Day 4 in the jungle ... well not quite.

So its Saturday now and haven't really done much since I last put an update up other than gather mozzie bites that are well into double figures and are swelling really attractively. I did meet some lovely people at the Princess Tui Hotel that I was staying at but unfortunately it was their last night so we had a few beers and dinner at a lovely restaurant called Paddles on Thursday night ... proper potatoes and not chips yummy, yes folks I am at that stage where I am appreciating the simple things as lunch seems to be consisting of kraft cheese slices and squishy tomatoes on stale bread in an attempt to keep costs down.

I moved hotels yesterday and am now staying at the Seaside Inn which isn't as pictuesque as it sounds its right opposite the very busy harbour port so lots of trucks thundering past and my room backs on to a restaurant so I have food smells in my room from lunch time onwards and last night was sung to sleep by the resident vocalist doing a rather painful impression of Louis Armstrong which the drunken crowd were loving, not even my ear plugs will stand up to that!!!

I have booked a trip for tomorrow to go to the East Coast and take in some of the beaches up there and it comes back via some of the waterfalls, BBQ lunch included I'm so excited and as nothing much happens on a Sunday here I thought it would be a good idea.

Local beer Vailima is very good (4.9%) and for breakfast yeasterday I had bananas with coconut cream and vanilla which was lovely, I thought it was porridge when it arrived so was a little shocked when I had a spoonful. Also had some breadfruit crisps the other night which were surprisingly nice.

So I am at this hotel until Monday when I am hoping to go to Lalumano on the South East coast for a few days but I found out yesterday that the school holidays are starting in NZ this weekend so everywhere is getting busy so not sure if they'll be able to fit me in but we'll see, once that is established I then have to work out how the hell to get there, my rucksack suddenly seems very heavy ... yes go on laugh your heads off I know you all told me so but you know sometimes you have to learn things the painful way ;-) Lulu there may well be another parcel heading home to you!!

Right off to sort a few things out and then go and camp out at the beach for the rest of the day, met a girl called Amy from NZ down there yesterday who is staying at the Seaside Inn tonight so hopefully catch up with her today.

Uploading pictures is proving to be a bit difficult here but I think I can at the internet cafe in town so will try and get down there again soon with the cables to hook it all up.

Take care and love to you all xx.

Samoa

Talofa from Samoa! That's hi to you and me.

Well where to start after my cock up of getting the transfer time in LA wrong the journey went very smoothly and I even got a spare seat next to me on the LA/Samoa flight so managed nearly 6 hours sleep which is a good job as my TV wasn't working and the one next to me didn't appear to be either so I played a bit of Who Want's to be a Millionaire when I was awake.

We arrived in Samoa half an hour early and after clearing passport control was greeted by 4 Samoan guys with guitars singing in the baggage claim area ... it was 5am!!!!! Bag came through fine and after customs and a quick trip to the ATM I managed to get a cab for the recommended price which to start with I was starting to think was quite expensive until I realised it was 26 miles to the hotel!! So as we drove the sun was coming up and my inital thoughts are that this is a truly beautiful country, where they take pride in their homes which are brightly coloured with lovely well kept gardens, they are also quite religious as there are churches everywhere and they love covering western songs in Samoan ... I can't tell you how many times I have heard the Samoan version of Lady in Red ... sung by a woman weirdly enough. So after a rendition of the Samoan National Anthem which the taxi driver sung along to and strangely reminded me of the Welsh National Anthem, we arrived at the Princess Tui hotel where I am staying. I will add some photos but I have to pay to use the computer here and I have limited funds at the mo as the bank is a swelteringly long walk away so will wait until it cools down.

The hotel is fine my room is lovely, the shared bathroom facilities are not so lovely but I'm trying not to think about it and the lounge over looking the sea with a wonderfully cool breeze is where I have spent quite a bit of time so far.

So yesterday I walked up along the sea wall and into the heart of Apia (the capital) and found the markets and a supermarket to buy some essentials. The exchange rate is 1 Tala = 23p (I'm rounding up to 25p as its easier) and things are pretty cheap here. I had lunch at a restaurant in the harbour called Gourmet Seafood, I'm not sure gourmet is a word I would have used but it was fresh and tasty and was only 24 Tala for a seafood salad, chips and a coconut (that was my drink, a whole coconut with a straw in it) after that I went to Palolo Deep Marine Reserve to have a look and lay on the rather corally beach there for a few hours reading my book and people watching, think I will spend quite a bit of time here as its peaceful and you don't get hassled, not that I have been yet.

