California Dreamin'-A 14 Day Odyssey to San Fran,Yosemite & DL! 8/2013 COMPLETE!1/9!!

[RGirl]

Phew! All caught up!

Your dinner in Little Italy looks amazing. And your evening out sounds so fun - I am pretty sure that is the same Ferry Building wine bar I occasionally visited after work (on the rare occasion that I commuted by ferry). Love that building!

The Alcatraz tour looks so cool! I suppose I will have to wait a few years until DD is a bit older though.

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

She was SO STRANGE!!! The kids sat down, I was saying move a little left (their right) and as I am saying this she plops down. Then REALLY LOUDLY I say, "OK, ready for me to take your picture boys???" And she just smiles at me- so then i said "You ready, too, Grandma?" and she just smiles at me again- so....CLICK. There ya have it. And she did speak English- her family came up after that and started talking (they were leaving too). I was hoping that they were going to try to do a photo- because I was going to have us all sit back down if they were, LOL! But they didn't.

That is so funny! Some people make you It reminds me of a time back home - we were at a Chinese place celebrating 3 family birthdays in April, and the owner went in the back and got a lady we didn't know and seated her at our table so the staff could sing Happy Birthday and then he took a polaroid photo for their wall! We have often laughed about that moment. Guess he didn't want to use up two photos.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

All caught up again! The wine bar looks like a nice place to visit, but don't get too comfortable on that stool!

Your seafood dinner looked like a great place. Jim would have loved all the tentacles and everything. His fav is the Cioppino I would probably just go for the steamed clams. love them.

ALCATRAZ! Jim said it about every 5 minutes just to bug me when we were there - it was just kind of in the background every time we turned around. He had already visited during a Basketball tourney and I really don't do old prison tours - just creeps me out! Even your pic with the look back to the city through the fog looks ominous. You got some great shots. Yeah, not a place I would want to raise my kids.

 

[Nora03]

Hi Ellen,
We purchased our wine for our Alaska cruise in that wine store at the Ferry Bldg! Got a nice souvenir bag as well.

You picked a great location to stay. We stayed at the Marriott at Fisherman's Wharf and loved it, but EVERY tour we took started and ended at the Ferry Building!

Loving your report. Glad to see you are back to posting.

Norah

 

[rndmr2]

I was really far behind but thanks to your links I am now caught up.

Loving the TR so far, San Francisco looks like such a cool place, My Dad has always said it is one of his favorite cities to visit. I will have to get there someday.

Those hills and steps were crazy! Thank goodness you only had to go down them and not up!

Alcatraz definitely looked creepy

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Somehow I think I fell behind. Not sure how that happened. Are you doing ninja updates or something?

Anyway, I think Alcatraz looks way cool. Especially in that eerie early-morning fog they have going on there. How did you arrange that?

Thanks for the tips on getting tickets and the early bird tour. I'll have to lock that away for future reference.

The tour just looks way cool. I think I'm going to show the pictures of The Hole to my kids next time they fight over...well, it doesn't matter what they fight over.

I bet the views of the city are spectacular from there! If you can see it, that is.

 

[Beth D]

OK, i know I posted last week here, but can't find it?

Anyway, love your alcatraz pics! The place looks phenomenal in it's creepiness! The fog over the city is awesome!

I'll never say your calamari looks disgusting! It's my dad's favorite food! But not mine!

Can't wait to see what happens next!

 

[englishrose47]

Wow that was some tour !!! I definitely think I would like to take it !!

 

[eandesmom]

No, Cynthia, these stairs are NOT for you-

Oh man, you are no fun! You know I would have gone up.

I haven't been to Alcatraz since I was a little kid, like maybe 10 and the boys have never been. We really should do it next time we are down with the kids. What a fun, and creepy morning! I had NO idea families lived there. That is a total trip!

 

[podsnel]

I know! It's so crazy the things that attract me. "let's go to a prison and then ride the Space mountain."

Umm- hellOOOOOO- how do you think I planned this vacation?????

