Clam Chowder and Cable Cars

Yes I was a tourist in San Francisco today.

I got the sat-nav lady to bring me in over the Bay Bridge – I’m glad that the ‘What if another quake hits San Francisco’ documentary was not on the TV until tonight.  I would have gone nowhere near the Bay Bridge complex.

Not so much driving today, lots more walking and taking in the atmosphere of China Town and Fisherman’s Wharf.

I passed up on the $10 boat trip around Alcatraz Island and under the Golden Gate Bridge, but did take the $18 hour long ‘Trolley Hop’ sightseeing trip around the city.   It was clear from this trip that my morning walk around China Town, was mostly in the non-touristy part – I thought it was atmospheric!

I did want a go on the real cable cars, being hauled up the steep streets by the cables running under the road, but I left it a bit late and there was a large queue of others with the same idea.

I took lunch in a pavement cafe where of course I ‘had’ to have Clam Chowder, the local over promoted delicacy.   The effects of the Chowder stayed with me for the rest of the afternoon and my drive back down to Monterey ready for Internet Librarian 2007, tomorrow.  Although I enjoyed it, I don’t think I will be that eager to partake in the future.

Well, back down to reality and the conference tomorrow, but I think the memory of the 600 odd miles of me-time over the last few days will stick with me for a long time.