Awoke to noise (all thru the night) and the smell of cigarette smoke wafting into to our 4th floor hotel room. Not a good sleep had by Sharon or I.
Continental breakfast at the Nob Hill Hotel.
Blindly booked a place "close to" the Napa Valley (we didn't have a map of the area yet)
Walked to the Visitor Center at Union Square.
Got lots of good advice from Volunteer Dave (an advocate of the Home Exchange Program)
Looking for an AT&T Go-Phone so we can text Canada but got way-laid BIG TIME by a Dead Sea Cosmetics saleswoman. No AT&T booth in the downtown mall anymore.
No luck on the phone but Sharon got a nice shiny finger nail.
Made it back to the hotel in time to check out by noon.
Took a taxi to get the Car rental (A Nissan VERSA with 21310 miles on it)
Left San Francisco on a sunny Friday afternoon. (foreshadowing ...)
Decided to visit The Muir Woods. Took Hwy 1 (with all its switchbacks) only to discover all the parking spots for The Muir Woods were full (and then some) because it was sunny and FRIDAY. We decided to avoid all the tourists and get out of there.
We made our way to the city of Napa and found the Visitor Center. We booked a tour at the Castillo di Amorosa Castle & Winery for tomorrow at 12:20 pm. We had lunch at Downtown Joe's Brewery and Restaurant. I think a few of you will see the humour in Tom gettng his beer in wine country. The "Lazy Summer American Wheat" was the best American beer I have ever had. I was unable to purchase a 6 pack (for our travels) SADNESS!
Just to let all you Foodies out there know, the food sucked at this restaurant.
Did the town thing and then made it to our hotel. Yes, there were many traffic tie-ups and slow-downs because it is FRIDAY. OOPS, we hope we never make that mistake again. But in fairness to us practicing retirees, we never know what day it is! BIG SMILE!
Checked in to our luxurious (by comparison) room at the Fairfield Inn Marriott: Vacaville. King sized bed, A/C and lots of floor space. Oh, and quiet too ! NO sirens, buzzers, traffic. NO smell of smoke. HAPPINESS!
Had NO luck find a parking space at all the "good" restaurants ... because it is still FRIDAY but we had an amazing all-you-can-eat buffet at a place called "Fresh Choice" Decent meal at a good price. Foodies would approve of the nutritional content.
Loaded some pics to Facebook.
Updated Blog
SLEPT!
October 14, 2011
October 13, 2011
Oct. 13, 2011 San Francisco, CA
Continental Breakfast at the hotel
Coffee on the roof garden of the hotel. (A beautiful sunny day!)
Cable car along Hyde Line to Lombard Street. Amazing Switchback down. Beautiful gardens and houses. I would not drive down this road.
Walked to Fisherman's Wharf.
Cruised the Bay with the Red and White (Fleet Prince ???) The ticket lady says we are very lucky with the weather, usually it is very foggy! The cruise had headphones that gave us blurbs about what we were seeing (with a little time delay). Saw the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, a dolphin or three, and sea lions lounging around Pier 39.
Walked the Fisherman's Wharf. Found the sea lions up close and personal and they were putting on a show. They were lounging around big time and some were playing hide and seek among the boats in the marina. Very entertaining AND free!
Lunch at Players sports bar. Tom wins with the Cadillac Margarita (on the rocks, with salt in a beautiful glass) The bonus was the Grand Marnier and fancy umbrella. Ask Sharon about her Strawberry dacquiri.
Walked along all the piers to the Port of San Francisco (Pier 1)
Took the California Line Cable car back to our hotel. Met some nice "locals" who gave us insights as to where to go. I guess we really looked like tourists (the camera's, maps, and knapsacks must have given us away) but we welcomed their advice. Very nice locals here.
Napped a bit. (but not really)
Tom learned a lesson on chivalry on the way to the bus from a vagrant. Apparently I missed the lesson on wallking on the sidewalk closet to the road (to protect the lady from the vehicles) Sharon did thank me for protecting her from the vagrant. I don't think there is a chivalry course. I'll look into it.
Took the 38 bus (and 44) to Golden Gate Park. Saw the St. Francis washing machine along the way. A beautiful garden, pathway, aquarium and planetarium. We didn't do much there in the hour that we were there. We really just wanted to read in a smoke free, quiet area. I'd recommend at least a half day there.
Took the 44 bus (and 1) back to our hotel. Had a complimentary wine at Happy hour and then decided to catch the moon again at Hyde and Greenwich before dinner.