I met a German girl in the hotel yesterday whose name escapes me but suffice it to say life's glass is very much half empty for this particular individual ;-) She spent the whole 30 minutes we were talking telling me about how awful Samoa is and that her 2 weeks here have been too long ... great just what I needed to hear having just arrived for 25 days!!! Don't panic though I have taken most of what she said with a pinch of salt as she has just come from 8 months in New Zealand, just as an example I saw her again last night before she went out and I said something about the geckos and she said be careful because if they poop in your food its toxic ... its was all I could do not to laugh.

It is beautiful here and I do like it but I would be lying if I said I wasn't going through a bit of culture shock so am just going to stay put for a few days and kick back and read and catch some rays so the updates might be a bit dull if they happen at all, but don't worry I'm fine and just riding the wave that I expected would happen.

Photos to follow I promise, love to you all xx.

P.S. Facebook is barred at the hotel so no updates for the time being I'm afraid ... I feel like I've had a limb cut off far more so then not using my mobile, how sad is that :-(

Last day and am off to the airport in just over an hour. Yesterday, after doing my last bits of washing and packing, I met Roz after work as her and Clive had very kindly invited me for dinner and to stay the night. After a very quick BART journey and a little walk unsurprisingly involving hills we arrived at their lovely flat in Noe Valley and I proceeded to nearly scare the daylights out of the cats (Billy and Smokey) with my over excitement at seeing them ;-) After a great chilli dinner made by Clive's fair hand we watched Van Helsing which was great before heading to bed .. I shared mine with Billy and Smokey before Smokey woke me with a paw in my face at 5.40am ... ahhhh just like having Poppy here!!

So headed back to the hotel with Roz on her way to work and I packed checked out and met Ivana for a farewell lunch down at Pier 39 before one last venture to see the sea lions.

Am now ready for the next stage of my trip and looking forward to swimming in the sea but before that I have to get myself and my baggage there after only a 45 minute turnaround in LA airport ... gulp, I hope that they will check me and the bag straight through and that we all arrive at the same time, have packed emergency pants just in case ;-) Also just checked the weather forecast and whilst its 86 degrees I'm slightly worried by the strong winds and possible hail ... HAIL?!?!?! What's that about? I'm trying to remain positive.

See you on the other side folks.

Thursday evening we decided to have a bit of culture and headed of to the Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) as it was half price. Did have to laugh as I said to Ivana as we were walking up the stairs I do hope this is not going to involve urinals ... guess what the first thing we saw was? You got it a urinal and it wasn't the only one!!! But aside from that we saw a really fun exhibit of minature poodles a bit like the terracota warriors just little poodles instead (see pic) there was also quite a lots of Matise as well as Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera which were great and upstairs they had a great photogrpahy exhibition most from Chinese and Japanese photographers but also some great English and American ones in particular Helen Levitt stood out to me with her black and white photos of children playing in the Bronx in the 30s. After this we walked up to Little Italy for a plate of pasta and a glass of chianti before walking back via China Town.

Friday Ivana and I headed off to Berkley on the BART which whilst needs a bit of updating is much more comfortable than the good old tube even if it lacks character. I should at this point probably introduce you all to Kenny (see pic, not a good one of me I know I look ill but I'm fine honest) ... Kenny is from Kernow (Cornwall) and is my little travelling guardian bear who up until this point has been a party bear (otherwise known as forgotten in the cupboard ... ooops) but will now be featuring every so often in my photos as he travels around with me. So Kenny's first trip was to Berkley.

Back to the story ... so 30 mins later we were in Berkley and headed up to the University campus and into the most amazing library you have ever seen (Ivana has a photo, we weren't meant to take them, so when I get a copy I will add it here) it was all wood panelling, leather, low lights, like something out of a film that you never think actually exsists. I did get a photo of Mark Twain who was lounging outside though and we had a look round a photogrpahy exhibition of past students, building and events before heading down to the Student Union shop to have a nosy and then to lunch at Smart Alec's on Telegraph Street. WE then got a bus over to the Gilmore Shopping Centre as there is a North Face outlet over there that Ivana wanted to go to. After about an hour we headed back grabbed a juice and hopped on the BART back to town, where we wandered round the shops for a bit before grabbing a salad for tea and flopping for the evening.