What a creepy place - especially with the fog! It would be an interesting tour though.

Yes- what will be MORE interesting is seeing who snorkels the longest in SXM in less than 8 weeks, Cruise girlfriend!

Another interesting place in California that I've never been to. I'm going to have to schedule some time to be a tourist in my home state!

Yea- that's what I always think-you DO need to be a tourist in your own state- we ALL do- I have lived in NJ my entire life, and I have NEVER been to the statue of liberty! I see her ALL THE TIME- it is just wrong!

 

[podsnel]

Love the Alcatraz update. What a change the time you visit makes. We have been to Alcatraz three times and always went later in the day and the place was always packed.

Wow! I have heard that, but my only experience there is what you just saw, so- very hard to imagine. I will have to tell my family to thank me extra tomorrow for how lucky they are to have me planning all their vacays, lol-

BTW - I made a note of that seafood restaurant you went to - we still want to do California in 2016 and that sounds right up Tom's street.

AWESOME!! But PLEEEEEEEEZ ask tom to order the Cioppino- it has been published (their recipe) in Saveur magazine, which is no slouch when it comes to food- http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Sotto-Mare-Cioppino

Wow! Awesome photos and very creepy place. The story about the hole gives me the chills!

THAT was NOT a good place- I don't recommend the hole! LOL!!!!!(sorry- it just sounds so bad!)

Really creepy place, bet there are some bad vibes there considering the population which was living there!

I think you might have something there......

The pics are amazing. Looks like a gorgeous city to visit.

Truly, it is- everyone should go!

LOL the Goofy cut out.

Yea- ......
I now have the Full House theme in my head. LOL

OOPS- you can blame those olson twins for bein so darn cute it JUST WON'T DIE!

I bookmarked his website for when we get out there.

Cool! Say hi from us!

LOL at the dessert menu.

Yea- it's very popular with many!

Great pics of Alcatraz. The night tour sounds like fun.

Let me know how that goes for ya if ya make it back.....

Ellen! Again - I am so sorry that I got so far behind! I was counting on being "subscribed" and something went awry - I'm so glad you popped back into my TR so my rapidly aging memory was jarred!

Yea- and then I STILL need to catch up! So sorry that life gets sooo busy!

Not totally caught up yet, but the tour sounds amazing! I am seriously considering doing something like that. I lived in SF for years, but I didn't visit half those places. Something about living somewhere for me - I can "do that anytime" so I never do it!

That's really true- when you are somewhere all the time you see it a certain way- you should put your tourist panties on, GIRL!

Of all the photos though my absolute favorite is the one where the woman just sat down and joined the photo!!! That is so hilarious! I can't even stand it!!!!!!!

Yea- it's totally ridiculous, and oh so perfect!

 

[knewton64]

.....mental note -

1) Got 12 pounds budgeted....CHECK!!
(so WHEN I gain 12 lbs on my upcoming San Fran adventure, net gain = ZERO.)


2) Got my wine tasting monies all set & budgeted - CHECK!!
(all your pics ROCK!!! and the video of the Tour Guide Monkee?? PRICELESS!)



Your pics of Alcatraz?? ** WILD !! ** LOVE IT!!
Can't wait to hear more -





T.T.F.N.

 

[KristiMc]

Yes- what will be MORE interesting is seeing who snorkels the longest in SXM in less than 8 weeks, Cruise girlfriend!

I can't wait!

 

[podsnel]

LOL ya when we went and they said families lived there the boys thought it was soo cool... They kept saying wow they got to live on an island.. um ya NO its not like Castaway Cay! LMAO

Yea- just a little different, lol!

Animal Style my favorite way to get dirty LOL

Of course it is....

Phew! All caught up!

I have been trying to catch up on yours- now THAT'S a CHALLENGE!! You are a writing machine!!

Your dinner in Little Italy looks amazing. And your evening out sounds so fun - I am pretty sure that is the same Ferry Building wine bar I occasionally visited after work (on the rare occasion that I commuted by ferry). Love that building!

