Jamie and I took a quick "jet set" trip to San Francisco. I was in SF for business so he flew up on Friday night. As soon as he got in we took off and explored the city...
We stayed at the Galleria Park Hotel. Great location - walking distance to shopping, the Bart station, China Town and Little Italy. What more could you ask for?
I loved the Farinelli store front. Picture frame windows with spectacular presentations. Gifts for the eyes...
Another cool store front...
There was a great card store. Except, the lady of the shoppe did not want us to take pictures. I was able to get just this one before she stopped us...
China Town is an experience for the senses. Sight, smell, sound, touch...it has it all!
Jamie loves tea. We stopped into this tea shop where the shop keeper would let you taste test the teas. He would put the leaves in a delicate china cup and stir them around with the lid. Then, he would pour a little shot of tea into a tiny tea cup. We tasted so many different varieties and colors - red, green, white. There was one tea that cost $200 for a quarter pound. It was grown at 7,500 foot elevation. At the end, we spent about $175 for a water warmer, tea cups, tea pot and tea. That's without buying the $200 per quarter pound tea. At first, we had buyers remorse. But when we got home and began playing with the warmer, tea pot and teas - we were very happy.
Just goofing around...
The International Food Court...7 cool restaurants in one little alley...
The Flag...
Getting Directions...
Groovy Signage...
I loved this green building with red awnings. It dares to stand alone amidst the modern buildings of the city. How cool is the fire escape??? I could live here!!!!!
As I was getting ready to walk into a book store I saw this man wearing these amazing pants. I asked him if I could get a picture and he was willing to pose for my camera. Jamie and Bruno ended up chatting for 20 minutes. Bruno was from Italy and we asked him where a good place to eat in Little Italy. He said, nowhere! The food was poison. He was very passionate about his food. He went on to explain how in Italy they would grow their own produce and all the other items like meat or cheese would come from neighboring farms. How wonderful would that be???
While Jamie was chatting up Bruno I took a look in the book store. I love this shot at the bottom of the steps.
Jamie has always wanted to open an Italian deli. This is what it would look like...
Jamie and I asked around for a good Italian restaurant. Recommendations were Tiramisu, Tomascos and Cafe Puccini. As we were walking around in Little Italy...I spotted it. Pizza. I could just tell by the way it looked it was just what we were looking for. This crust, good sauce, gooey cheese...
Delish...
Saturday morning breakfast at Lori's Diner...
After breakfast, we decided to take the trolly down to the wharf.
We stopped at Boudin's for elevensies (you will only get this if you watched Lord of the Rings)...
The Golden Gate...
Crabs...
We saw this man practicing his Tai Chi. I can't even tell you how beautiful the movements are...
We came upon this Irish dance troup. Very creative, talented and funny!
Jamie took the money shot, see below:
Then off to Ghiradella Square for chocolate and cupcakes (second breakfast - once again, you have to be a Lord of the Rings fan to get this)...
Jamie wanted to rent motorized bikes. I was all up for it until I realized I had to ride bikes in San Francisco traffic. So we decided to take the Hop on Hop off Bus. This worked out really well since it took us to the Presidio - where the Walt Disney Museum is. Jamie even scored us free tickets for the museum by asking the bus tour operator if they had discount tickets. As Jamie says, it never hurts to ask...
This is the Oscar Disney received for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs...
Taking a break...enjoying my thoughts...
You, you, you...
After we were done at the Disney museum we "hopped" back on the bus. Kinda like a double-decker only no deck on bottom. Everyone sits on top of the bus. All of a sudden I hear Jamie say to the driver...you are pushing him!!! Our driver, was so busy giving his talk did not see this small car in front of him. He was literally pushing this tiny car with his big, bus bumper...
A view from the top (of the bus)...
By the time the day was over we were exhausted.
We were hungry. Jamie was still craving the pizza we had the night before. We were deciding how we would get there? Walk, no way, my feet were killing me.
Trolly, no, no, no!!! Too cold!!!
Then, we remembered the pizza place delivered. Then we were trying to remember their name. Then, we remembered, we took a picture of their sign. Phone number and name included. How lucky is that???
After a great weekend, Jamie and I decided we wanted to get home early. I had been traveling all week so we decided to take the 9:30 am flight. We decided this last minute so every minute needed to count. While Jamie was getting packed and dressed I went downstairs to get us checked out and arrange for a shuttle to the airport. Off we go. Picking up people along the way. As we were driving Jamie said, hmmm...he is going south. We figured he was going to go around the Golden Gate bridge so as not to pay the toll. Uh, oh. Jamie realized he was taking us to San Fran airport. Our flight was leaving out of Oakland. We scrambled to a taxi to see how much it would cost. We were told $90. Forget that!!! So, off we went to find the Bart station. We got on Bart and realized we had to transfer. It was 8:08. We got off at Daly Station. Our transfer came within a minute. Whew. Then, we got to the end of Bart. We still needed to get a bus to the airport. 9:00 am. I am panicking!!!! Jamie is trying to calm me down. I am calling Southwest. Just to make sure we could get the next flight. The bus driver said we had a 12 minute bus ride to the airport. Get to the airport - it's 9:23. Our flight leaves at 9:35. No way we can make it. We still have security to go through. No one in line. I dash through security. Go up the stair. Our gate is right there. I am running. I make it!!! Next thing I hear over the loud speaker - James Whitney your flight is ready to leave. Where is the rat bastard???? HURRY!!!!! Finally, he gets in. He got stopped because he tried to smuggle water and tea in his backpack. Damn guy!!! Any way...we made it...
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