San Francisco

Yesterday (that is to say, Saturday) we went to San Francisco. Just me and Noah. Early in the morning (well, about half past eight) we set off on a 90-minute drive through beautiful mist-wreathed hills (driving on windy roads sometimes above the clouds, sometimes below) to Vallejo, whence one can easily take a ferry across the bay. It was quite a dinky ferry but good fun - you could go out onto a little side deck, where we quickly became thoroughly windswept. One man's hat blew off as he was taking a photo, and hit me in the face! It took about an hour to get over to San Francisco.

Once there, our only knowledge of the city (other than hearsay, and clips from films) contained within a free city map we'd picked up at the ferry, we decided to start by wandering towards Chinatown, as it seemed fairly close to the ferry building. It was, indeed, very Chinese. We almost went for lunch, but decided against it when the "vegetarian restaurant" we had picked turned out to serve such delights as pork, prawns and beef. Instead we each purchased a set of souvenir chopsticks from a shop full of knives and fireworks, none of which, sadly, we felt we'd be able to take home legally.

After Chinatown we decided to wander towards Pier 39, as someone (he doesn't remember who) had recommended the area to Noah. On the way an old man asked us for some money; Noah obliged and he gave us directions through Little Italy. There we had some pizza slices (mmm, cheese and pesto!) before continuing our walk though the picturesque city. Some of the buildings would be quite at home in London (given a good coating of grime); others are decidedly more colourful and American-looking. The city is full of fun murals (especially a huge one of two whales by the sea). We passed a Spanish-speaking church outside which was a band and a group of people dancing and singing hallelujah. It looked pretty fun. I contemplated joining in, but didn't think Noah would quite want to - and indeed, when I stepped forward to walk away, he did give me a very nervous look.

Anyway, we made it down to Pier 39 and saw lots of touristy shops and - right in the midst of boats, piers, tourists and all - loads and loads of sealions! It was fun to watch them clambering on and off the floating docks, gleaming from the sea, tiny and huge slithering across each other. Next we walked down in the direction of the distant Golden Gate Bridge, stopping off at Coldstone for me to buy Noah his victory ice cream (his reward for managing to watch all three Lord of the Rings extended editions in one day). Mmmm, cake batter ice cream with peanut butter cups and peanut M&Ms!

We walked through a little park, taking photos of the distant bridge, and then - I had my first ever ride on an American bus! Woo hoo! It took us right up to the bridge, where we took a good many photographs (to be put online as soon as I can) and walked up to the first tower. It's - well, it's a big orange bridge. Very... bridgey. Yep, it's a bridge.

After the bridge (and the enormous queue for the toilets) we took the bus back into town, handily getting off right outside a Taco Bell. So that was dinner sorted. Then we walked along some expensive shops on the way to the crookedest street (so it's marked on the map, although I think the official name is Lombard). It was a crazy wiggle of a road, too steep for cars to go straight up and down. It really made me laugh that some people still have driveways and garages on it. There were hordes of tourists (ourselves included ) clustered at each end, walking up and down, and driving along with cameras thrust out of their passenger windows.

It was getting late, so we headed back towards Pier 39 to check the details about the ferry home. On the way we paused at a streetside stall where I parted with some of my birthday money in exchange for a swirly glass necklace and a spirally bag (I've been needing a new one for ages). We found the place where we thought the ferry would come. There was no information whatsoever, the offices were all closed, and there wasn't any indication that our ferry company used the dock at all. However, we remained fairly confident that the ferry would turn up. We just had time to dash over to Subway (the nearest place where we could get something to drink) and back again, to see the ferry in all its glory. Pretty exhausted by this point, we climbed aboard and enjoyed flicking through our photos on the way back to Vallejo. We both had a really good day and arrived home somewhat fatigued.

Oh, and San Francisco definitely makes it onto the list.