Saturday I didn't do much during the day wandered around town for a bit, topped a few things that I need for the next part of my trip, had a veggie burito for lunch which was yummy and then spent the afternoon doing my washing and reading. Ivana and I then met at 5.30pm, got some food for a picnic and then caught a couple of buses up to Presidio Park for the Shakespear in the Park Festival. They were doing Comedy of Errors which was brilliantly done if a little strange to hear it done with American accents but OH MY GOD it was SOooooooooooooooooooo cold!!!!! I couldn't feel my toes by the time we left and was so glad to get back to the hotel and hop into bed with a cup of tea ... I'm so English ;-)

Today we're having a relaxed day and going for Dim Sum at a restaurant that has been recommended and then to the cinema probably to see a RomCom as I have put in a request for no blood and guts this time ;-)

So a short update this time and probalby only one more now before I leave San Fran the time has gone so quickly but it has been brilliant.

LOVED: The weather, architecture, people (mostly), sea lions, Yosemite, Alcatraz, being so close to the sea, Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, being able to walk everywhere pretty much, Jamba Juice.

WON'T MISS: The 6 flights of stairs I have to climb to get to my room, the noisy fire engines (they are soooo loud), so many crazy homeless people.

LOOKING FORWARD TO IN SAMOA: Diving!!!! The beach, the sea, kicking back, Robert Louis Stevesons house, the people.

Wow well its been a busy few days ... Tuesday morning was an early start had to be outsdide the hotel at 6.20am to catch the tour to Yosemite. Once we had picked everyone up it them took us about 4 hours to get to Yosemite going over the Oakland San Fran bridge, past the cranes that inspired George Lucas for some of the machines in Star Wars, through the very flat and fertile area of California where they grow 26% of what is consumed in the US and into Gold Rush country, full of cowboys and cows funnily enough ;-)

Eventually we arrived at Yosemite and unfortunately because we were on a bus we were quite limited about where we could stop so no photo opportunity at the Welcome to Yosemite sign but we managed to get some other great shots. At the weekend there was a really bad thunder storm and 81 fires were started in the park from lightening strikes and you'll see the damage from the picture on the right. We went to El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite Falls (which were dry because of the time of year), lunch at the Yosemite Lodge (we ate our picnic by the creek just beautiful) and then finished off with a giant sequoia (redwood) walk. The toilets were probably the most disgusting I have come across so far but there was this sign next to the toilets that had me envisaging a bear arriving whilst I was mid consititutional.

All in all it was a good day glad I did it but would've liked more time to walk around as it was so beautiful. On the way back we stopped to take some photos over the bay from Treasure Island before getting back to the hotel and collapsing into bed shattered.

I then had a bit of a rude awakening as the bank had rung and to cut a very long story short my card has been cloned and someone has tried to make an internet payment for a whapping $1.35 with it ... after 24 hours of speaking to less than helpful Indian call centres I am still without card and won't have my credit card again until New Zealand ... so much for the worlds local bank ... my arse!!!!! Don't panic though I am fine for funds and as long as my other cards aren't affected then I will be fine.

So yesterday Ivana and I got the F line up to Safeway and got some things for a picnic and walked up through haight and Ashbury which is the hippy area of San Fran and is very colourful in many ways, we stopped off outside the house where Janis Joplin used to live and was evicted for having a pet dog believe it or not. We then walked on down the high street stopping off to look at the very boring building where the Grateful Dead used to live and then further down to the Red Victorian which is run by a lady who has been there since the 70s and is still stuck there, the place is covered in CND signs and give peace a chance and all the room are decorated on a 70s theme ... fun to look at but I couldn't stay there. Eventually we arrived at Golden Gate Park which I have to say the first part was nt very nice, full of homeless people hanging about in large groups which are quite intimidating. Eventually we got away from this and the park is lovely in the main areas. We stopped and had lunch next to a group of ladies playing bowls before wandering down to the Academy of Science which was open for free (bargain). They have the most amazing aquarium I have ever seen (still too many fish in too small a space though) I particularly like the exhibit showing the contents of a tiger sharks stomach (loving the 2 barbies and the tin of spam) also have a great little group of penguins and a fab rain forest exhibition where you have butterflies and birds flying past you.

