On the road

We are getting lazy. It was 6am before I did the coffee run down to the lobby, and 7.15 before we arrived in the restaurant for breakfast. Yesterday it was heaving in there, today (Sunday) just us. San Franciscans must like a Sunday lie in. We had already decided yeterday after seeing other people's plates that vicky and I would have the continental and ian the parfait. Ours had two huge muffins, a croissant, a bowl of mixed berries, and of course jam and cream. Ian's was granola with yoghurt, berries and honey. They all filled the spot nicely. 

Our plan for the day was to see the tiny fraction of San Fran we didn't see yesterday, then drive down to Monterey. 

We checked out of the hotel and retrieved the beast from the garage, then programmed the Golden Gate Bridge into the sat navy on Ian's phone. We wanted to park this side, so as not to incur a toll, then walk on it a bit and take photos. The first day I had mistakenly said that there are no hills in San Francisco, today we saw how wrong that was! Just wow. The sat nav(Brian) took us along Divisadero, and it was amazing. Here's a photo from the front window. Although it doesn't do justice to how it feels to be driving up and down these hills. 

 After that excitement , Brian told us to take the next right as we approached the turn off. "NEXT RIGHT!" I screamed, "I CAN'T" ian screamed back. A car on our inside had suddenly found lane discipline and wouldn't let us off. With no other choice the beast sailed serenely over the Golden Gate Bridge while Ian and I argued whose fault it was. The views were spectacular though, and when the sat nav told us to take the next right and it turned out to be Vista Point, all the arguments were forgotten. "Well done dear" I crooned as we pulled up to a car park perched on an outcrop beside the bridge, and with views over the harbour to the city and Alcatraz. There was no chatge, and relatively few people at such an early hour. 

Next we drove back over the bridge, incurring another toll that we had no idea how to pay, and parked up next to Golde Gate Park. This is a lovely green spot in the city centre, similar to Central Park I suppose. We wandered around and found a beautiful lake with turtles swimming in it and with loads of exciting (to Ian) birds flitting around. 

We then came upon a Japanese tea garden

Followed by hot dogs. Vickys was tofurkey. (Mmmm)

We passed through Shakespeare's garden, where all the plants are mentioned in Shakespeare's plays. 

Then we exited the park and walked up a hill (!) to find the beautiful 16th street steps. Some of us went up, some didn't. 

Back at the car it was time to bid goodbye to San Fran for a couple of weeks and drive down to Monterey. We managed, after some Brian related problems, to join the coast road at Pacifica. It was well worth the trouble. Away from the city's frantic pace the road seemed slow and peacful, and the views were outstanding. 

Tired and hungry we arrived at the Monterey hotel around 7pm. We dumped our stuff and headed to Peter B's brew pub just over the road. Vicky got her wish to have fish tacos, and we all got great sounding drinks. My cocktail was 'tequila mockingbird' and Ian's beer 'belly up blonde'. Back over the road we all showered (despite there being both a bath and shower in the big bathroom), and fell into bed. 

Hotel watch

Lady on reception wasn't the most welcoming but room Is huge with a little sitting area, kitchen, and balcony. No robes! Despite it saying they have them in the blurb. We do have a coffee machine and coffee but no milk. A fridge contains water and two cans of pop. It doesn't say you have to pay so we are going to drink them. Shower was lovely and conditioner provided. We also have a big fire that hopefully we don't need to use, although it's not especially warm out.! We are here two nights so I'll score it tomorrow after we've sampled the breakfast. 

Song for the day

I left my heart in San Francisco- Tony Bennett

Couldn't be anything else