address, it's certainly not somewhere you would want to live. Lily had an embarrassing moment climbing the steep steps on Lombard Street. A woman spoke in Chinese and Lily copied the words in her head - but no, she wasn't using her inner voice, it was LOUD! Time to cross the street.
Riding the cable car back to Union Square for a spot of shopping (warm clothes needed for the polar temperatures), we almost got taken out by a police car who decided to pull in front of the cable car, which led to lots of expletives by the driver! Grabbing a quick coffee from Starbucks, Lily was highly embarrassed when I gave my name as Monica. I get sick of giving my own name as it usually ends up with Lizzie or Linda - I know there are a hundred different combinations of the spelling and very few people get it right (apparently even my dad got it wrong when he registered my birth so there's not much hope for strangers) but seriously
it's not that difficult to say. Oh, and while I'm complaining, it turns out my camera has taken it's last shot. It is refusing to turn on even with a fully charged battery. Bruce is currently asking Google McDougal what the problem is - looks like all my photo's will be taken with my phone for the foreseeable future.
The hotel concierge recommended a local Indian restaurant - it's always promising when 90% of the clientele are Indian. We ignored the rude little man at front of house and enjoyed a very tasty meal. Izzy and I shared lamb chops and duck kebabs, followed by her favourite, butter chicken. San Francisco has a relaxing ambience and as we walked to the restaurant in the early evening, the square was filled with music from a live band while passers-by tried their hand at hula-hooping with oversized hula-hoops. Couples and families were scattered around drinking coffee and hot chocolate and as we made our way back through the empty square after our meal, the scattered chairs proved too much temptation as we had an impromptu family game of musical chairs!
I have to say I'm surprised at how many rude
people we have come across today. Schools in NoCal need to teach Customer Service 101. Really, manners cost nothing.
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Pauline Gepworth
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America
I am finding yr blogs super really enjoying them. Paul and family are doing virtually the same as you not Florida though. They go for a month a week on Saturday. Keep having fun.