So finally I’m going to write about my trips to San Francisco (April 25-30), Vancouver (May 2-7), Georgia (May 8-16) and Virginia (May 17-20). We took over 2,000 pictures, I’ll try to keep it all straight.
Friday 25th - Waiting to Breakfast
After a long flight I arrived at the airport and checked my cell phone for a message from Ken who was flying from Chicago. His flight was delayed and I had several messages from him and our friend in SF, Thori about his status. I was starving so I went to the only open restaurant in the airport, Subway. Ken arrived a few hours later and we went to go pick up our rental car.
I don’t know what the deal is with rental companies. We reserved a car with Hertz, but it turned out that they didn’t have any of the cars we were looking for. Same thing that happened when I rented a car last August in Georgia and ended up driving a 2-seat Crossfire. We finally, grudgingly, settled on a Grand Prix. This being my first time in San Francisco, hell on the West Coast at all, I didn’t know how well I’d do with a big boat of a car. Ken would never have been able to drive it, the drivers seat was weird and even I was touching the roof.. I’m 5′3″.
We finally arrived at our hotel, The Argonaut, somewhere around 4am. Ken was starving so we asked the desk clerk if there was a 24-hour place anywhere nearby. He said there was a Denny’s just 3 blocks down the street. After walking around for quite awhile and asking 3 separate people for directions, we finally googled it on Ken’s blackberry and found it. We were exhausted so we stumbled back to our room and passed out.
Saturday 26th - Cheesy Crafts!
We woke up around noon and took a trolley down to the Ferry Building and walked around looking at all the awesome stores and then had lunch at the Hog Island Oyster Bar. Ken had crab and I had a gourmet grilled cheese! So awesome! Afterwards we walked around a craft market across the street where I found a really nice lady, Leah Mazor, who makes fused glass pendants. I made a “thank-you” necklace for Thori (Niobe’s Tears) with the pendant we purchased from her.
While we were waiting on a trolley back to the hotel we suddenly became surrounded by a bunch of 20-somethings in prom outfits. We kept trying to figure out where they were coming from or where they were possibly going. My guess was a college prom type thing or some kind of weird publicity stunt. Ken kept insisting that he’d run into the same thing the last time he was there and that he thought it was their natural state.
Sunday 27th - Sunburned Garlic
We got up later than we wanted to, and hopped on the big bus tour. We had a great tour guide, lots of personality and stories. Ken managed to get a nasty sunburn though. It was gorgeous out. Highlights were: A ship mast inside a building : Yerba Buena Gardens : Civic Center Plaza
After the bus tour we met up with our friend, Thori and her husband at the Kintetsu Mall (Inside photo) (outside photo) in Japantown. The Bookstore & The Candy Store 
Next we went to the Metreon, sadly the Playstation store was closed for training or something but we browsed the Sony store. Seriously? a Vending Machine?
For dinner we went to the Stinking Rose restaurant (front sign) (plaque photo), where we had Bagna Calda (garlic cloves, oven-roasted in extra virgin olive oil and butter with a hint of anchovy), Garlic Hummus Cocktail (with toy box tomatoes and garlic crostini), and the best thing of the whole trip GARLIC ICE CREAM!
Monday 28th - Beaded Unicorns
Monday morning, Thori met us at the hotel and we dropped Ken off in Sausalito for work while she and I went to take a bead class at Baubles & Beads. It was a good basic class and I learned a few things about my supplies. We made these matching Twinsies bracelets
I took some pictures in Sausalito while we were waiting to pick up Ken, here’s the Peach Compound, my future home, and the view of San Francisco. Then we drove around Golden Gate park. We saw an artist drawing this magnificent Maple Tree from his van and saw this waterfall. Then we parked at the (not a bridge) Golden Gate Bridge. Check out this piece!
From there we drove to the Cliff House (AKA King Haggard’s Castle). Welcome to the Pacific Ocean, it was so cold and windy but I think I’m in <3!
We ended by having dinner at Sushi Ran where the waiter mocked Thori all night for not wanting the chocolate bomb they're famous for. He brought her a plain banana on a plate, kept saying things like "so you want a chocolate bomb, got it." and "I don't think the chefs know how to make anything else, sorry". It was funny
Tuesday 29th - Unicorn Waves
Thori showed up bright and early and we took Ken to work again. She and I then dropped the Grand Prix off at the hotel and walked around Ghirardelli Square then took a bus to the Asian Art Museum. Highlights were: SF made out of Pots & Pans : Table Screen with Immortals in a Landscape : White-Robed Water Moon Avalokiteshvara : The Buddhist Diety Guhyasamaja embracing the goddess Sparshavajra : Palanquin Fittings : Portrait of Maharani Jind Kaur. To end the perfect day at the museum with these back at Ghirardelli Square.
We picked Ken up from work and took him back to the Metreon where the Playstation Store was open and he was in heaven. Then had dinner at the Cliff House restaurant. A little too fancy for me but the view was fantastic. I watched for Unicorns all night!
Wednesday 30th - Going Home
At the airport going home, I had Ken snap some pictures of the Thori thumb-shaped bruise left on my forearm when she was trying to fix my finger spasms. Good times!!
I’ll write about Vancouver next time! Stay tuned!