In the morning I had a bit of a lesuirely start, enjoying the breakfast in the hotel with a few of the people from the tour and checke out before Johnson picked me up. I met Johnson and Tom on the Uluru trip and they said if I come to San Fransisco I could stay with them so I took advantage of that this weekend.
Johnson picked me up and then we drove down the crookedest street in the world. I'd walked it yesterday but it was cool to drive it as we'll. That street is not a place you want to find out that your breaks don't work.
We then drove across the Golden Gate Bridge and stopped and walked to two good photo spots where I could get a good view of the bridge and then one back across towards the entire bag whilst he pointed out all the top spots.
Reunion
Golden agate Bridge
We then drove to Tom's house to drop off all my stuff before heading into town to go and watch a AUDL (professional frisbee) game. We watched the San Fransisco flamethrower vs the San Jose Spiders. It was a really good match and reminded me just how much I missed playing! I also had my first American cheese toasty food truck experience at the insistence of the boys! Pretty delicious.
Flamethrower a vs San Jose Spiders
After wandering along the bay front near the game and then heading back to grab warm clothing we met up with Tom's girlfriend and then went to the baseball. We watched the San Fransisco Giants vs Miami and the giants lost 5-0. San Fransisco really gets windy and it was dark so the wind was wiping around the stadium. So glad we'd brought a blanket and that Steph and I were sitting in the middle so could claim most of it for ourselves. We weren't warm under it but so much better than we'd have been otherwise. Had another American tradition (food was the theme of my time with them) in the park, garlic fries and chicken tenders! Yum!
Once the game was over we went and got ice cream in an adult focused ice cream shop... You could get whiskey and ice cream but I went with the strawberry margarita sorbet. Yum!
We then decided to try out the Urban Golf (indoor mini golf) that had opened up a few weeks ago. It was so good! Why can't mini golf in the UK have this much thought. They were all themed differently, some played music if you hit the drum or went across the piano, another had an arcamedies screw and another you hit it onto a pad and then the ball rolled on the screen. Such a good way to end the evening before going home.
San Fransisco is so techy! You can see why new apps and products get big here first. Want a lift - Uber it. And no one goes into a restaurant before they've heckled the review on one app or another!
Day 218: Bay to Breakers
We'd left the house by 7am to get to an all American breakfast at one of Steph's firends's house in preparation for the bay to breakers day. I had waffles, whippe cream, and lots of berries. Other people had egg, bacon and KFC chicken as well! Only in America would KFC for breakfast be deemed as okay! We drank champagne and orange juice (only the best for this backpacker) before leaving the house to join in with the masses. Bay to Breakers is a serious race but everyone else 'parades' behind, along the course route, in fancy dress. I've never seen so many people dressed up. I just wish I had a costume. Felt out of place in normal clothes! It was pretty crazy even though the locals say it's so muh tamer than previous years! Costumes, some people were naked, all these houses had music blaring from ska in the front garden. Never experienced anything like that before.
Crowds at Bay to breakers
We were home just after midday and all collapsed out on the sofa. Steph's friends were so lovely and invited me out to a Burmese restaurant a few blocks away for lunch which was really nice of them. A bit of a strange experience since half our group were in costume, the other half weren't and we were pretty far away from the race so we did look a bit odd sitting there. The waiter was lovely who served us though. Service in America is so good :)
In the afternoon we chilled out in front of the TV and I used that chance to do some washing as I was completely out of clean clothes.
Johnson had to drive back home but Steph, Tom and I went out for a lovely Japanese and then we drove down to the cliff front to watch the evening sky (we missed sunset) and then drive through the Golden gate park.
Back at Tom's Steph left and we watched Game of Thrones before heading to bed.
Day 219: Cable cars, Alcatraz and night time SF
Tom left for work at 7 so I was up at that time too and got the bus with him into the city. Obviously it was far to early to check in but I was able to drop off my bags, take advantage of the free breakfast and call the family.
I went to the cable car museum as it opened and then took a cable at down to fishermans wharf. I was standing next to the driver and it was the second time he'd been out with passangers on board! The guy he had with him showing him what to do was so funny!