We missed the moon but caught the sunset over the Golden Gate bridge from the viewing area at Fisherman's Wharf. Amazing !
Had dinner at Cioppini's Bestest spaghetti and meatballs for Tom and Spaghetti bolognese for Sharon. Tom likes Stella Artois|!
Walked the wharf, found the moon so we took a streetcar (Oh those passes are worth it). Took the street car along the Embarcadero to the Port of San Francisco. Caught the moon overlooking the Bay Bridge. NICE!
Took California Line Cable car up to the Fairmont to see San Francisco from the glass elevator (another suggestion from the locals) but the elevator wasn't operating. SADNESS.
Walked back to our hotel. Hoping for a good sleep tonight.
Coffee on the roof garden of the hotel. (A beautiful sunny day!)
Cable car along Hyde Line to Lombard Street. Amazing Switchback down. Beautiful gardens and houses. I would not drive down this road.
Walked to Fisherman's Wharf.
Cruised the Bay with the Red and White (Fleet Prince ???) The ticket lady says we are very lucky with the weather, usually it is very foggy! The cruise had headphones that gave us blurbs about what we were seeing (with a little time delay). Saw the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, a dolphin or three, and sea lions lounging around Pier 39.
Walked the Fisherman's Wharf. Found the sea lions up close and personal and they were putting on a show. They were lounging around big time and some were playing hide and seek among the boats in the marina. Very entertaining AND free!
Lunch at Players sports bar. Tom wins with the Cadillac Margarita (on the rocks, with salt in a beautiful glass) The bonus was the Grand Marnier and fancy umbrella. Ask Sharon about her Strawberry dacquiri.
Walked along all the piers to the Port of San Francisco (Pier 1)
Took the California Line Cable car back to our hotel. Met some nice "locals" who gave us insights as to where to go. I guess we really looked like tourists (the camera's, maps, and knapsacks must have given us away) but we welcomed their advice. Very nice locals here.
Napped a bit. (but not really)
Tom learned a lesson on chivalry on the way to the bus from a vagrant. Apparently I missed the lesson on wallking on the sidewalk closet to the road (to protect the lady from the vehicles) Sharon did thank me for protecting her from the vagrant. I don't think there is a chivalry course. I'll look into it.
Took the 38 bus (and 44) to Golden Gate Park. Saw the St. Francis washing machine along the way. A beautiful garden, pathway, aquarium and planetarium. We didn't do much there in the hour that we were there. We really just wanted to read in a smoke free, quiet area. I'd recommend at least a half day there.
Took the 44 bus (and 1) back to our hotel. Had a complimentary wine at Happy hour and then decided to catch the moon again at Hyde and Greenwich before dinner.
We missed the moon but caught the sunset over the Golden Gate bridge from the viewing area at Fisherman's Wharf. Amazing !
Had dinner at Cioppini's Bestest spaghetti and meatballs for Tom and Spaghetti bolognese for Sharon. Tom likes Stella Artois|!
Walked the wharf, found the moon so we took a streetcar (Oh those passes are worth it). Took the street car along the Embarcadero to the Port of San Francisco. Caught the moon overlooking the Bay Bridge. NICE!
Took California Line Cable car up to the Fairmont to see San Francisco from the glass elevator (another suggestion from the locals) but the elevator wasn't operating. SADNESS.
Walked back to our hotel. Hoping for a good sleep tonight.
October 12, 2011
Oct. 12, 2011 San Francisco, CA
I was up at 5:03 am (before the wake up call AND the alarm)
We caught the 5:30 am shuttle to Terminal 1
Checked in with Air Canada pretty seamlessly.
Entered the line for security at 6:00 am and boy it was a long line!
Got thru security by 6:50 am. Sharon had a quick pat down. I was clean.
Quickly browsed for reading material in between ordering and eating breakfast.
Had breakfast (AND COFFEE) before going to gate 134 for a 7:55 am departure to San Francisco
Five hour flight to San Francisco.
Hot and Sunny (74 degrees celsius ... you do the conversion to celsius)
Took a taxi to our hotel (The Nob Hill Hotel)
Got there at 11:00 am (their time)
Our room wasn't ready so we checked our bags, got advice from the front desk clerk and then wandered for lunch (Chicken Pesto Crepes & salad)
Got a Cable Car pass ($21 for 3 days) otherwise every ride was $6
Took the California Line down the the Port of San Francisco. They have a clock there with a roman numeral 4 like IIII (Just like Grant Hall at Queen's University) What's with that?
