na/sa trip: February 2011

Monday, February 28, 2011

Day Sixty Five: The 7sq mile city

We woke today to the sound of rain out the window. I guess we were due for some bad weather - we have been pretty lucky so far, only a couple days of rain in two months ain't bad!

We ate brekkie in the hotel - which was a bonus! We weren't aware we got included brekkie - and it was good too. Bagels, muffins, juice and coffee. Good coffee too!

We set out for the day, venturing up Grant St thru Chinatown again, until we got to Columbus Ave. We were now in San Frans little Italy, kinda cool! So many Italian cafes, restaurants and delis. I enjoyed wandering through here. We turned down Stockton st and walked down into Washington Square. We could feel the undulating, hilly nature of San Fran already. It was very cold and breezy, but we were already sweating after walking only 15 or so mins. It could be a tough couple of days!

We walked up another huge hill, to the top of Telegraph Hill, where the Coit Tower lookout sits atop. It's a pretty cool view from this place. Unfortunately it didn't open until 10, so we'll have to come back. We made our way down to the Embarcadero to Pier 33 via these cool stairs from Telegraph hill. The stairs wound down the hill through a series of small gardens and pockets of green space, nestled in between people homes. Was really cool. Was kinda like the steps at the back of Potts point woolloomooloo, but the gardens were more integrated with the homes.

We finally got down the bottom to the pier, where we hopped on the ferry to Alcatraz. The weather was pretty ugly now. Was raining quite heavily. Arriving at Alcatraz, you can't help but be over awed by the history. Its seen so much hardship; military prison, maximum security prisoners like Al Capone, Indian land title fights; not to mention Nicholas Cage in The Rock.

We walked up the big hill to the main cell house. Was really quite eery, knowing that same walk was what hardened crims took before heading into prison.

This was actually my first tine visiting a prison, this one had been inscribe for nearly 50 years now, but still was quite weird. The guided headphone tour was actually really impressive. So informative and really enjoyable. The main thing I took from Alcatraz was how much it is the perfect prison; it's location makes it a place of punishment, so close to the free world yet so far, you can see and hear the city and the people on the wharfs, you have postcard views out the tiny windows of the Golden Gate too. Amazing! However even though it's so close it is extremely hard to escape, the water is freezing and the currents are crazy. What I loved was that it was the only prison in the US that had hot showers, so prisoners wouldn't acclimatize to cold water if they did escape.

After a few hours on the inside - we had done our time (wow a double pun) - so we headed back to shore. We strolled down to Pier 39, aka Touristy Central. The coolest part was the sealions, which naturally come into the bay and rest on the pontoons.

We had lunch at Boudin, San Frans famous Sourdough bakery - we had to try the Clam Chowder in a sourdough bowl. All I can say is - PHENOMENAL! Was so yummy!

We strolled further down to Fishermans Wharf proper, was a hive of activity despite the rain. Was cool seeing all the fresh seafood coming in from the boats.

We wandered further along to Ghiardelli Square, the old chocolate factory buildings. We tried their famous chocolate and apparently, even more famous Hot Choc Fudge Sundae. Was awesome - it's fame is indeed warranted. Simi struggled to finish, but did, giving herself a bellyache.

It was now 5 or so in the evening so we headed back to the hotel. We caught the tram from the wharf up Powell St to Market St. Was so expensive $5 a ride. I'm let down by the trams here, whilst they're a fun ride and a cool thing to do, they seem more of a novelty here than a proper part of the transport system. Still was a fun thing to do.

Before checking back into the hotel, we went to the Apple store. We had asked everywhere in town about Internet cafes and access to computers to upload photos. No where offers that - except Apple. Thanks again Steve Jobs.

We headed back to the hotel and had a small rest. We ventured out into the cold, rainy night about 8:30- looking for dinner, despite both of us not being hungry. We wandered down market st to the Ferry building. Most places were shut so we headed back the hotel for a much needed sleep.

- Blog from iMat

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Day Sixty Four: Back in the US of A

The flight from Rio to Miami then to San Francisco was not nearly as bad as we were expecting. We landed back in the US around midday, after flying 8.30hrs to Miami, stopping for a couple of hours then flying 6 or so hours across the states. Such a huge country.

We got to our hotel around 1ish, the Hotel des Arts on Bush St in the French Quarter of downtown. It's right near the entry gates to Chinatown and a few blocks from Union Square - such a great location. The rooms are great too - they're each individually designed by an artist and the common hallways and lobby are filled with artworks - it's like staying in a gallery. Really cool!

In the afternoon we wandered the streets for a few hours, sussing out the town. Was a chilly sunny winters day in the City by the Bay. Nice though. Sim and I looked so out of place amongst the city peeps with their jumpers, jackets and scarfs - I was wearing shorts and thongs while sim had her pink pins!

The streets here are really cool - the city is very ornate and decorative. I kinda like how this part of town with it's triangular-shaped grid has its streets form wedges. Makes for some interesting triangle building corners and plaza spaces.

We wandered more, sussing out a cool paper/card store for Sim called Avant Card as well as some cool alleys and laneways decked out with chairs and bars. These were pretty cool / perhaps we can eat there tomorrow. We also discovered a frank Lloyd wright building right in the middle of town in Maidens Lane. Was pretty inconspicuous at first glance, however the thin bricks and mortar joints tweaked our attention. The inside was pretty cool too, with a Guggenheimesque spiral ramp and skylight. The building is now a gallery space.

We stopped in for a Thai lunch, as well as a really good coffee and cookie for afternoon tea, before heading back to the apartment fir a nap.

We woke up about 7:30, our bodies were still used to South American schedules, however the time zone changes meant we were exhausted. Simi dragged me up and out into town (I was struggling). We wandered up through China town. Was a really cool district, didn't seem kitch or contrived, rather it fitted into the fabric of the city quite well. The layers of colour and lights over the streets were really something, with lanterns, wires, and Chinese ornaments filling the streets. We were still looking for something to eat, before the tiredness got the better of me. We turned around after 20mins or so and went back home to bed. As you might imagine, I was pretty tired, I mean I even refused to do dinner!!!

Anyway - Looking forward to tomorrow!

- Blog from iMat