First stop once off the cable car was to Ghiradelli square, where amazing chocolate is made. The shop was giving away free samples so I enjoyed that! I then walked back towards Fishermans wharf, back past the cable cars, and was able to see one being turned on the turntable at the end of the track.
I had a mosey in the shops and had a clam chowder inside a bread roll on the water front! I then wandered back along pier 39 at a more lesuirely pace than Friday so I could enjoy looking inside all the shops and browsing, even though I didn't buy anything, rather than being rushed through.
I then wandered down to Pier 33 to get on the Ferry to Alcatraz. It's only a mile and a quarter off shore so it's a really quick journey. I first watch the video explaining the history of Alcatraz and then went up to the cell house to do the audio tour. It was so good. It was narrated by an ex-prison guard who had the best deep voice and would tell you to keep left or right in a real military voice. There were also stories told my ex-prisoners of their time there and the sound effects as they described it made it feel so real. On the island I bumped into one of the girls from the tour and chatted with her for a bit before getting the ferry back to the mainland.
Alcatraz
Spot the new prisoner
I walked back to the hostel, checked in, showered and then met up with Woody, afrisbee friend from Uni who's moved out here.
After getting North and South confused and walking in completely the wrong direction I finally found his car and we went and got a Mexican takeaway which we took that up to Twin Peaks were I could get an excellent view of San Fransisco. We stood outside to eat but it was so windy and cold! I was in a fleece but obviously hadn't dressed warm enough. Then Karl the fog (yes the fog here has a name) rolled in so we could no longer see clearly from the height we were at but as soon as we drove down the hill slightly the view cleared up again.
We then drove across the bay bridge (not the golden gate!) to treasure island to get a stunning view of the skyline all lit up and the bay bridge light show.
San Fransisco at night
Afterwards we went to two bars. One was called smugglers cove and unless you knew it existed you would have walked straight past it without even realising it and it was decorated inside to be a cove so it was really cool. The second one had crazy seating. We started off in a jacuzzi that had been cut in two but those things are unconfatable when you're trying to sit up and have a conversation so we moved to the next booth where we could sit on old truckers seats.
Day 220: Wandeing around the city
I got up and went for a walk though Chinatown and then down a little alley to see the people and work making the fortune cookies. I'm so glad I'd looked this up as I would have never found it or stumbled across it by myself. These people pick the hot cookies off the plates, and in one swift movement placed the fortune inside whilst bending it into shape.
I then walked through the Italian district up telegraph hill to the Coit tower. I went up to the top and, even though it's a pretty small, because of it's position it has amazing 360 views of the city.
I walked down to the wharf and got the hop on hop off bus out of the city on the Sausalito loop. I got on the bus on the SF side of the golden gate bridge and walked the 1.75 miles across it and was picked up by the next bus (and grumpy driver) on the other side.
I got off again in Sausalito and went for lunch at a lovely Italian where I could look out of the bay. I'm definitly in holiday mode in SF rather than backpacker! The rest of the trip I've been so good making lunch and dinner everyday for myself but this week I'm being terrible.
Gorgeous view
I got the bus back to the wharf and then the other city sightseeing line back to the hostel. Very luckily the stop was literally outside my hostel door.
In the evening, I had dinner in the good court of Westfields and then went shopping for 2 hours!
Day 221: Golden gate park and night tour
The girls in my dorm who are travelling together decided to tell me that I must be 'sad and lonely' because I'm travelling by myself so don't have any friends! I tried to explain to them that I haven't have one friend the entire trip instead I've had loads of friends at lots of different destinations. They didn't seem to get it!
I walked down to union square to catch the golden gate park bus and indefinitely got chatting to two women in the queue. We're all English which is enough of a bond to get chatting. I guess these kind of lovely interactions are what I love about travelling alone and the two girls missed out on. As long as you're open to talk to people there are friendships there, however brief, to be formed.
Anyways lecture over and back to what I did! I got off at the Academy of Science in golden gate park and spent 2 hours looking around there. They have a really cool planetarium, aquarium and a rainforest that is three floors and contains parrots, butterflies and small birds as well as plants. It was no where near as big as the one I went to in Singapore but Singapore didn't have parrots!
Afterwards I went for a walk around the lake and sat to watch the ducklings and terrapins.
