San Francisco

Without a flower, but here (at last). Arrived, very tired, on Friday night. Checked in, and pretty much went to sleep. Am sharing a room with two guys, who are cool - very funny sense of humour from both of them. One Danish (Janus) and one Belgian (Harald). Hostel doesn't quite live up to Rough Guide's Rec, but it's cool anyhoo. Bopped up to the Green Tortoise this afternoon though to find out about tours, and think that I'm going to stay there when I'm back (regardless of the numourous strip joints surrounding...)

Anyhoo, spent yesterday on a mammoth walkabout, but stupidly didn't take any photos. Met some mad hippie called Ed at Coit Tower and talked to him about SF in the sixties. His brain was mush, but he was very cool, and was selling little paintings of the Golden Gate Bridge. He did it to supplement his income, but his real passion was theatre, so we talked for a bit about the stuff he does in the small theatres here as a set designer and director.

From there, wandered around North Beach, which was the Beat scene in the 50s, but is also 'Little Italy'. It also has some awesome shops. Had a serious browse in a vinyl store, and resisted temptation of carrying around a bunch of Hendrix records for the next few weeks. Also found a store selling loads of eastern asian things, and they were really nice and had a chat with them about the area.

Met up with three Scottish girls I met on the BART (SF tube) from the airport and went to Fisherman's Wharf with them, which is the really tourist-y sector. it was interesting, but I can go to a Hard Rock in London.

Came back to the hostel and flopped a bit, then Janus and Harald came back with a friend of Janus', and asked if i wanted to go for 'a' drink. That turned into a few in several pubs, and then some beers back in our room (after we left a bar called the Owl Tree because the owner was a twat). Woke up this morning feeling a little worse for wear, and also with a little temperature.

Took things a bit slowly, wandered up to North Beach again to get some photos of the amazing views, and of Columbus Tower, which is owned by Francis Ford Coppola. Went to City Lights Bookstore and then crashed for a afternoon drinkie in a bar famed from the beat era called Vesuvio. Less 'cool' now and quite self-concious of its past, but had some amazing wall displays that kept me occupied for a good hour and a half.

Back in the hostel now, to have a bit of a read and then going food shopping with Jess, an Ozzie also travelling by herself, to make a nice dinner, cos i'm sick of bagels and apples.

Later cats ;)

Amanda