USA trip - San Francisco #2

We returned to San Francisco after the Yosemite trip and will spend another 5 days here before heading to New York.

San Francisco is typically hilly

A friend recommended the hop-on-hop-off bus tour so we decided to get a bus pass for a couple of days. In hindsight I recommend the tour to get a bit of an overview of the whole of San Francisco. There are 3 loops. One main downtown loop that goes for about 90 minutes. There are also 2 other connecting loops. One goes north over the Golden Gate bridge to Saucilito and the other goes east towards the Golden Gate park. The 2 day pass also gives you access to a night tour departing half hourly from 6pm.

Today we took the bus to Saucilito (which means "place of little willows"). It is an area across the Golden Gate bridge from San Francisco. It is a well to do, upmarket area that reminds me of Double Bay in Sydney.
Explored a bit before taking the bus back to the other side. We had intended to bus over to Saucilito and walk back over the Golden Gate bridge but it didn't work out as the bus leaves Saucilito through back tunnels and does not stop until the other side. The extensive affluent influence means that tourist buses are permitted to drive over the bridge from the front (to show the great view of the Golden Gate bridge) but not permitted to on the way back. So if you are planning to walk the bridge, do it on the way and catch the bus back.

About to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge

 
It was later afternoon by the time we got back to Fishermans wharf. We walked around and looked at some of the souvenir shops. Checked out a sourdough bread restaurant called Boudin which is pretty famous in San Francisco. Bought a bread roll and then bought some shrimp and crab from the market stalls around Fishermans Wharf. It was a nice roll but I ended up with a bit of a stomach ache after. I probably wouldn't recommend eating seafood from the stalls at Fisherman's Wharf.
Also beware of the humungous seagulls!! I haven't seen seagulls that big before.

Watching the chefs make bread at Boudin

Lots of ourdoor shrimp/crab stalls

There are a lot of shops around the wharf. We had some fun in a candy store.

Spot the nerd...
USA has some very big boxes of candy... does this contribute to the obesity problem?

Joined the night tour from the wharf and was able to see more of San Francisco by night.

Robin Williams used to stand out at Fishermans' wharf and sell jokes for 25c. One day a man gave him $1 and told him to tell him 4 jokes. The man was impressed and asked Robin to perform at his club. This is where Robin Williams got his start. 


 There is a church in San Francisco called Grace Cathedral that looks like a normal church from the outside. We went inside and they were running yoga classes.... Reminds me of Matt 21...

San Francisco has many earthquakes. Our guide made a comment about this building. It's probably best not to have your offices in this building when San Francisco is prone to earthquakes and it looks like this building is propped up by toothpicks...

We got a bit of an architecture/history lesson on the tour. There was a big fire in San Francisco in 1905 and so the buildings built after that look quite modern. On the outskirts of the city though you can see a lot of Victorian style buildings. The ones considered true Victorian are redwood buildings with bay windows and painted with 5 or more colours.

I was totally fascinated by the graffiti art in San Francisco.

USA Trip 2014 - Yosemite #3

Last day in Yosemite today. We had some time to explore a bit more before leaving on the 3pm bus back to San Francisco.

Yosemite has a visitor centre. There is a theatre that shows a free movie called "The Spirit of Yosemite". It details the history of how the magnificent cliff faces were formed when the weight of glaciers sheered the rock. It also tells the history of the Indian people in the park.

The Indian people had legends of their own.
For example, they named a waterfall Pohono - after a vengeful spirit guarding the valley. If you look into the waterfall you would be cursed. Of course, this is not a good pull for tourists so later the waterfall's name was changed to Bridal Veil falls. And now the story goes... if you look into the falls without blinking for a minute then you will be married in a year...

Decided to do a light walk around Mirror lake but made it down to the lower pool before deciding that we should turn back incase we miss the bus.

Had a bit of light lunch and a bit of nature watching before heading back to San Francisco on the bus. I probably could have spent another 2 days at Yosemite. It really is beautiful.

Mule deer.

