Last Day 15... Shake, Rattle and Roll

Shake, Rattle and Roll

Today we felt an earthquake.

The ground shook below us for about 30 seconds, as we held on. Books and dinnerware rattled about. About a minute or so later, we again felt the ground shake even more violently for another 30 seconds.

But all was well.

For our last day, we decided to visit the California Academy of Sciences. They had a demonstration room that simulated the earthquakes of 1989, and the more powerful quake of 1906. In addition, their show in the planetarium was also dedicated to earthquakes.

We walked through the African Hall, saw penguins, and walked onto their living roof. A roof covered with various low maintenance plants. Not only does it save on the heating and cooling costs of the building, it decreases heat dissipated into the city, and affords a living place for birds and insects.

Most impressive, was their many aquariums. Some that simulated a two story coral reef, while many smaller ones contained various aquatic life. The variety and beauty was breath taking.

Unfortunately we ran out of time, and could not visit their multi-storied Rain Forests of the World exhibit.

We walked through Golden Gate Park and then took the bus back towards home. We got off several blocks further to go to another of Gail's recommendations. For supper we decided on the Red Jade Restaurant at 245 Church Street.

We ordered hot and sour soup, with an appetizer of Dim Sum. For our meal, we had Mongolian Beef, General Tso's Chicken, and Szechuan Broccoli. The flavors where wonderfully balanced and delicious.

Our last day in San Francisco was a pleasant one. Now it is time to back our bags, and get ready for our flight home tomorrow.

Photographer's note:  Today's photography was all done with my Samsung Galaxy SII android cell phone.

Cheers,

Hera & Anthony

Day 14... Walking about

Walking about


The first order of the day was to drop off the car. We rarely rent a car, and when we do, it is usually for just a day or so. This time, having the car for four days, we got used to it, and I was a bit sorry to let it go. How quickly we get spoiled.

The drop off was at the border of the Financial and Shopping districts. Hera's eyes lit up when I suggested we walk over into Macy's. We explored all seven floors. Hera is the shopper, while I am the one who found a piece of ideal furniture, a powered reclining sofa. It was a good thing it was a bit too big for carry-on...!

We walked over a square to Tiffany's and perused their wares, before we started to walk towards the city center.

We walked along Geary, then zig-zagged our way to another of Gail's suggestions, the Red Crawfish at 611 Larkin Street. We were handed a lunch menu of various Chinese plates, but saw no crawfish. We asked, and we were handed another menu.

Hera ordered a pound of crawfish in an extra spicy sauce, along with rice, while I also ordered a pound of their crawfish but with a medium spicy sauce, along with some Cajun fries.

They were delicious, but messy to eat. I have seen some people eat crawfish so quickly, while Hera and I had to work hard to get to each tiny morsel of meat.

Poor Hera. At one point as she struggled with the tiny crawfish shell, a splash of her extra spicy hot sauce squirted into her eye. Both our hands were covered in spicy sauce, as Hera pressed a napkin to her eye.

I motioned to a waitress, who came over and helped Hera to a washroom to wash her hands, and I told her to rinse her eyes.

Other patrons asked if everything was alright.

I had mentioned that she ordered the extra spicy sauce, and they chuckled at first thinking it was too hot for her, but then they became quite concerned when I told her that it splashed in her eye.

Hera returned, with one bloodshot eye, but with a smile on her face.

After our meal, we walked a bit around the neighborhood. We had seen city hall on one of our first walks, but we did not enter. Today, we decided to enter. It is impressive.

A free tour was starting in 10 minutes, so we decided to take it. Our guide was very pleasant and informative, and directed our attention to various aspects of the building that we might not have noticed. One of which, is that the dome of San Francisco's City Hall is the fourth largest in the world. St. Peter's at the Vatican being the largest, followed by the Duomo in Florence, then Les Invalids of Paris. The Capital in Washington is smaller, taking fifth place.

Marilyn Monroe married Joe DiMaggio here in one of the rooms, but since the building's recent renovations, couples have been getting married at the top of the wonderful staircase. While we were there, there must have been over 5 weddings that took place, one after the other.

