Friday 20th

The alarm went off at 4.40am. We must have eaten something but I can't remember. Rolling the bags down 7th Avenue, I didn't bother putting on a coat, and lugging all of them down the steps at the subway, certainly didn't need any further heat. We stood on the wrong side of the platform until 5.24 train rolled in on the other side, noticed the sign that said Jamaica/Airport, and a kind lady asked if we were going to the airport, and if so, get on!

At the airtrain change, once again, we have a 50 dollar bill, nothing smaller. You can only buy one ticket at a time. Marie buys something to break it. The machine only gives 9 change maximum, so we can't even buy one ticket. The kind shopkeeper breaks the money down further, so we sit there feeding the machine money $6 at a time per ticket, and some time later we're away again. Thank goodness we're very early.

We met a girl in line who spent 3 or 4 years living in Marseille in some dump that her boyfriend insisted on because it was next to the sea and had a view. Then we had our water bottles confiscated going through security, again.

Landing in San Fran is an awesome feeling, so familiar rolling through Daley City and it's little boxes on a hillside made of ticky tacky which all look the same.

1. Right: The boys take a short nap on the BART train.

On Market St exit, once again, I'm lugging the bags up the stairs, but shorter ones this time.


The room's not ready until the afternoon, probably luckily so the boys cant' sleep further, and we're off.

2. Left: all awake for the cable car, even if there was a bit of a queue. The entertainment of spinning the thing around is there.

First stop is the Powell street cable car. The boys are very excited as we're right up the front, sitting sideways, with a few people hanging off the side of it, going up/down the extremely steep hills.

3. Right: everyone loves the cable car

4. Left. sourdough teddy bear is super delicious.

We wander around Fisherman's Wharf looking for the seals, and buy a teddy bear shaped loaf of bread for later. While we watch the seals, we eat a chunk or two, until a giant seagull swoops on mine, banging my hand out of the way, and scooping my chunk, flying off in the distance. Eeek.

5. Right: drawing the bear at a cafe stop. It's freezing outside, so it's great to warm up again.

Quick drink stop in a restaurant nearby, in the group of shops next door, wash my hands, then walk out trying to find the bus.

6. Right; back near the hotel at the foot of the Stockton Tunnel

We eventually got the 30 to the end of Stockton Tunnel, right near our hotel, and in for a well earned sleep.

Our boys are absolute troopers, no complaints all day, despite starting at 4.40am, and finishing the equivalent of about midnight NY time, 7pm SF time. Big sleep, big sleep in!