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 goi
ng 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 ;-)
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 goi
ng 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 w
e 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.
e 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 like
d 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.
d 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 ver
y 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 a
rrived 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.
y 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 a
rrived 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 head
ed 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.
ed 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.
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