Blogs from San Francisco, California, United States, North America - page 217

Advertisement


Everything is pulled together. Paul, my son called from Berlin very early this AM wondering if we'd left for London and informed me there had been a t. bombing in Central London! I've gotten this far, so how can I let this incident stop us? Today, I set about copying documents I've been collecting over the years. Our time in Paris and french countryside seems almost Da Vinci code-ish! Before we trek into the french countryside to explore an ancestoral village/s and possibly see if there is a shrine been built for a recently canonized family member (Augustus Schoeffler) I want to track down two paintings supposedly housed in an obscure museum in Paris of Augustus S-- "The Seminary Museum." There's even a Society involved....."Society Of Foreign Missions of Paris." We'll see.... (at least we aren't ... read more


Only three days 'til we leave! Seems like we should be frantic by now but since I'm attempting to keep my personal belonging to around 25lbs, it's more about editing. -Quick dry light weight clothes -2 pairs of shoes, including the ones I'm wearing Voila! Portrait: Yes, that's a "fridge" I'm posed with along w/my carry-on! I was inspired by the comedian/author Tony Hawks' book "Round Ireland With A Fridge." No one has wagged a bet with me, but like Hawks, I'm carrying an "odd load" which will surely be a source of many adventures! ... read more


Safe and Sound, but knackered Hey ya'll, Just a quick note to let you all know I made it here in one piece, we had a few dramas, we got delayed out of Melbourne for an hour or two, then in LA we had like a 3 hour delay, it was spent mainly sleeping, leading us to nearly miss our connection to San Francisco....luckily we woke up at just the right time. It was a good last nite in town, hit a few parties, saw most everyone i needed to, and sorry to those I couldn't. We tucked into some quality AB at the Blue and White, quality shit. Get into it! Anyway, it was a long 36 or so hours, we're here safe and sound in San Francisco, tired as ass. We'll spend most ... read more
Airport #2
Airport #3
Airport #4


Today I left San Francisco and jumped on the Green Tortoise bus. Jen Nelson and Eoin dropped me off. I knew I was in trouble when a group of rowdy Irish men arrived. I just can't get away from them :) We started off by meeting everyone on the trip and picking buddies. I quickly realized I was one of only 3 Americans and one of 6 people over the age of 21, which made for quite an interesting ride. There were about 22 people on the trip all together. We spent the first night traveling through the night. We first performed the "miracle," the conversion of the seats on the bus into beds. I stayed up much of the night getting to know the people on the bus and learning how to play the Aussie ... read more


Both us (real) and you (cyber) have stopped travelling east and now are back on the West Coast and beginning the trip home. In summary since the last blog we've finished with NY, done Boston and started on San Francisco, so we have a lot to catch you up on. Over the last days in NY we spent time with Trisha and Len at their small but lovely apartment with its great roofgarden near Central Park. Trisha, Col and I spent the last day in Queens at Noguchi's sculpture garden and gallery before we loaded our gear and went by subway and Amtrack to Boston. Our friends (who we had found on the Yangtze in 2003), Doug, Hong and Alli met us and we explored the waterfront and the markets. Saw a moving Holocaust Memorial with ... read more
Col and Trisha at Noguchi
An example of his work
The Holocaust Memorial


San francisco is 1 of my favorite places in the US. I had gone to SF for a weekend with my parents, for none of us had really been there before. (except for my dad, who had passed through many years ago when he was a teenager) it is so BEAUTIFUL. Not all the cities in the world have a great combination of being urban but yet so close to great nature. There are several beautiful beaches in and around the SF area, some with great views of the city and the golden gate bridge. also just north of the city is a national park with gigantic redwood trees. we also went to a nearby town named sausalito, just north of the golden gate bridge, which was also beautiful. we had taken a couple tours while ... read more
crossing the golden gate bridge
chinatown in SF
downtown san francisco


Day 3 couldn't get out bed this morning...legs hurt like a mo fo Hot shower helped so on with the day.... Hit China town looking for bargains but it was all same old crap..shop after shop. Dragged Karl round all the shops anyway. More walking through Castro and up the STEEPEST hills ever. Found a great park called Buena Vista. Really steep climb up to the top. Well worth it despite my bitchin' Top of park had a little oasis with dog walkers,yoga folk,hippies,lovers and bums were all gathered. Gorgeous views... Down other side to the hippy HAIGHT street. You can smell the insence a mile off. On Karls insistance another Micro brew (Magnolia brewpub) Was good though and the beer helped my legs feel better. Great little shops here. bussed it back into Market street ... read more


Day 2 Karl was nearly molested at breakfast.Guy there tool a liking to him !!! Wouldn't have been so bad but man that guys wasn't even cute. Lots and lots walking today. close to 7 miles I would guess along Embarcardo, golden gate bridge, through Presido,fort point where we broke down and caught a bus to Bakers beach. really pretty but no food or bar !! Onto Ocean beach and yeh...the 'beach Chalet'. The perfect rest stop. Microbrew pub and food, with a view of the sea. Laid out on Ocean beach afterwards. Coulda easily fallen aslepp but didn't through fears of a farmers tan !!! Walking more...though golden gate park til I get fed up of the trees. Back to the street and the long trek back to our hotel. Got dressed up and ready ... read more


Well, it has started, regardless if I am fully ready for this adventure. Flying today has been smooth if anything, but all it takes is a few layovers spanning a couple hours to make you sick of flying. I was lucky enough to switch seats so that I could sit with Jon on the flight from Chicago to San Francisco. We have actually met a Mongolian college student who lives in Ulaan Baator, but goes to college in Wisconsin. Quite a commute, eh? She is going to be on our flight to Beijing. It is pretty interesting that since San Francisco is about the most western international airport in the United States towards Asia that the entire wing we were in was seriously dominated by large amounts of Asians returning home. Very few Americans seem to ... read more
Birds Eye View


Booked a trip through Travelocity. Man, their last minute deals were pretty good. Was set to spend the holiday weekend in Dallas until I found this. Flights to San Fran were $300...this was flight and hotel for $400/ Of course...no knowing what the state of the hotel will be....... Got to S. F. airport with no drama and as taxis are not cheap took the Bart down town. Very easy to use now they link directly to the airport. ($5 whereas taxi woulda been $40) Wasn't too sure where to get off as we didn't know where hotel was so just headed to Market street and walked. Good job we only had a small backpack as hotel was quieter a walk....all down Market, Along Embarcardo, into fishermans wharf. Quick stop at the seals ...arhhhhhhhh. HOTEL. Sweet, ... read more




Tot: 0.13s; Tpl: 0.014s; cc: 7; qc: 64; dbt: 0.0556s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.1mb