Toured the piers, viewed the bay bridge, birds and walked the Escaradero Avenue.
Bought a single Large Coors Light at the local Cala-Store, checked in and tried to have a nap. (It's loud in San Francisco ... Hyde street anyway.)
Our Hotel is very rustic (interpret that accordingly) but it does have a very cool elevator that is over 100 years old. Neat !
Cable car along Hydy Line to Fisherman's Wharf. We kept walking and happened upon the most beautiful moon from Hyde and Greenwich. Check out the pic:
Had dinner at Capurro's San Francisco Fish House. Tom had Clam Chowder!
Walked the wharf. (very Touristy, kind of like Niagara Falls and Wonderland)
Cable car back to the hotel. (saw some furry critters while waiting for the cable car)
We caught the 5:30 am shuttle to Terminal 1
Checked in with Air Canada pretty seamlessly.
Entered the line for security at 6:00 am and boy it was a long line!
Got thru security by 6:50 am. Sharon had a quick pat down. I was clean.
Quickly browsed for reading material in between ordering and eating breakfast.
Had breakfast (AND COFFEE) before going to gate 134 for a 7:55 am departure to San Francisco
Five hour flight to San Francisco.
Hot and Sunny (74 degrees celsius ... you do the conversion to celsius)
Took a taxi to our hotel (The Nob Hill Hotel)
Got there at 11:00 am (their time)
Our room wasn't ready so we checked our bags, got advice from the front desk clerk and then wandered for lunch (Chicken Pesto Crepes & salad)
Got a Cable Car pass ($21 for 3 days) otherwise every ride was $6
Took the California Line down the the Port of San Francisco. They have a clock there with a roman numeral 4 like IIII (Just like Grant Hall at Queen's University) What's with that?
Toured the piers, viewed the bay bridge, birds and walked the Escaradero Avenue.
Bought a single Large Coors Light at the local Cala-Store, checked in and tried to have a nap. (It's loud in San Francisco ... Hyde street anyway.)
Our Hotel is very rustic (interpret that accordingly) but it does have a very cool elevator that is over 100 years old. Neat !
Cable car along Hydy Line to Fisherman's Wharf. We kept walking and happened upon the most beautiful moon from Hyde and Greenwich. Check out the pic:
Had dinner at Capurro's San Francisco Fish House. Tom had Clam Chowder!
Walked the wharf. (very Touristy, kind of like Niagara Falls and Wonderland)
Cable car back to the hotel. (saw some furry critters while waiting for the cable car)
October 11, 2011
Oct. 11, 2011 Toronto, ON
Packed for trip AND emptied the upstairs "basement" in preparation for the new flooring.
Stayed at the Westin-Bristol Place on Airport Road.
Went to The Keg for dinner. Best Caesar ever (the waitress provided me with TWO celery stalks)
Asked for a 5:11 am wake-up call (YIKES!)
Stayed at the Westin-Bristol Place on Airport Road.
Went to The Keg for dinner. Best Caesar ever (the waitress provided me with TWO celery stalks)
Asked for a 5:11 am wake-up call (YIKES!)
September 26, 2011
Sept. 26, 2011 Burlington, ON
Visit Mom and Dad in Burlington
Tour of the Rock Garden at the Royal Botanical Gardens
GREAT Dinner at Tucker's Marketplace Restaurant
Tour of the Rock Garden at the Royal Botanical Gardens
GREAT Dinner at Tucker's Marketplace Restaurant
September 17, 2011
Sept. 17, 2011 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
Breakfast at the Condo
Drive to Brian and Beverley's new condo in Toronto
Brunch at c5 Restaurant Lounge at the ROM
Home for dinner and a game of Canasta
Drive to Brian and Beverley's new condo in Toronto
Brunch at c5 Restaurant Lounge at the ROM
Home for dinner and a game of Canasta
September 16, 2011
Sept.16, 2011 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
Breakfast at The Condo
Walk-about Fort George, bike path and town
Lunch at Benchmark (Niagara College)
Shopping the downtown strip
Dinner (All the leftovers from the fridge)
8 pm Show Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Walk-about Fort George, bike path and town
Lunch at Benchmark (Niagara College)
Shopping the downtown strip
Dinner (All the leftovers from the fridge)
8 pm Show Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
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