We then hopped onto a bus, up Haight street, that included going up several blocks of very steep slopes. We got off at the beginning of the strip of shops in the Haight-Ashburry neighborhood.

We had last been here when the street was a party street filled with costumed people after they finished the B2B race. Today, less festive, it was still a fun filled street of colorful people, shops and street performers.

We walked into several shops, from vintage clothes to shoe stores.

We ended up at ChaChaCha's. A funky Latino restaurant. We ordered a half pitcher of Sangria, some fried calamari, a marinated pulled pork quesadila, and some guacamole.

Well fed, we walked across the strip once again, then a bit further, to take our bus back home.

Even though we were spoiled with the car for four days, we still did a good walk today, and the climb up the steep hill was not so bad.

Photographer's note:  All today's shots were done with Samsung Galaxy SII. Yup, with a cell phone. There are days I do not feel like carring a camera. :)

Cheers,

Hera & Anthony

Day 13...The 49 Mile Scenic Drive

The 49 Mile Scenic Drive


San Francisco has a marked 49 mile scenic drive, that takes you around its various neighborhoods. Since we still had the car, we decided to give it a try.

Our apartment was only a couple of blocks away from part of the loop, so that is where we started. It took us through some of the streets of our neighborhood, then crossed Castro street. I am a bit surprised that Castro Street was not part of the drive, as it is a very impressive and colorful street.

It then took a long loop into the southwest corner of town before it headed for the water front. Making mistakes is often fortuitous. At times we lost our path, and as we searched for the route, we came across unexpected views.

We drove in front of the Ferry Building, then made our way onto Market Street. The route went North, and then into Japan Town. A section we had not really visited.

Hera remembered that Gail had suggested a restaurant here. I parked and checked my cellphone. I had placed Gail's restaurant suggestions on my cell phone's google maps, and a few were nearby.

We parked the car, and walked a bit in Japan Town. It was really the first time we felt mildly warm to walk outside with a jacket. We found Mifune Restaurant at 1737 Post Street.. Hera ordered a bowl of Japanese vegetable soup with udon noodles and the Unagi. I ordered the bowl of seaweed with udon noodles and also went for the Unagi.

When we left, we could feel some of the cool wind once again. Not too cold, but no longer really warm.

We continued our drive as the route took us back into the financial district, then up into Chinatown. Walking and driving are two very different experiences, and we were happy that we did both.

Soon we were at Coit Tower, and we drove up and parked the car. The views of the city are spectacular. We could even see the crookedest street from here.

The drive then took us across the Fisherman's Wharf area, across the Marina to the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. It had been on my agenda to walk here on one of our earlier walks, but the cold wind had deterred us that day.

The scenic drive then continued to Land's End and the Cliff House, two places that Gail had driven us to earlier. It then followed the beach for quite a distance south, then looped around Lake Merced, as we toured a very different neighborhood in the southwest section of the city.

The route continued north and entered Golden Gate Park. Once again, driving through a park and walking are two very different enjoyable experiences.

Once out of the park, the scenic drive continued to another place Gail had brought us to, Twin Peaks. The wind blew hard and cold high on the hill, but again, the views were worth it.

The scenic drive ended next to home.

But with the sun getting low, we decided to head back to a couple of places to catch a different light, and watch the sun set.

As we drove back, we had intended to try another of Gail's suggestions, but when we saw Mel's Diner, we got side tracked and stopped in there for supper.

Well fed, a full day, and tired, we drove back home.

Cheers,

Hera & Anthony

Day 12...Wine Country

Wine Country


We again headed North today, but instead of hugging the coast, we went inland, and finally felt some heat. Not quite as warm as balmy Montreal, but at least we felt warm.

We first arrived in the Sonoma valley. I was a bit surprised to see vineyard after vineyard growing on flat open fields. I am much more accustomed to seeing vines growing along hillsides. When we headed over to the Napa valley, I started to see the more traditional vineyards planted on hillsides, but soon, there too, I noticed that several vineyards were planted on flat plains.

