boudin bakery sourdough
yummy biscuits! oh wait, they are for dogs!
beakfast at auntie annes in macy's
leaving our hostel and walking down the street we were met with funny stares from a woman walking ahead of us. she quickly struck up conversation, asking us where we were from, and what our economy was like etc. she was truly lovely- we have found that everyone is willing to have a chat and listen to one anothers life stories. the city as a whole has a really lovely sense of community! people greet each other, chat on trains and cable cars and are helpful and kind to one another. not at all what i was expecting of americans so a welcome surprise.
we caught the trolley car to pier 39 and jumped off. talk about a sea of tourists! an explosion of sensory stimulation- bright colours, music from buskers and the smells of amazing food. we hit all of the tourist stores ('i heart sf' everything), and bought bits and pieces. mum found 'leftys'; a store completely dedicated to left handed people (with mum being left handed). everything was flipped around the accommodate left handed people- notebooks, mugs, pencils and scissors. the walls were filled with people through history who were left handed; ghandi, judy garland, darwin, hendrix, ned flanders etc. lunch was at the crab house, and mum had their famous crab chowder- which lived up to it's name!
after lunch, we found my dream store- the candy baron. it was full of large barrels of taffy in all flavours imaginable; raspberry lemonade, bubblegum, cotton candy, buttered popcorn, maple bacon, candy corn, cupcake. just to name a few. i bought a bag and it only cost me $3.50. god bless america, fueling my addiction!
leaving the store, we heard a magician performing. joining the group, he looked like any other street performer. however, he was rather exceptional. we watched his show in awe, and then decided it was time to leave the pier and head back to union square.
leaving the store, we heard a magician performing. joining the group, he looked like any other street performer. however, he was rather exceptional. we watched his show in awe, and then decided it was time to leave the pier and head back to union square.
arriving back at union square, i hit urban outfitters. i must say, i found it utterly disappointing! it was a store of 5 levels, and i found maybe a handful of things i liked. for a store i had been shopping from for years, it was very disappointing in real life. over hyped and not very well priced.
i attempted to get a subway sandwich for dinner- but it wasn't without it's difficulties. being rushed through the line- 'hi, can i just get chicken fillet on that'. he looked at me with a blank stare, slightly annoyed at my incompetence. i realised they had no chicken fillet, and instead a bizarre arrangement of red and pink meats i had never seen before in my life. 'did you just want this?'- he pointed to small pieces of white meat hidden in the back. almost perfectly reflecting how i felt at that moment. 'yep, that'll be fine'.
whilst mum skyped home, i spent the night at the hostels comedy night. walking into the movie room, i was met by two huge burly african american men. 'um, is this the comedy thing?'
'sure is, where you from little lady?'
'australia'
'mm mm mmmm aussie aussie aussie'
turns out they were the comedians, and were bloody funny. the other acts were mediocre, but it was all part of the fun. i found myself sitting between two australian guys, and about 70% of us were from australia, so got ripped on most of the night. it was suggested by both large men that i must have a little black chocolate in me because no white girl has hair like mine. and that mum is lying to me about my father. hmmm... all in all a very funny night, meeting lots of great people.
tomorrow a bike tour, not sure i'll be fit enough for these san francisco hills but we'll see how i go!