Cheeky squirrels

USA Trip 2014 - Yosemite #2

Today we woke early to join the Glacier Point tour that was included in our booking.
We just missed the 8am tour so were re-booked on the 10am tour.
What is unusual for that time of year was the rain and snow that we had the night before. Our guide told us that you can expect rain or snow at Yosemite the day after it rains in San Francisco.

After a brief stop to look at the climbers at El Capitan we proceeded up the mountain to Glacier Point.

It's amazing to look up the cliff face.

Glacier point has an amazing view over Yosemite Valley. It is about 1000 meters above the Curry Village. Looking down, you can see the swimming pool at the Curry Village.
There is also an amazing view of the half dome.

On the bus ride down, the driver gave us a botany lesson. Up at Glacier Point we were able to see giant Sequoia trees. Further down in Yosemite, most of the trees are Ponderosa Pine, Incense Cedar or Black Oak.
He also told a story about the Staghorn lichen on the trees that I will never forget. It goes a little bit like this... lichen is made up of algae and fungus. This is how you remember it: Alice Algae took a lichen to Freddie because he was such a fun guy (fungi). They went out on a limb for each other but ended up on the rocks. I thought it was funny...

The driver also told us a little about John Muir hotel which is another place you can stay in Yosemite. You will get a bed and meal and he supposed it was comfortable enough... but its also known as "jail".
Yosemite is the only national park to have its own jail.

The rest of the afternoon was spent exploring and taking happy snaps of Yosemite. The park really is beautiful. I took these pics with a filter on my camera. I think they bring out the natural beauty of Yosemite.

The back of the Awahnee hotel

 

Beautiful walks in Yosemite

At 6pm we were fortunate to attend church at Yosemite chapel. It was a small service and the minister spoke on Matthew 5 - sermon on the mount.

The chapel at Yosemite

USA trip - Yosemite

27th Sept, 2014

Another early start (6.25am) as we headed out to Yosemite national park for a few days. A minivan came to transport us to a bus area in the pier area. We then boarded a large coach bound for Yosemite.

On the way we passed through a little town called Modesto which is famous for being George Lucas' (Star Wars) birth place and where he grew up.

Arrived in Yosemite about 1pm after about a 4hr drive plus comfort stop.

Very glad we didn't pick the 1 day tour as those people were given free time until 3.45pm when the bus would return to San Francisco. It hardly seems worth the 4+hrs drive there and back for only a few hours there.

After depositing our bags and having a bit of late lunch, we decided to take a hike out towards Vernon falls. 

There is a free hybrid bus service that goes around the park and you hop on and off as you please. Some stops are across from each other as the routes go both directions. 

The Vernon fall walk was at stop 16.

The trail was marked 'moderate' but unfit little me struggled going up very steep inclines. We only made it to the bridge before turning back for fear that light would get bad before we returned.

Check in time is 5pm so we could go to our room when we got back from the walk. 

We had a nice warm cosy cabin that was nicer than I expected.

USA trip - San Francisco #1

26th Sept, 2014

I can't believe it's Friday already. It's been a packed week!

The whole day was taken up with travel as we flew from LA to San Francisco.

Transport from the airport in San Francisco is so easy with the BART system taking you right downtown.

Luckily the hotel is just near Powell St station. Hopped off and found that this is the busy part of town.

The Parc 55 Wyndham is right on the edge of the Tenderloin area and we were told by staff not to venture to the area at the back of the hotel after dark.

A good nights rest is in order before an early start to head out to Yosemite national park tomorrow.

USA Trip 2014 - Disneyland

Disneyland 25th Sept

Today we went to Disneyland!! Yay!!

We had purchased tickets already at a store nearby the hotel last night so could just head straight in. On approach I could see Disneyland already had its Halloween theme going as there was a lot of orange and pumpkins decorating the gates and entrance.






