won't you save me San Francisco ....

Picking up where I left off yesterday, dinner at  crustaceans was nice.. but one again far too big and I was unable to finish it. Dinner was followed up by a visit to Walgreen so I could purchase an umbrella since it was pouring rain and we had several block to walk back to the warm and cosy place we call home for the moment.

Walgreens was an adventure to say the least, my first real time in American store that sells bits and pieces of everything. It was then decided that Mary would make Amanda and I smores .... for those who do not know what smores are - Graham crackers (digestive biscuits), marshmallow and chocolate (Hershey)... and let the following pictures explain the smores process

The verdict they are different, very messy and I can see how they would be winners around a campfire... if I think about it will bring some ingredients home so people can try them.
After the smores we cracked open another bottle of wine and relaxed with some Foosball though I have to admit I wasn't any good and was defeated really quickly, I didn't make karoke though bed was calling.

now on to today....

Whats that?... Blue sky and no rain!! Am I still in San Francisco? I sure am and now without the rain and even with the wind and chill I see the amazing charm of this city, the history behind it and the many wonderful areas of such a melting pot.

I got to discover more of the city today, I did a Dylan's tour (http://dylanstours.com/) which I highly recommend. It was a small group tour with only 7 people in a small van, I was one of only 2 Australians.
The tour was great as it showed you the other parts of San Francisco outside of the touristy areas of Union Square and Fishermans wharf.
Some of the things we got to see were city hall, it was an impressive city hall, no boring building but grand and elegant, with gold trimming. I didn't get a photo but here is a picture courtesy of wikipedia

We ventured through the Castro district and saw the areas from the movie Milk and learnt about how much the movement changed the area. The mission district which is a melting pot of cultures.
Twin peaks gave an amazing view of San Francisco and highlighted Mission street which separates the sides of the city, you can see it clearly in some of the photos, as well as the rainbow flag that highlights the Castro district

 After twin peaks we headed for the corner of Haight and Ashbury  this is the area known for the summer of love and it became the area which increased drugs and rock and roll into San Francisco. The grateful dead lived close to this area. It is also home to the first Ben and Jerrys outside of its home town.
I did try some Ben and Jerrys just a smoothie which was very nice, and when you tip they ring the cow bell always a cute thing to happen.

We managed a quick stop off at the painted ladies - these houses are the old victorian style houses these particular ones are most well known for their appearance in full house, what most people do not realise that in 1906 when an earthquake hit San Francisco it pretty much destroyed all the houses on nob hill (where these are located in Alamo square) but these 6 houses somehow made it through untouched and still remain today.

The rest of the day I will post in the next blog it contains the golden gate bridge, Muir woods, fishermans wharf and my first try of in n out burger... animal style
Will try and do this before I leave San Francisco tomorrow to head to DISNEY!! but if I don't the updates probably will be few and far between until I get to Boston or have access to wifi again