Cali Day 2

10 April 2010

Saturday

8:30 am

Sam and I left Kylie’s and now we are back on the wide open road. San Francisco… HERE WE COME!!!

Stopped for gas at a mini mart in Sonora. I paid. $40.25?! Sick. $3.05/gallon.

*** En route to San Francisco ***

The terrain is beautiful!! So lush and green! The perfect ratio of field, hill, rock. The long green grass, reddish rock, and trees growing throughout – not too thick, not too thin. = gorgeous! Once in awhile there’s cows grazing in the fields. We’ve passed millions of amazing picture opportunities. Shucks. Too bad there's no time for us to stop at all of them.

11:12 am

US – 101 N – about 25 minutes from S.F.

Driving on the freeway I’m staring out the window at all the other people here on the road as we pass them and they pass us. I sure am admiring the variety of nationalities I’m seeing J We're not in Rexburg anymore, Sam.

“That guy looked like he was driving with his eyes closed. He must be Asian.”

11:48 am

SAN FRANCISCO!!!!

We tried to check into our hotel. Can’t until three. We’ll explore and discover until then.

1:30 pm

Just got back in the car after admiring the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s windy and just started to rain. Welcome to the Sunshine state! ;)

[Sure was blustery!]

Now we are in search of food. In-N-Out Burger it’s you for lun lun. Yum yum!

2:18 pm

Cheeseburgers at In-N-Out totally awesome!! Well deserving of the hype. Probably the best burger I’ve ever eaten.

Fries… lacking. The price is good on the wallet too. Met a nice couple. (The place was packed!! They shared our table.) They gave us good touristie advice. He works for Apple. J

[Our new friends are in the middle of the frame, man with the bald head, cute girl in the black sweater.]

We went north on the Golden Gate Bridge. To go around would cost us an hour and a half. I don’t think so. We’ll pay $6 to drive back across.

5:17 pm

Checked into the Encore express. Right in the heart of S.F. It’s an old building. I like it! Our room is one room and we share a bathroom with the whole floor. This is an adventure…

Highlights from the day:

After our delicious animal style hamburgers we went to Ghirdelli square.

We walked into a couple of stores on the square and was given a complimentary square of chocolate filled with creamy caramel. J Mmm… now that’s what I’m talkin’ about !

We also walked over to Fisherman’s Wharf.

Tons of street vendors, people perfoming for a price,

people playing music for tips, and bums just plain asking for money to buy their next beer.

[At least he's honest, eh?]

Sam took a picture of a bum. He insisted it would be better if one of us were in it with him. So I jumped right in...I dunno, what do you think? :)

Then it was Sam's turn when we found the next one.

[No worries, Ma. We didn't contribute to their bad habits. :) But we didn't give them a passalong card either :( Next time. ]

After watching a bunch of boys break dancing, I’ve decided that they are the most fit people in the world. Ever. Their abs, arms, thighs, everything! Was super toned! Perhaps I should take up that sport.

We also passed a boy in front of a winery. He called to us and wanted us to come over to talk to him. Probably so that he could get us to try some wine. Gick! We got ice cream next door. On the way back we were going to pass the same place again, (For the 4th time that day...) but then spotted the boy and made a hasty 180. That wasn’t awkward…or cowardly…. ;)

There was also a guy who was holding bundles of branches who jumped out at Sam and I. (Come to find out, he's pretty much famous. Everybody who's been to S.F. [and some who haven't] know about this "Bush Guy") Terrified the both of us.

We got back into the parking garage. We found the car, just didn't know how to get to it... well we did know how to get to it... it's just not the route most people go.

11:30 pm

Just got back from Wicked!!!

It was totally wicked!!!! Oh my AMAZING!!! It was fantastic, brilliant, wonderful!! The talent on stage (and under the stage) was phenomenal.

I also got my first (and second) ever ride in a taxi!

The ride cost $6 one way for LESS than a mile. [Less than a mile, it's true. We could have walked. But we were recommended against it by our In-N-Out friends. They told us we would be walking through an area with homeless people. And while they might not harm us, it would be awkward. Plus, we got to hail a taxi!] Yikes! I’m glad I don’t need a taxi very often! Din din at Burger King. Gosh! I’m burgered out. Where’s my tacos?!

There was a guy in B.K. who was mumbling the whole time. “Turrets.” Sam said , matter of Factly ;) ) Not gonna lie, it kinda freaked me out. Also, while I was sitting there stuffing my face with the last burger of the day, the boys who played “Fiyero” and “Boq” walked past the window we were eating by. They were handsome. And I was... not ('member? Shoving a chicken burger into my mouth so we could leave the crazy man behind). Let's not talk about that part. ;)

Time for bed!