From there we headed back as I was meeting up with Jono's friend Roz and her husband Clive for drinks. We went to the Gold Dust to start with which is a fab kitsch bar just off Union Square and then we went to a great Italian restaurant for dinner which was a real treat. Had a fab time and had a bit of a sore head this morning.

Today has been sorting out bank stuff or not sroting it out should I say and just hanging about. Ivana and I are going to the Museum of Modern Art this evening as its half price and then for dinner in Little Italy which will be fun, that's if we can decide where to eat as everywhere just looks amazing.

Signing off for now, love to you all x.

Went to Castro yesterday which was fun after hunting down an HSBC for more cash (it keeps evaporating out of my wallet) Ivana and I hoped on the F line for $2 up to Castro which was fun and had a wander round the streets and into a few shops one in particular that stood out was the most hilarious Pet Boutique where the gay owner was soooooooooo into our little furry friends I thought he was going to expire with excitement. I could've spent a fortune but managed to refrain (sorry Poppy). We then wandered down to Dolores and Mission but avoided the nudist beach ... well to be honest you didn't need to go to the nudist beach there were plenty of fine looking gentlemen without much on wandering/running up and down the main street. So we took our position in the floor to ceiling window in the Baghdad Cafe where I had blueberry pancakes with bacon and maple syprup and the obligatory Mimosa (poor mans bucks fizz if you don't know what one is) which was very nice.

We then got the F line back and went to SoMa (South of Market) and went to Yerba Buena Gardens and saw the Martin Luther King Jnr memorial and had a brief look into the SFMOMA (San Fran Museum of Modern Art) but decided to go back on Thurs evening when its half price. So we headed back grabbed a juice from Jamba Juice and headed back to the hostel and crashed forthe evening.



Today (Monday) I decided to do my own thing and headed up on the F line again to 15th and Sanchez (impressed at how I'm getting the lingo?) which is in Castro and walked up to Alamo Square which is where this typical picture post card shot is always taken. This is the only area of San Fran where the Victorians or Painted Ladies as they are called (houses) that weren't burnt to the ground after the 1906 earth quake and they are magnificent.

After that I decided to walk to Russian Hill and see Lombard St or the crooked street as its also called. Nearly walked into a very dodgy area but was s

wiftly avoided and instead walked past the Japan Centre which wasn't much to see but the streets were much cleaner here and there was a definite Japanese influence to the houses and the gardens.

After several more hellish hills I arrived at Lombard Street which was very pretty but a slight disappointment, I thought it'd be longer, oh well. So headed down to Fishermans Wharf for lunch via the old factory where the man from Del Monte he say "yes" which has now been turned into a swanky Mexican restaurant and plaza. En route I found a shop that I had read about called "After the Quake" not very reassuring but I did managed to finally get my Levis ... HURRAH!!!!!!

After walked back to the hostel via little Italy and China Town and bought some fruit and a sandwich for the trip tomorrow as we are leaving at 6.20am (UGH) and no food is included not back until 8.30pm ... long day so will sign off.

Ooooh but before I do ... and this is especially for Lulu ... mate look at the last picture and you'll see that the rope and Karabinas (spelling?) you bought me for my birthday were put to use for the first time last night, yep I did my washing ;-)

You'll all be pleased to know that Saturday in San Fran is actually not that different to Sat in London. Ivana and I went to try and get me a pair of Levi's ... not impressed by the Levi store at all they hardly had any jeans for ladies, then went to Macy's they had a slightly better selection but still not quite what I was looking for so gave up for the time being. We then went to H&M before having a late lunch and heading to the cinema to watch Inglorious Basterds which, being Tarantino was gruesome but very funny as well. We then went to a bar and sank 4 pints of Stella (yes I was impressed with myself too) before heading for a sushi dinner an bed ... great day. Sadly no photos today :-(

Today (Sunday) we are off to Castro, weather is still not brilliant but apparently is picking up tomorrow.

So the beef tacos were good and I also met a really nice girl called Ivana from Switzerland (picture right) who had just arrived but has been travelling for about 6 months on her own, so we got chatting and stayed on for the FREE cheese and wine evening and I had my latest night to date 11pm!!!! Anyway we agreed to meet in the morning and to do the Golden Gate Bridge walk together.

