The holiday starts right here

It's 5:15 am in San Francisco and I'm wide awake. I have of course been in bed for 10 hours due to the time difference. Our plan for today is to breakfast at 7am (as soon as the restaurant opens) then walk down to pier 33 where we have booked a boat trip to Alcatraz Island. We then have a detailed plan for visiting San Frans other must see spots. The weather is set to be sunny but not too warm at 16 degrees. Should be a great day.

It was indeed a great day! We did so much I'll just give the highlights.

We started with an American breakfast, so jam and cream on the bacon and egg. Why?

We then set off on the 1.5mile walk to pier 33 for our trip to Alcatraz. The streets were relatively quiet except for the tramps. San Francisco has even more than Calgary, and that's saying something. Good job we booked the trip as there are no places now till July 7th. On the boat out we had great views of the island, and of course the Golden Gate, along with a flock of Pelicans skimming the water and an unidentified sea creature. 

On arrival we were introduced to a former inmate who was there to sign his book. He said he was sent there for trying to escape from other prisons, but not why he was in those in the first place. The tour of the cell block was accompanied by an audio narration and was very atmospheric. The cells were tiny and it was fantastic to see where some famous prisoners were kept. 

Back on the mainland we strolled along to see the famous sea lions on pier 39, and eat lunch of clam chowder served in hollowed out bread, the local speciality. 

Then further along to fishermans wharf, before buying an ice cream in Giardellis. We needed the nourishment to climb one of San Frans steep hills in order to see Lombard street, apparently the worlds crookedest street. 

Next it was the highlight of the day, a cable car ride. One came along looking pretty full. "You two stand on the front" said the driver. Vicky and I had to cling on to the running boards at the side for dear life as we climbed up, then down some hills that felt like 1:1, amazing! As we got off in Chinatown Ian went to pay the guard at the back. "Thank you for being honest" he said, and refused the money! 

We then followed our guide book in a walk around China towns famous streets, where Jack Kerouac wrote on the road and Sun Yat-Sen plotted a revolution. We bought fortune cookies and had coffee in a cafe where Francis Ford Coppola wrote the screenplay for the godfather. Our final stop was Coit tower, where a lift takes you up to a 360 degree view of the city.

By the time we got back to the hotel we were all shattered. Vicky went straight to bed like the lightweight she is while Ian and I ate in the hotel bar. I had a delicious beet salad to which the waiter, gay Ian Wright, decided I should add a salmon "for protein" and a glass of "cab". Ian had burger and beer. Then to bed for us too as vicky had literally walked our legs off. 

Hotel watch

The hotel Adagio is a Four star hotel right in the centre near to Union square and China Town. All hotels in this city are expensive (think London prices) and this is no exception. The lobby is really nice and the staff there are very helpful. There's a bowl of apples, a plate of brownies (if you're quick enough) and iced water there too. There's also a coffee station, but that doesn't make up for the fact that there are no coffee facilities in the room! (I know!!!!). The happy hour at the bar was really busy, some basketball game was on, making for a nice ambience. And you all know how I like my ambience. High drinks prices though, but maybe that's just California. The room is nice and big with a bath and shower, but the plug doesn't fit so my dream of a bath was out. There are also no dressing gowns or slippers, a big deduction in marks there. Conditioner is supplied so our hair doesn't look like rats tails, I hate it if you only get shampoo. Plus flannels too, ian hates it if we don't get those. Though only on the third floor and near a busy road it was really quiet, that's a plus. Nice comfy beds also gains marks, but all three of us were almost comatose by bedtime. (On the second night Ian gleefully managed to get the plug going after Vicky and I had showered!!) 

Hotelwatch rating. 5/10

Song for the day. I'm gonna be (500 miles). The proclaimers. 

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