It is awesome! I would be in there all the time if I lived in SF-

The Alcatraz tour looks so cool! I suppose I will have to wait a few years until DD is a bit older though.

Yes- I would imagine your mini princess would be a bit bored there-

Can't wait to hear more!

Me too! I wonder what's coming next!

That is so funny! Some people make you It reminds me of a time back home - we were at a Chinese place celebrating 3 family birthdays in April, and the owner went in the back and got a lady we didn't know and seated her at our table so the staff could sing Happy Birthday and then he took a polaroid photo for their wall! We have often laughed about that moment. Guess he didn't want to use up two photos.

What??? That's soo funny!

All caught up again! The wine bar looks like a nice place to visit, but don't get too comfortable on that stool!

Yea- they did have more reasonable glasses- those were just their special bottles for the day. We ended up buying 2 or 3 bottles for the rest of the trip-

Your seafood dinner looked like a great place. Jim would have loved all the tentacles and everything. His fav is the Cioppino I would probably just go for the steamed clams. love them.

Me too- I am a big clam fan. But I am an is=diot for not trying that Cioppino, I think-

ALCATRAZ! Jim said it about every 5 minutes just to bug me when we were there - it was just kind of in the background every time we turned around. He had already visited during a Basketball tourney and I really don't do old prison tours - just creeps me out! Even your pic with the look back to the city through the fog looks ominous. You got some great shots. Yeah, not a place I would want to raise my kids.

The whole thing was creepy, I have to say- but truly fascinating. And I would not have wanted to raise my family there EVER. So brutal!

 

[podsnel]

Hi Ellen,
We purchased our wine for our Alaska cruise in that wine store at the Ferry Bldg! Got a nice souvenir bag as well.

They have an excellent selection, don't they? We purchased a few bottles for our trip as well-

You picked a great location to stay. We stayed at the Marriott at Fisherman's Wharf and loved it, but EVERY tour we took started and ended at the Ferry Building!

I was really glad we stayed there.

Loving your report. Glad to see you are back to posting.

Norah

Yea- and then I took another break, lol!

I was really far behind but thanks to your links I am now caught up.

Glad they help!

Loving the TR so far, San Francisco looks like such a cool place, My Dad has always said it is one of his favorite cities to visit. I will have to get there someday.

Yes you will- I think you would be hard pressed to find ANY person who doesn't love that city- it is one of the best!

Those hills and steps were crazy! Thank goodness you only had to go down them and not up!

Absolutely!

Alcatraz definitely looked creepy

It was, but also fascinating.

Somehow I think I fell behind. Not sure how that happened. Are you doing ninja updates or something?

Look who's talking!

Anyway, I think Alcatraz looks way cool. Especially in that eerie early-morning fog they have going on there. How did you arrange that?

I am just very special that way.

Thanks for the tips on getting tickets and the early bird tour. I'll have to lock that away for future reference.

Sure thing! I will be writing something up for the travel agency I work for that will have more details.

The tour just looks way cool. I think I'm going to show the pictures of The Hole to my kids next time they fight over...well, it doesn't matter what they fight over.

Yea- it is most definitely NOT a good place to go-

I bet the views of the city are spectacular from there! If you can see it, that is.

Yes, that was part of the frustration for the inmates- to be so close to such a beautiful place, yet so very, very far.....

 

[podsnel]

OK, i know I posted last week here, but can't find it?

I just looked a little- couldn't find it either-

Anyway, love your alcatraz pics! The place looks phenomenal in it's creepiness! The fog over the city is awesome!

The fog is a big part of that city-

I'll never say your calamari looks disgusting! It's my dad's favorite food! But not mine!

LOVE calamari- so glad I don't have a tentacle phobia and I can just suck 'em up!

Can't wait to see what happens next!

Me too! It's so exciting, isn't it?

Wow that was some tour !!! I definitely think I would like to take it !!

You would really enjoy it Rosie!