Ducklings
I took the bus back to Union square and since lunch had only been a plain bagel I'd 'borrowed' from breakfast I decided to go and get more food.
I went to the 7th (and top) floor of Macy's to sit outside in the Cheesecake Factory and eat my raspberry and lemon cheesecake. Delicious!
In the evening I took the night tour city bus although I'm not really sure you can call it a night tour when the sun is only just setting as you finish it. It went around lots of the areas I'd already walked but the guide gave a really informative and funny talk so in glad I did it.
Day 222: Last day in SF
The first thing I did this morning was a tour of city hall. I wouldn't have gone in there but the tour guide yesterday recommended it so I thought I'd try it out. And I got to see lots of weddings taking place.
I then took the bus to Ocean beach. If you're imagining a beautiful, hot, palm tree lined Californian beach then you're wrong. This was a wind swept and cold beach! Not the place I'd want to lay in an bikini but apparently further down there's a nudist beach so some people must brave the harsh conditions.
I went and had a drink in the cliff top cafe which I later found out has been rebuilt 3 times because all the previous cafés have crumbled into the sea. I feel as though I should get an 'I survived' top!
In the evening I met up with Tom and his gf Steph to go Salsa dancing. I was walking in completely the wrong direction once I'd gotten off the bus but thankfully Steph drove past me, did a U turn and came and picked me up. We had an hours salsa lesson to begin with to practice our moves. Every few minutes we had I rotate dance partners and every person said they loved my accent! Literally the first thing people said once they'd asked me my name! It was a really good fun evening though and we finished it off with a SF famous Mexican burrito.
Day 223: Bus to LA
I got up, checked and made my last trip to Union Square. I sat in the Starbucks on the 4th floor of Macy's with my coffee watching the world go by below.
I got back to the hostel at 11 for the bus down to LA. It didn't show up until 1! 2 hours spent sitting waiting. The reception rang to check they hadn't forgotten me and they hadn't. The signals were down on the bay bridge and other areas of the city causing chaos which wasn't helped by the fact it's a public holiday on Monday so lots of people had taken today off to to get away for the weekend.
It was a pretty long drive down, not helped by a caotic change of bus half way through the journey.
I checked back into the hostel is stayed in LA before and got chatting (as I do) to the girl who was also checking in at the same time as me. Turns out we were in the same room so after a quick shower we headed out the the piano bar around the corner that I loved so much last time to celebrate my last night in LA! Again it was really lovely and we ended up chatting to an animation guy from Disney. I have met the guy who is in barge of designing the ice palace in frozen. Pretty cool! My first Hollywood 'celebrity'! Definetly enjoyed my last evening in Hollywood.
Day 224: Warner Bros Studio Tour and LAX
Was up so early. The girl in my room snoring at 5am didn't really bother me but the lady making hissing noises to try and make her be quiet (which obviously failed) did however stop me from sleeping.
I made myself my last American banana pancakes as soon as the kitchen opened at 630 and then at 730 my new friend Kirsty and I took a taxi to the Warner Bros studio for the set tour. I too her last night about it so she bought it to. We were given different group numbers but persuaded the guy at the ticket office when we arrive to put us into the same group. I was going straight to LAX as soon as the tour finished so I had all my bags with me. Luckily they had agreed to store it behind the front desk as of emailed them warning that I'd be bringing it.
The tour was really good. We went around in a big golf trolley and saw the outside lots. We were then able to get up and walk around 4 of the sets, 2 broke girls, Ellen, Fosters and Central perk from friend. It was pretty cool to see the different styles I shows and how they are filmed. We were also taken around the Warner Bros museum where there was the clothing from te Big Bang theory and a sorting hat from Harry Potter anoungst other things. I got to pi on the sorting hat and was given Slytherin!
With the costumes.
I was meant to be catching a bus to catch the metro to catch the fly away bus but the guy didn't tell me that the first bus only comes once an hour and I'd just missed it by 2 minutes. I managed to persuade the nice man at the petrol station to call me a taxi because my phone decided that now was the best time not to want to make calls. I was able to get to the metro station so I could catch that and then the airport bus.
So now I'm just sitting in LAX, waiting to check in, my adventure over for now!
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