Howdy Partners!

Well we arrived in San Francisco on 8th February and the sun was shining! We thought it would be the same temperature as the UK, but NOOOOOO! The state of Schwarzenegger is warmer than the terminators leathers! After some initial shennanigans finding the right shuttle, we were on our way to the Green Tortoise. (our hostel!)

My god the hills are something else, I thought the taxi was going to take off! But it was a good value ride, dropping off about a million people first we had a tour of the city, not that it sank in as our brains were still fried from the flight!

We checked in and had to walk a couple of blocks to our room as it was in a different building! Damn rucksacks, wish we'd packed less!! (think this is going to be a re-occuring theme!!) Bed was bouncy, view was amazing (especially off top balcony!!), bathroom and internet right outside our door and only a short walk to the marina!
Most importantly though, horizontal at last!! ;)

After burgers and a good ole English pint, sleep was involuntarily upon us...

Next morning we headed out to the ballroom (of course) for some free brekkie - yum yum! I was well impressed with the genius bagel toaster. Then straight to jail did not pass go, did not collect $100 (unfortunately!)

Alcatraz was amazing! So much more than I imagined! We were walking around a jail that housed villains such as; Al Capone, The Birdman, Machine gun Kelly and now Wicked Warren, Horrible Hannah and Admiral Wob Wob!! (Robin & Laura you know who!!). The views of San Francisco were amazing from Alcatraz, it must have added to the punishment of being kept there! None more apparent than in the exercise yard - it must have been really difficult! After a couple of hours, we were heading back to the mainland! (luckily they let us off!)

We found our way to Fishermans Wharf next. We were starving, and on the verge of passing out, when we finally settled on a crab sandwich! (not as good as Cornwall). Next on the agenda was a trip on the famous SF tram, emperor of the road - cars and pedestrians - what are they! It was ace! The hills are soooo steep!! Next was a bus ride to Haight (with an ex light heavyweight boxer, who gave us a lecture on how all British boxers were street fighters and outclassed by American thoroughbreds!!) - where the hippy's hang! A hookah full of cherry sheesha and a couple of cold corona's later we floated back to the bus stop - catching snippets of far out tramp conversations along
the way! After sticking it to the man we were back in our hostel, sleeping like babies! Now that's ROCK N ROLL!

Fiji is calling, until next time...............................................


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