After breakfast on Friday we met up and headed out, really nice to have a conversation with someone finally. We stopped in at Jamba Juice on Market Street for a fresh juice on our way and gradually wound our way through the streets down to the Aquatic Park and walked along the Bay road towards the Golden Gate Bridge which was shrouded in fog.

En route we passed through Fort Mason, stopped off at Safeway to buy some lunch for a picnic and went to see the Palace of Fine Art which has to be one of the most amazing buildings I have ever seen it was so beautiful and weirdly felt a little out of place in San Fran.

We then stopped in Marina Green to have our lunch watching the sail boats (there are a series of yacht races going on here at the moment) and with a lovely view of the bridge which is still shrouded in fog.

We then walked along the beach, it was really windy and quite cold but the sand was lovely and warm. Eventually got back on the road and headed up to the Warming Hut which is the last stop before the bridge ... but the bridge is still covered in fog ... hmmm what to do? so we asked someone if it is always like this and between us neither of us understood what she said, so we asked again but still we didn't understand her and we were too embarrassed to ask her to repeat herself so we fell out of the place laughing and decided to get a cup of tea and wait and see if it might clear and sure enough as we were buying our tea the fog disappeared. Off we headed up another steep hill (there's a theme about San Fran) and across the bridge, amazing views and we did come across a sign that whilst I can see the serious side of it, it did make us both laugh.

Took us 30 mins to walk aross the bridge and then we were at Lime Point and exhausted with very saw feet as we'd walked about 8 miles by this point so for $5 we caught the bus down into Sausalito which was lovely, like the American towns you see in the movies lots of lovely old wooden buildings nad right on the sea. We had a fab ice cream and a little wander before catching the ferry back to Pier 1 and walking back to Union Square where we sat and chatted until about 7pm.

Exausted we met for our $5 dinner at 8pm and then booked a trip to Yosemite for next Tuesday. Crashed at 10pm and was woken at 8.15 but thunder and lightening this morning so I think today will be fairly non eventful.

Another few jam packed days and still the sun shines and the temperature is getting hotter ... loving it.

So yesterday was China Town which was fascinating and you could really see the old San Fran in the buildings in that part of town, so much character and again an assault on the senses, in places not terribly pleasant but on the whole it was great. I had a wander round some of the odds and sods shops where you could've spent a fortune just because it was such a bargain but I refrained ... I hope you're all very proud of me ;-)

So I walked up to St Mary's Square and saw the statue of Sun Yat-sen the first president of China, listened to the old guys playing a traditional chinese instrument that we all know the sound of but I have no idea what its called ... Fang perhaps you can help?, found the healing centre (I think) and then decided it was time for lunch but was upset to find that the Dim Sum place I had read about and wanted to go to has shut down so instead headed to the Eastern Bakery to buy a mooncake instead ... no substitute I'm afraid it was sweet and pretty tasteless, not a good food day. The rest of the day was fairly non-eventful, avoided the $5 dinner as it was the same as the night before and by 9.30pm my eyes were closing.

Up bright and early at 7am and after breakfast took a slow amble down to Pier 33 for my trip to Alcatraz but not before I threw tea down my front and then sat on a wet bench and got a wet bum ... was sensing it wasn't going to be a good day. But it was thr trip out to Alcatraz took about 15 mins and I was there for about 2 hours in total wandering around, listenng to the audio guide, taking video (bit wabbly need some practice) and just soaking up the atmosphere. Had my first look at the Golden Gate bridge which was shrouded in fog, very eerie. Heading back I decided to go and take some video footage of the sea lions who weregreat to see again and then I decided I fancied some seafood and a glass of wine so took myself off to Fishermans Wharf for a slap up lunch, well a slap up lunch on my budget anyway.

Next stop was the cable car, a very kind lady at the hostel gave me the last few days on her travel pass for free yesterday so I thought I'd put it to good use rather than kill myself walking up that huge hill again.

Beef tacos on the $5 menu this evening so I'm off to get my seat in a bit, catch you later.

Day 3 already time is flying. So for those of you not on facebook I will be putting some photos on here but not as many as it has just taken me 2 hours to upload 31 photos to facebook!!

So firstly here is a picture of The Dakota Hotel where I am staying, I'm on the 6th floor and as you'll see I have a great view.