 
1st order of the day was to sit the big rides before the crowds roll in. So first was the Matterhorn and then big thunder. Then we went for splash mountain and the Indiana Jones ride and then space mountain. My favourite ride was hands down space mountain. It was prob the scariest one too as it was a fast ride in the dark. Disneyland has a 'fast track' system for the big rides. Instead of waiting in line you scan your ticket and then just return at the time stated on the ticket that gets printed for you. The fast track ticket has an hour window for you to return. You can only have one ticket at a time and become eligible to get another ticket when the time of your previous ticket commences. So we learnt to work the system. You get a fast track ticket. Then explore for a bit and when the ticket time commences you move to the next big ride and get another ticket. Then you go back to the previous ride using the fast track ticket. Hopefully by the time you finish that and explore a bit more it is time to repeat the process again... We had the system worked out ;)

Also got to re-live childhood by catching up with old friends - Mickey, goofy, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore. Had some photos taken with my old friends and got lots of hugs. Winnie the Pooh hugged me 3 times! 

At 7pm there was a parade of all the Disney characters.

USA Trip 2014 - Las Vegas to Anaheim

This morning we left Las Vegas to go back to Los Angeles.
On the way we stopped at the Ethel M Chocolate factory.
If you know me, you would know I'm obsessed with M&M's. The name comes from Mars & Murrie who originally made the chocolates. Forrest Mars retired and was bored so he started the Ethel M Chocolate Factory and named it after his mother Ethel. The factory is known for making handmade, preservative free gourmet chocolates.

In the afternoon, we arrived in Anaheim. We were staying at a Super 8 motel near Disneyland that was recommended to me by a patient. Took a walk around the area and we were very close to Bubba Gump and the Cheesecake Factory. Decided on Bubba Gump for dinner and cheesecake for dessert.

Shrimp at Bubba Gump

yummm cheesecake!

Peanut butter cup fudge ripple... took me 3 days to finish...

USA trip 2014 - Las Vegas #2

After the Grand Canyon tour, we returned to Las Vegas around 4pm so time to explore the strip again.
It was about 35 degrees in Las Vegas so we decided to make a stop at Serendipidy for an ice cream sundae.


This time we explored some of the individual hotels to see if what was inside was as grand as the outside facades.

Caesar's Palace:
It looks amazing from the outside with all its statues and even a small building that resembles the colleaseum. Walked inside and there is the expected casino but it also had a whole forum of shops. All my 'friends' were there... Tiffany, Michael Kors, Victoria with her secrets, Dolce and Gabbana and many more. (If you are reading this and don't know I'm joking then I am).  The whole shopping centre carried on the Roman theme and it was fun walking around looking at the design.  

The Venetian:
With its Roman architecture and canal with gondolas equipped with men with long oars who serenade you with Italian opera, who needs to go to Venice?


The Bellagio:
Who can afford to stay here? I can't! Inside was AMAZING. Walking in, the lobby ceiling was decorated with glass blown flowers made by a local artist from Seattle.
Another popular tourist attraction here is the flower garden. I have posted some pics because it really was amazing that they made the garden and sculptures out of flowers. While Australia is preparing for its next big holiday aka Christmas, they seem to be preparing for Halloween here. Pumpkins seem to be the theme and feature of the displays.

 

Treasure island:
Not as spectacular as the other hotels. Just popped in to see the pirate ship that was in Miss Congeniality 2. 

 Wynn:
Another amazing hotel. Walked in and there was another flower garden with sculptures made of flowers. The sculptures here were fewer but more amazing than the Bellagio. There was a merry-go-round made fully of flowers. 





Saw a show here called Le Reve - the dream. Was like cirque du soleil with acrobatics but with a water set. It was also very very good and combined aerial acrobatics, gymnastics, dance and synchronized swimming. We were allowed to take photos but no video.

After the show I kicked on to see the lights out at Fremont street. It's another casino area in Vegas that isn't the Strip.  The neon lights are overwhelming.  The prices in the souvenir shops along Fremont St are cheaper than on be strip. A bottle of water was at least $2 in a shop on the strip and 2 for $1 in Fremont St. 

Americans don't really help themselves as I found this disturbing restaurant around Fremont. Heart attack indeed!!