Day three: Tuesday

We started out with breakfast in our hotel room and then went over to Chinatown early. When we discovered where Chinatown actually was, we decided we were close enough to walk over. The buildings are more Chinese looking than I remember Chinatown in New York looking, so that is part of the charm. There were interesting buildings to photograph. (Later when we got back I pulled off all the photos I have taken so far and ran them on the computer and was pleasantly surprised with the results. The photos taken from the plane turned out well. I wonder if I'll be able to match some of the details up with a map. I hope so.) There were bargins and we could not resist. Our packages grew and finally I bought a carry bag to carry all the packages. We enjoyed looking in a glass gallery that had glass vases for two thousand dollars (on sale today for $1000--"How can you pass up such a bargain." I'll admit they were excruciatingly beautiful, but we did not have one shipped to Peachtree City. Our plan was to cable car over to Lombard Street and walk down, figuring that in the morning there would be fewer riders and we'd make it easily. Unfortunately, riding the cable cars is a total scam on the tourists. They never run enough cars to actually pick up the people who want to ride, so halfway to our destination at the transfer from one line to another, we could no longer get a car. Although we walked along the line, no succeeding car would ever stop for us because they were jammed, and the cars were only running about every 30 minutes, so of course they were jammed. Nevertheless, hiking like mountain goats, with several pauses, we eventually arrived at the crookedest street in the world, where hundreds of other tourists were waiting for us. It was cool and we enjoyed walking down. With some metro savvy we made our way to the bus line and rode back near the hotel, about an hour later than we expected to get there, but hey that's the way adventures go. Lunch was at Lori's Diner and was fine. I was pleased with my onion rings, better than average. After a break at the hotel we went shopping in Union Square for a bit, a 3 story Crate and Barrel, a Birkenstocks store, and various shops. We then had to try the F line trolly cars. It was fun, but they too were jammed and hot. Neither the hotels nor the transportation is air conditioned because they just don't ever need it, but it is stuffy on a crowded bus except when the bus is moving with the windows opened.

It is most impressive how many people there are here visiting from Europe. Today we met people from Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and more than anywhere else from France. Tons of Frenchmen. There were also Hispanics, orgin unknown, Japanese and Chinese, and Phillipinos. We actually ran into two carloads of folks from the Phllipine Consulate as they pulled up in their limos to shop.

The F line took us down to City Hall where we got out to walk around. Many more photo ops. City Hall is very fancy and there was a couple inside having photos made in their wedding attire on a grand staircase. I took a few pictures of the Opera House as well. We bused and walked back home in the late afternoon, watched some of the All-Star game and then went out for dessert and shopping at Barnes and Noble. There is a large one next to our hotel.

There is lots of great architecture here and with all the people it is great fun to walk around. I took many photos. We stopped at the Orpheum theater in the theater district and Les Miserables is playing. Perhaps we'll take it in on Sunday if we feel up to it.

We are tired and walked out for awhile so tomorrow's car trip to Muir Woods and Napa Valley will come at the right time. Unfortunately the temperature away from San Francisco will rise from 65 to 95 or 105 tomorrow. Thursday and Friday we'll be in Yosemite. Saturday we'll be over on the coast from Monteray Bay back up to San Francisco. Don't know when we'll have internet access again, but surely by Saturday.

Stay tuned.