Oh man, you are no fun! You know I would have gone up.

I do know that, yes!

I haven't been to Alcatraz since I was a little kid, like maybe 10 and the boys have never been. We really should do it next time we are down with the kids. What a fun, and creepy morning! I had NO idea families lived there. That is a total trip!

Have to say that if Pods came home one day and told me to pack it up, we're movin to the Rock, I think it would be time to say Adios Muchacho...

.....mental note -

1) Got 12 pounds budgeted....CHECK!!
(so WHEN I gain 12 lbs on my upcoming San Fran adventure, net gain = ZERO.)

Excellent! But you will be fine as long as you walk everywhere!


2) Got my wine tasting monies all set & budgeted - CHECK!!
(all your pics ROCK!!! and the video of the Tour Guide Monkee?? PRICELESS!)

Glad you liked it!

Your pics of Alcatraz?? ** WILD !! ** LOVE IT!!
Can't wait to hear more -

I will do my best!



T.T.F.N.

Yes- what will be MORE interesting is seeing who snorkels the longest in SXM in less than 8 weeks, Cruise girlfriend!

I can't wait!

I know- that is going to be a fun day!

 

[podsnel]

Now that we were back in the city, we decided it was time for some food- before our afternoon bike ride.

Which was going to be living hell, but I didn't know that yet.

I suggested we go to In N Out Burger over in Fisherman's Wharf- on the way....









I read that at this time of year these are frozen, not fresh- is that true?





It was not even noon yet, and already it was crowded- although this crowd is NOTHIN compared to what came in after 12-



Several DISpeeps had recommended we order Animal Style- so that's how Pods and I ordered our cheeseburgers- but without mustard. I REALLY do not like mustard on my burger, it just is WRONG.



YUMMMMM....totally missing this burger....



the boys had doubles, but plain-



And of course-



The verdict? Those are some fine and delicious burgers you got out there in Cali. Tyler is so enamoured with them he wants to open one in our town.



Which we are considering as an alternative to a $250 K college education- either that, or a Bushwacker truck. But I digress....

So, after our yummy lunch, we walked right next door to the Bike and Roll, listened to the lecture about where to ride our bikes, and then handed over our vouchers, only to find out DUH we were not at the right place! LOL- I am an idiot! I had gotten half off on the bike rentals using Groupon, but that was at Blazing Saddles NOT Bike and Roll, where we were.

I would like to point out- for future reference- that ALL FOUR OF US listened to the detailed presentation about where to ride your bike here. That would be bike tour map explanation #ONE of the day.

Just sayin.

We hoofed it over to Blazing Saddles after that. On the way, we passed the Cannery- an establishment that in 2 visits to SF I STILL have not visited along with Ghirardelli Square (this is where ghirardelli is located, so this is an extremely sad and annoying little factoid about my travels...).





Blazing Saddles was a MUCH larger operation than the other, and we were issued bikes, helmets, etc. THEN shown a video of WHERE TO RIDE THE BIKES ON THE SELF GUIDED TOUR. That would be tour map explanation #TWO of the day.

That ALL FOUR of us watched.

Just sayin.



Up next- why Pods is lucky I am not big enough to throw him off a bridge and how extremely close I came to spending the rest of my days in a penitentiary in Cali...oh the joys of family vacation.

 

[kid-at-heart]

The verdict? Those are some fine and delicious burgers you got out there in Cali. Tyler is so enamoured with them he wants to open one in our town.



Which we are considering as an alternative to a $250 K college education- either that, or a Bushwacker truck. But I digress....

Is Tyler a junior? Tell him to slow down. Sarah is right behind him and I am NOT ready to start researching universities. Does he have preferences? Sarah is saying Stanford but I think she should go to Gonzaga. My ex can pay for it since I paid for him to go there. Sounds fair to me.

 

[jedijill]

I have to get back to California just for the In-N-Out!!! I miss those!

Jill in CO

 

[jenseib]

So what does animal style mean. It does look good.