We spent the three days since my last website post preparing for our trip to San Francisco, leaving Spain early on 31 March en route to Manchester. Following an overnight stay at our usual Clayton Hotel, we flew on to Heathrow. A short wait before we boarded the 747 to San Francisco. Seated upstairs in business class, the journey was a pleasant mix of good food, watching current movies and sleeping, making our arrival in San Francisco, refreshed. A ´limo´ took us to The Grand Hyatt Hotel in Union Square where we checked in to our suite on the 24th floor. The accommodation and views were superb.
We spent the first couple of days walking and riding the famous cable car system. A visit to the Cable Car Museum is a must for anyone visiting San Francisco. Our first visit to Fishermans Wharf, Pier 39, introduced us to clam chowder served in sourdough bread. It was excellent.
There was, of course, time to visit the Cartier shop in Union Square.........it was Margaret´s birthday, after all....
On the Wednesday morning we travelled by boat to visit the famous Alcatraz prison. The place was interesting although, I have to admit, that I´ve worked in prisons where the conditions were not as good. The hotel concierge arranged for us to visit Muir Woods and Sausalito. Stunning scenery and real laid-back California.
On Wednesday afternoon our friends Steve and Marsha Glance arrived from Orange County. They were staying in a hotel close by, for a long weekend. We visited The Ferry Building where Steve and Marsha savored fresh oysters. As much as we were intrigued, we didn´t have the taste to try one!
Next, a visit to the Haight Ashbury district home to the ´Summer Of Love´ origins in 1967. Steve and I were really excited (old hippies indeed), because it was the place which introduced The Grateful Dead to the world. Visits to City Hall, the De Young museum and Golden Gate Park ensured that we had a wonderful time. On 7 April the four of us found a lovely Italian restaurant near Union Square to celebrate Margaret´s birthday. Great evening.
A visit, twice in fact, was to the world famous City Lights Bookstore, co-founded by Lawrence Ferlinghetti ( pic below ), in North Beach. Controversial and famous for many poets and authors including Jack Kerouac, and home to where the Beat ´Beatnik´generation originated. We bought a couple of poetry books and a journal to record our time in San Francisco.
Another great place to eat, was The Cats Head BBQ. They served great, unpretentious food, amazing brisket, ribs, biscuits with honey butter, excellent..
We said an emotional goodbye to Steve and Marsha as they left for home on Sunday.
The cherry Blossom Festival was in bloom in Japantown that weekend . Interesting chatting with officers from the San Francisco Sheriffs Department, who have responsibility for the prisons in SF. The sheriff gave Margaret one of their shoulder badges. Nice guys. We went back to Fishermans Wharf and spent the next couple of days sightseeing and riding the cable cars. Amazing fun and great scenery, just like the movies.
On Tuesday 11 April we began our journey back to Spain. By this time I was nursing a cold so the comfortable flight was a bonus. Full marks to British Airways. Eventually arriving back in La Xara in the early hours of Thursday morning, tired but loaded with souvenirs, photo´s and great memories.
Since our return, two friends Lesley Sharrock and Bill Duff have passed away. Food for thought indeed.
It´s been 12 months since we arrived at our lovely house in La Xara. The village life, and people, suit us perfectly.
My fortnightly, Sunday afternoon Lock Down Blues Show on TotalFM 91.8 is going from strength to strength and it´s great fun selecting the music playing requests.
I´m working on putting together a selection of some of my 300 poems and Margaret is preparing her latest wall hanging, The Summer Of Love Guitar Trio. A work-in-progress pic is on the Artwork page.
This blog has been a joint effort by Margaret and me.
More next time.
We spent the first couple of days walking and riding the famous cable car system. A visit to the Cable Car Museum is a must for anyone visiting San Francisco. Our first visit to Fishermans Wharf, Pier 39, introduced us to clam chowder served in sourdough bread. It was excellent.
There was, of course, time to visit the Cartier shop in Union Square.........it was Margaret´s birthday, after all....
On the Wednesday morning we travelled by boat to visit the famous Alcatraz prison. The place was interesting although, I have to admit, that I´ve worked in prisons where the conditions were not as good. The hotel concierge arranged for us to visit Muir Woods and Sausalito. Stunning scenery and real laid-back California.
On Wednesday afternoon our friends Steve and Marsha Glance arrived from Orange County. They were staying in a hotel close by, for a long weekend. We visited The Ferry Building where Steve and Marsha savored fresh oysters. As much as we were intrigued, we didn´t have the taste to try one!
Next, a visit to the Haight Ashbury district home to the ´Summer Of Love´ origins in 1967. Steve and I were really excited (old hippies indeed), because it was the place which introduced The Grateful Dead to the world. Visits to City Hall, the De Young museum and Golden Gate Park ensured that we had a wonderful time. On 7 April the four of us found a lovely Italian restaurant near Union Square to celebrate Margaret´s birthday. Great evening.
A visit, twice in fact, was to the world famous City Lights Bookstore, co-founded by Lawrence Ferlinghetti ( pic below ), in North Beach. Controversial and famous for many poets and authors including Jack Kerouac, and home to where the Beat ´Beatnik´generation originated. We bought a couple of poetry books and a journal to record our time in San Francisco.
Another great place to eat, was The Cats Head BBQ. They served great, unpretentious food, amazing brisket, ribs, biscuits with honey butter, excellent..
We said an emotional goodbye to Steve and Marsha as they left for home on Sunday.
The cherry Blossom Festival was in bloom in Japantown that weekend . Interesting chatting with officers from the San Francisco Sheriffs Department, who have responsibility for the prisons in SF. The sheriff gave Margaret one of their shoulder badges. Nice guys. We went back to Fishermans Wharf and spent the next couple of days sightseeing and riding the cable cars. Amazing fun and great scenery, just like the movies.
On Tuesday 11 April we began our journey back to Spain. By this time I was nursing a cold so the comfortable flight was a bonus. Full marks to British Airways. Eventually arriving back in La Xara in the early hours of Thursday morning, tired but loaded with souvenirs, photo´s and great memories.
Since our return, two friends Lesley Sharrock and Bill Duff have passed away. Food for thought indeed.
It´s been 12 months since we arrived at our lovely house in La Xara. The village life, and people, suit us perfectly.
My fortnightly, Sunday afternoon Lock Down Blues Show on TotalFM 91.8 is going from strength to strength and it´s great fun selecting the music playing requests.
I´m working on putting together a selection of some of my 300 poems and Margaret is preparing her latest wall hanging, The Summer Of Love Guitar Trio. A work-in-progress pic is on the Artwork page.
This blog has been a joint effort by Margaret and me.
More next time.
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