We drove through several towns in the area. Our favorite was probably Yountville. It was also one that Gail had suggested, as well as the Bouchon bakery. We walked along the quaint streets, and found the Bouchon bakery. Their breads looked wonderful. Next to it, was a very elegant Bouchon restaurant. We decided to splurge, and had a wonderful lunch.

Hera and I both ordered their Spring Garlic soup, that was scrumptious. No doubt there was a good dose of butter along with the garlic. It was silky smooth, the flavorful garlic was delicious, and not overpowering nor too strong.

Hera ordered a Wine, Saffron and Roasted Garlic Mussel dish, that came with a tall order of fries, along with a Rose. While I had a Steak et Frites with a Pinot Noir. Our meals were wonderful.

The restaurant recreates a French Bistro, with the courteous waiters apronned with a table cloth tied behind their back. I was tempted to call out... "Garçon, l'addition SVP." But I didn't.

Shortly there after we visited the Domain Chadon winery. I had tasted some of their champagne styled wines before, and we tasted 5 while we were there. As an added bonus, we were told we could keep our wine flutes.

We drove along the area, seeing some names that we recognized, and names that we did not.

One very familiar name, Beringer, was where we stopped again. This place offered a tour along with a tasting, which we decided to go for.

This is the oldest winery in continuous operation. During the Prohibition, thousands of wineries closed, but Beringer was able to get a permit to make wine for the Church.

Built on the side of the hill, tunnels were dug into the hill to be its wine cellar. As we walked into the cool tunnels, we were given a sample of very young wine out of the barrel. It was barreled only 4-5 months, and you could taste the harsh wall of tannins, but if you looked for it, you could find a fair amount of fruit hiding behind. It definitely needed more time, as well as time to mellow in a bottle for awhile too before it was really ready.

We walked into the vineyards to see the growing vines, and the tiny fruits that we just starting to form, then we entered a luxurious house for our tasting.

Gail had suggested that on our way back, we take the Silverado trail. It is a lovely and picturesque road, that winds its way on the Eastern edge of Napa valley. Again we passed by several names we recognized.

The ride back home was not eventful. We did decided to stop at our local Safeway to pick up some groceries, and were shocked at the frigid temperature. After feeling at least warm for most of the day, we were back in frigid Frisco.
 
Cheers,
 
Hera & Anthony

Day 11...Heading South

Heading South


Who would have thought we were on the same highway 1 as yesterday. North of San Francisco, the road is constantly twisting and turning like the eddies of the rough surf. It was a fun road to drive, but quite tiring after several hours of spinning the wheel back and forth.

South of San Francisco, the same highway 1, is calm and serene. There were no surprise vistas like yesterday that only appeared after a sharp turn, today, the vistas opened up slowly and progressively in front of you as we drove south.

Produce stands abound on the roads here, and it all looks so tempting. We ended up buying cherries again, as they make good easy snacks while driving.

To really appreciate the views, you have to stop the car, and there are many safe opportunities for that.

We snaked our way past Santa Cruz to Monetary. I was a bit surprised that Hera did not want to stop at Monetary to take a look at its Fisherman's Wharf and Canary Row. So we kept on to Carmel.

Just before Carmel, is the famous Pebbles Beach Golf course, as well as a scenic 17 mile drive around the complex. We turned in, paid our fee, and followed the well laid out road. Some of the houses alone are worth the ticket price.

Several wonderfully scenic views can be seen as one drives around.

Of course we had to take a peek into some of the shops. We ended up with a cap for me, and a golf ball for Hera to add to her collection.

We exited Pebbles Beach, and very soon turned into Carmel by the Sea. We parked the car, and walked a bit. The area is filled with boutiques of all sorts.

Our tummies were getting hungry, so we walked into an Italian Restaurant. We enjoyed our meal, sitting outside. Basking in the heat from the sun, we ate dressed in our polars.

After our meal, we walked about a bit more, then headed back home.

Cheers,

Hera & Anthony