San Francisco April 19, 2012

Hello fellow travelers,

I was thinking, I am really doing all the hard work for you guys to enjoy this fabulous trip without having to walk up and down the hills, you don't have to deal with the jet lag, or the unseasonably cold weather.  I know you all appreciate it from the bottom of your hearts.  It does bring me to the first adventure we had yesterday. I needed a warm coat.  It is like a Florida winter here (really, I can see my breath each morning).  My sweaters were not enough to keep me warm.  We found a thrift store, Out of the Closet, and I bought a great coat that I hope I will be able to use in the winter.

We had two things on our agenda yesterday.  The first was Chinatown.  Along the way we found a trolley car.  I got to cross my first goal off my list; can you guess what it is?

"Rice-a-Roni, the San Francisco treat..."  Notice my new coat?

Along our path to Chinatown we stumbled across (not literally) some unusual signs.  Help me decipher them please.

I think the first one might mean "no hand holding heterosexual couples allowed" or maybe "men may not carry a man purse if the lady is carrying a purse too".  The second one was clearly written by a contrarian.

The time we were waiting for had arrived... the gate to Chinatown. 

If everywhere else in America everything is made in China, would everything sold in Chinatown be made there too?  Yep.  It was, we checked for the purpose of maintaining authenticity. We went into about half a dozen stores and bought a few little silly things.  Then we got something to eat.  We found a cute little french restaurant in the heart of Chinatown...just kidding.  We ate Chinese.  We're not ones to normally eat with chopsticks, but as mentioned yesterday, when in Rome...

After eating we decided to get off the beaten Chinatown path and head down some side streets.  This is where the fun began.  I saw a store named/called something creative like "HERBS AND SPICES" and we went inside.  It was not an herb and spice store, it was a Chinese apothecary.  It was fascinating to look around and on the counter, in front of the hundreds of apothecary drawers, was a large sheet of paper with all sorts of interesting dried things, including what looked like dried snake skin carefully piled on.  A man behind the counter was weighing various spices and herbs for a waiting customer.  I didn't take any pictures because it seemed like such disrespect "oh... look at the cute Chinese people...let me take a picture..."

I have an apology to make.  For all of you who ordered chickens yesterday; I didn't find any, so I bought you some fish instead.

After Chinatown we headed back home with enough time to relax for a short time before heading out to a Toastmaster meeting.  The Golden Gate Toastmasters.  The did not have a banner so I did not take a picture of myself there because it would simply look like me standing with a bunch of strangers, which of course is exactly what it would have been.  I did not get an opportunity to speak, therefore I did not get an opportunity to win the ribbon.  After the meeting we went out to eat at a place called The Irish Bank.  It was not a bank, nor was there anything especially Irish about it.  The food was okay and two of the Toastmasters gave me some suggestions to get over my devastating contest loss last year.  

We stumbled back home around 11:00 our time, 2:00 your time and collapsed into bed.  Today we are planning on renting bicycles and riding over the Golden Gate Bridge into Sausalito.  Let's hope I can save a jumper...

San Francisco April 17, 2012

Bob and I arrived at the airport dark and early.  The sun had not yet risen.  We made it through security unscathed but I did get my very first- wait for it- PAT DOWN!  Maybe it was my suspicious gait and demeanor, or maybe it was the strip tease I did while disrobing.  Shoes, jacket, belt...It's all about perspective.  I could've taken them all off the way I do at home, but how often do I get an audience of a hundred or so people?  The pat down was not as intimate as I had hoped for, but after all, it was my first time.

While I on the plane I watched the flight attendant model and display the oxygen mask.  How does one acquire a flight oxygen mask without actually participating in a flight disaster?  Any ideas?

In the Dallas Airport I saw these very strange signs:

I can't imagine what kind of severe weather would be happening in there, unless they are referring to the automatic flushing toilets.  In case you think it might be a female thing; there was one at the men's room too.

From the airport we took a shared shuttle.  The young girl sitting in the front seat insisted on keeping her headphones in her ears and saying, "What? What? What?" the woman behind us kept complaining about how long she'd been sitting in the shuttle, and the driver, who's accent was was thick and voice far too low to reach the back seat, kept having to repeat himself, "Miss Diana...where you go?" while driving AND trying to program his GPS.  The young girl asked if he would like her to take the wheel.  That's when he decided to pull over.

While at the airport we found the pariah section jokingly called the smoking section.  It's inside the green lines.  Yes, San Francisco, the most unfriendly city to smokers in the world.

We arrived safe and sound at our host's home where he was waiting for us with a smile.  He showed us around his home, which was built in 1883, and ran off to work.  We headed out to get some transportation passes and then down to Fisherman's Wharf.  We didn't actually make it that far.  The temperature was dropping and I needed some socks.  Yes, I know that socks with Birkenstocks will make me stand out as the tourist that I am, but I'm okay with that.

We found a little restaurant in the Ferry Building where I ordered far more than my stomach can possibly hold.  Then we took a trolley back home.

Along our travels we saw one man who didn't seem to be bothered by the cold at all.

While I'm usually the first to say, "When in Rome..." I'm not taking my clothes off.

Off to Chinatown today. Anyone need me to pick them up a chicken or two?

Diana's Going on a Trip April 16, 2012

Hello friends and family,

I had so much fun taking you to London with me so I've decided to take you along for my next adventure.  For those who didn't come with me last time, I thought it would be more fun to have you along for this one.  Many of you may not know that Bob and I are heading off to the City by the Bay, the City that Knows How, The Paris of the West, Frisco, or as I like to call it, San Fran.  That's right, we are headed west to San Francisco. This time we are going for one week and we are leaving the kids at home!

Some of you may be thinking, Why?  Why San Francisco?  Well I've always wanted to go there, ever since I was a young girl and watched Karl Mulden and Mike Douglas get the bad guys on the Streets of San Francisco.  Yep, that had me hooked.  Person after person says to me, "San Francisco is my favorite city."  Everyone can't be wrong.  I'm hoping to make it one of my favorites too.

We are not doing a home exchange this time.  Instead we are renting a room from a man named Geo.  He lives in "The Castro".  That's the name of one of the areas of the city.  The children will be home.  Feel free to stop by and check on them, day or night, rain or snow.  Surprise them, see what they're feeding Hannah and Matthew.  Make sure the dog is still alive.  Call the police in the event there is a party.  Ha Ha.  Just kidding (well, not about calling the police about the party).  We have them all taken care of and there is no need to worry about them.  I know you were worried.

I have a short list of goals I hope to achieve in the short time I'm there:

#1 Hang off the back of a trolley singing, "Rice a Roni, the San Francisco Treat"

#2 Go to Chinatown and learn Mandarin (after all, I'll be there for a whole week)

#3 Escape from Alcatraz

#4 Save a jumper on the Golden Gate Bridge

We've been watching the weather and the time. Unlike the weather, which actually changes, no matter when I check they are always, always three hours behind us.  The weather has been chilly- highs in the mid 60's and lows in the mid 50's.  Time to go finish packing my warm clothes.  

See you there,

Diana