I spent 6 hours sight seeing yesterday I walked down through the finacnial district to San Frans tallest building the TransAmerica Pyramid which stands 800 ft tall and can be seen from pretty much anywhere in San Fran. Next door to it is a tiny little park called Redwood Park which has huge Redwoods in it (funnily enough) and a fountain with bronze forgs leaping in it and just the other side bronze statues of children playing, they look a little sinister if you ask me.

Couldn't find Mark Twain street after all that it wasn't whre it should've been according to my map so I headed off towards Custom House and down towards Embarcadero where all the Piers are. Much cooler down here with the breeze coming off the sea but still a beautifully sunny day. I walked through the tacky tourist part of Pier 39 and just as I was giving up hope of finding the sea lions I heard their barking and as I turned the corner there in front of me were about 20 pontoons covered in mostly sleeping sea lions. Some however were barking and fighting for space, definitely survival of the heaviest. Was just thinking to myself that everyone had told me how much they smelt and that I couldn't smell anything and the wind changed ... they were right, PEUUUUWWWW!!

After this I headed round to The Aquarium and had a wander round there, all a bit depressing really as it seemed like hundreds of fish crammed in to such a small area and then upstairs some poor little rays and a shark get the pleasure of being touched my tourists all day ... hmmm, not worht the money in my mind.

Lunch time and I headed to a place called Wipeout for fish tacos which were the dogs apart from the sweetcorn in the rice. Next stop the Trolley Hop for an hours tour round San Fran taking in Russian and Nob Hills, Pacific Heights, Union Squre, China Town, Little Italy, Telegraph Hill and the Financial District. Loved the sign as I sat down that said no weapons on the bus please ... GULP!! Driver was a nutter and took great joy in free wheeling down some very steep hills in particular the one in The Sting with Steve McQueen which is what the driver said but as has been pointed out to me this is actually wrong and the film was Bullit ... whatever my stomach was in my mouth!!

So feeling a little weary decided to walk back to the hotel ... big mistake had to climb a hill that felt like it was at a 90 degree angle but boy was it worth it for the views when I got to the top (see right). Spent the rest of the afternoon chilling and mooching about and just about managed to stay awake for my $5 dinner at the hostel of cheese and broccoli soup (I avoided this) and chicken pesto, rataoui (I know I've spelt it wrong) and salad - huge portion well worth the money. Didn't meet anyone over dinner as seatng was VERY limited (lots of people had to stand) and I was sat on a bar stool facing the wall and to be honest was knackered so headed back to bed. Feeling better today and getting used to the 8 hour time difference now so hopefully get chatting to a few people today.

China Town today and a slightly more relaxed day than yesterday ... Alcatraz tomorrow :-)

San Francisco

Well after a weekend of tears finished off with a tearful good bye at the airport I was finally on my way and after a relatively comfy flight, 5 films, a GU pudding and 10.5 hrs I arrived in a very sunny, warm San Fran. Having filled out what felt like the same information 3 times I then faced a queue I have never seen the like of before it was at least 10 deep at over 40 counters and then there was a snaking queue that went on forever ... but to be fair it moved very quickly. So after I was finger printed and had my mug shot taken (welcome to America!) I headed off to get my bag and then to customs where I was asked if I was backpacking and had to really bite my tounge to avoid a sarcastic response of "what gave it away?" bearing in mind I had a 70 litre rucksack on my back and a 30 litre rucksack on my front!!

Next stop was the BART and 30 mins later I was in the centre of San Fran and immediately was greeted by music, singing, wonderful smells of food, fab architecture and lots of colour and now I started to smile. Not for long however as I managed to get very lost trying to find the hostel. Eventually arrived and my heart sank as I was told I was in their sister hotel The Dakota but it shouldn't because my room is miles better than I thought it would be and I'm really high up so have a great view, lovely comfy bed, fridge, microwave, my own bathroom and a TV ... its like being at home ;-)

So with a spring in my step I unpacked, had a shower and decided to go for a walk around and get something light to eat and this is where I realised I am going to have to speak up when ordering as I somehow managed to end up with 2 hot chocolates and when I asked for a bag she told me the time.

So my thoughts so far are that San Fran is great, the people I have come across so far have been lovely and really helpful but I have been really surprised by the number of homeless people here though at least 3 or 4 on every road/corner.

Day 2 now and after waking up at 3am I did eventually get up at 7am and have just had breakfast before I head out to explore Mark Twain Street (just for you Luigi) and down by the piers.

Will add some photos soon I promise but I need to take some first ;-)