Monday night?? Where did the weekend go???

Oh Lord, I knew if I didn't' do this daily I would forget!!! I don't remember everything we did on Saturday - lol I know I checked out of the Paso on Saturday morning and then checked into the Adelaide - VERY DIFFERENT!! lol It was very comfortable though and still with all the mod cons and a laundry!! They have the laundry machinery outside though - guess they can in their mild climate - it just did get me wondering what it would be like for folks in the winter time though, out shivering while waiting for their woollies to dry!! lol

Matt will have to remind me what else we did - What I DO remember is going to Carole & Tiffany's for the most exquisite dinner - oh man - they served something up from Paradise!! Shirley, you would just LOVE these girls!! So, would everyone else but imagine wine tasters extraordinaire and foodies together - WOW!!! There were a couple of lovely ladies there as guests as well who are planning their marriage for later on this year.

I drank far too much wine and think Matt poured me into the hotel room - I certainly slept without the need for a tablet!! lol

Somehow I was up again at 5am - didn't bother getting organised very quickly though as they have all these channels and checkout wasn't till 11am.

We went out to San Miguel mission on my last morning which was just beautiful - they are trying to restore it at present and it's still a functioning church as a service had just finished when we got there. Just amazing - the buildings are so old and have such a Spanish/Mexican influence that with all the brickwork and tiles it's cool inside even though it's stifling outside.

Bought so much stuff had to leave a box with Matt to post. The UPS (United Parcel Service wanted almost $200 to send it home and they advised me to take it to the post office - so as I was leaving that afternoon I asked Matt if he would mind posting it on for me!! lol It's going "slow boat" so I hope it doesn't take months and months to get back to New Zealand otherwise Zoe is going to be annoyed with me.

OK.......The train - the Amtrak was quite impressive as you go up to the second story and I had a sleeper car. Great view too of course of the local countryside - I mean what else can I say except that everything is SOOOOOOO HUGE!! lol It's like they supersize everything from their burgers to their agriculture to their vehicles!! lol I loved Paso though - it was a very comfortable place to stay and very much like Carterton in many ways. It felt like a second home when I was there.

My hotel in Oakland, San Francisco is a kind of bland American hotel I think - a little scary with deadlocks and special latches on the inside of the doors to keep people out...arggggggh. Saw my first beggars and had my first hilarious experience at a place called Best Buy. I keep losing my American charger to keep my cellphone up and running.

Went in and was told by a large black lady that there was a "LINE"......she was so sweet when I went over to where she was waiting though - and told me she realised I didn't know - but she was such a hoot........she was very vocal about the service (although polite) and at the end of our conversation she organised what I needed from the store on my behalf and gave me a big hug goodbye!! It was so cool. She told me she had been born and raised in Oakland and that she loves it for its diversity.

I made contact with another friend here in San Francisco that I had lost touch with for a while - and he has been really neat. I walked around today and found out where the free shopping shuttle goes from, went into places just for a nosey....like PetMart, Michaels (a huge barn full of arts and crafts pieces) and various larger stores. Found a starbucks....YAY.......although the girl was wonderful and understood my order I really couldn't understand what the young guy was saying when I asked if the coffee standing there was mine!! rofl....I had to ask...this is a latte? with non-fat milk?? and two shots? Had to go through it one at a time as he talked so fast and with the 'terms'....that I thought HUH???lol

Used one of those newspaper things you see in the movies, putting the money in and getting the paper out - just for the fun of it!! rofl

Got myself a little lost at one point and ended up in the 'wrong' part of town......knew I had as saw two ladies go past with their trollies and empty bottles!! lol Removed myself quick smart..I was ok as I had already called into City Hall and picked up a map!!!

My friend, Rob called round and has lent me his laptop so I could update my blog and took me out to a restaurant for ribs - mmmm yummy!!! He is a great tour guide as he just has so much knowledge about this area. Apparently he was born in Richmond and lives fairly locally as well. We went down to a place called Jacksons Square - oh it was so funny.......it's like the high street and the Amtrak and trains run right through the middle of it!!! I was having my photo taken when a couple of teenage girls approached us and wanted a photo taken of them together. We thought they must be out-of-towners too but no, one of the girls was off to MIT (apparently that is a really impressive educational facility for the swots! lol).

We went into Berkley after dinner - which was a little more 'student' oriented - kind of like a mi between Palmerston North and Wellington I guess. It is well known apparently for it's differing and liberal viewpoints. Of course there is a large university in this area and it's all set up for these young people. Even the coffee shop has all the tables literally lodged up against each other so that when large groups come in they can all study together.

I have had my rest now and hope to go into San Francisco tomorrow and spend the day seeing some of the sights. I am kind of excited and a little scared - have been told that there are just so many people it can be overwhelming. I saw the transport system they have here today where the train goes under the water......it's like the London subway system I guess, they call it BART and seem to have stations all round the place. The hotel is very near the freeway but it's all double glazed and with lots of insulation you can't hear a thing!!!! Had a good nights sleep last night - more hours than I had in the previous week put together I think and maybe that is a good thing! lol

Anyway, will sign off for the night now and hit the sack - want to be up at a reasonable time tomorrow to get moving. Hope everyone is ok and have to admit, am missing home just a 'tiny' bit!! lol