Hi, everyone,
DH and I are back from SF. If you have never been there and have the opportunity to go, don't pass it up. I almost did. I was sent there for a conference by my job. It is a beautiful city, so clean, and I never felt unsafe.
Our first full day there we went on a tour of Muir Woods to see the 3000 year old trees, so tranquil, and it was just beautiful. Then onto Sonoma wine tasting tour. That was great. We stopped at 3 family run wineries and tasted and I bought two bottles of my favorites. We were free to have lunch in the town of Sonoma. They were having a harvest of the grapes festival in the square. Had a great time. Then back to Sausalito. DH and I were tired from the time change, so we stayed on the van and were taken to the hills across from SF. The view was breathtaking.
Next day we took an am tour of the city. There are beautiful parks in SF, and they are HUGE. I loved the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.
Saw the row of houses called Painted Ladies...old restored Victorian homes where Full House shows in their opening, and also Mrs Doutfire also shows as their home, Lombard Street the crookest street in USA, and all of the other famous sites. We rode the "Rice a Roni" cable car the entire route...a blast.
Did the Alcatraz tour...unbelievable!! DH took public trans to the AT&T ballpark and got a $5 ticket to see the SF Giants...that's right $5!!! So he went and caught a foul ball...he was excited! Went to Fisherman's Warf and to Pier 39 to see the sea lions...boy do they STINK...I could smell them on me and I think I smelled like a beach sea lion getting back on the streetcar!!
Public transportation cost us $24 each for the week with a pass...that was great. Food everywhere and reasonable...my favorite was Thai that I tried for the first time...delicious! We stayed at the Hilton and made a mistake by walking into what we were called was a "quick buffet breakfast", choice of continental of the hot buffet. We were there a total of 20 min and Dh had the continental and I had the hot buffet, eggs, toast, bacon, usual fare...the bill was $65 plus tip!!! at the HIlton. I nearly fainted. Never again. It was a RIP OFF.
Ok, so my thrill was going to opening day at the Disney Family Museum in the Presidio (an old army base). It was beautifully restored brick building. Lots of old family photos with Walt talking. His Oswald Rabbit and of course Steamboat Willie, lots of Snow White...and a beaitufl room that you keep walking down a cirlce, kind of like in an aquarium, and there is a miniature of all of
Disneyland in the center...beautiful. And it all ends with Walt's death and all of the animated drawings of Mickey etc mourning his loss. It was beautiful. It is supposed to take 2 and a half hours to get through...wrong. To really see it all and read and appreciate everything, it takes all day. We had passes to get in at 3 and we left at 6 when it closed. I didn't have time to listen to everything and take the time I would have liked. Tickets were $20 each. There is a small museum store with inexpensive things and pricey things...and a sign that they are not affiliated in any way with the Walt Disney Company. Lots of art type supplies and $1 little things with clay and crayons and pencils for kids. I was impressed by that. I got a limited edition poster of the opening of the museum for $12.99 and a beautiful wallet with Snow White theme..it is appliqued and has a Disney ticket on it for $30 which was cheap considering the bag to match was $70...I love it. And I got a Disney Museum journal and some post cards. All in all it was wonderful. It took close to an hour to get there by public transportation. There is a beautiful view of the bay from the museum. They were taping something for the local news while we were there. Oh, the neat thing was the elevator to go to the second floor is designed like a train car...perfect train car decor...too cool.
I am so exhausted from the time change and when I can I will post pics. No photos permitted in the WD museum...only outside.
Blessings,
Susan
Good Morning Deck 9 sunrise Club(did I get it right?)
It seems like a nice group of people, just a little less chatty than we were/are 
Poor guy, can you guess where the kids got all those questions? You don't think the parents gave them ideas do you?!?! 
I thought it was just cracked but then this weekend it was hurting and throbing real bad. Well now I know why. Oh well I guess after Thursday it will be better.
