Yesterday was a quite day. Plans were put aside as the girls were feeling the pressure of their global jetset lifestyle. Besieged by the Paparazzi and plagued by calls from Justin and Beyonce the girls were able to slip out unnoticed spending more quality time in Macy's, GAP, Bloomingdale's, Nordstrum and Walgreens. All are contained neatly in a new Westfields Complex that borders Union Square. The girls returned triumphant, brandishing their bags of booty like a Sex and the City Prequel.
For Dinner we decided to venture forth to Chinatown. Wrapped up in our coats and scarves we hopped on the Cable car and started the crunching climb up Powell st . Scarlett who feels the same affinity for the cable cars as she does for Thomas the Tank Engine clung to Lou in nervous excitement. We hopped off and began our walk along Grant St trying to decide which restaurant. We passed the celestial Chinese garden restaurant which had been used for an episode of the Streets of San Francisco and the Love Boat, and had served Butterfly King Prawns and Snow peas to President George Herbert Bush. We pushed on. Then guided by a very persistent Hawker we found a nice place off Grant that served lovely Mu shu Pork, Peking Duck Fish Dumplings (in the shape of Goldfish) and as Lou has remarked really nice green tea ice cream. The excitement proved too much for Scarlett and we ventured back to the Handlrey by taxi.
Today was spent enjoying the Sunshine along the Marina District, Aquatic Park and Chestnut St a hip and trendy area similar to Bondi. We drove from the Hotel driving along Powell St dodging the cable cars and terrify Lou with an imminent collision with the parked cars on our right side. Forgoing the bike ride (that's for Mothers Day) We had a late Breakfast a Fort Mason. Home of The San Francisco Roller Derby Girls, Artists and Poets in residence, and Greens Vegetarian Restaurant all with sweeping views of the Golden Gate and Alcatraz.
We sat by the dock of the bay munching on croissant chocolate and peanut and jelly sandwiches, having our first semi decent coffee. Chelsea refuses to recommend Green's Hot Chocolate, and has reserved judgement on American Hot Chocolate till we've tried Ghiradelii.
We experienced our first American Supermarket, not easy to find since arriving, not quite sure where everyone in San Francisco does shop. Safeways has a lovely view of the Bay, and a extensive selection of baby wipes and formula. 5 stars for the view and speed of the checkout chick.
With the rise of Obamaism the American preoccupation with service seems to have died, no more have a nice days, no more complimentary glasses of water. Most service industry people seem on a permanent go slow, or it will take 1 GAP shop attendant 15 minutes to fold and ring up 12 items of clothing, ably assisted by 4 supervisors. The only people who have retained the service culture are the homeless of Union Square, who are more polite than the folk you may find at Sydney's Town Hall Station.
But I digress back in the car and dodging the parked cars and head toward the Explanatorium, found in the grounds of the Palace of Fine Arts, built as a temporary structure for the 1915 Panama American Exhibit only to be retained and used as backdrop in Sean Connery's the Rock.
The Explanatorium is great fun lost of hands on science experiments that Chelsea, Lou and Scarlett all got into of particular note was the large bubble maker, and various smoke machines. After a few hours we leave the girls feeling peckish, we walk around the lake filled with seagulls and surrounded by Japanese tourists and small dogs.
We board the Jeep and we discover, by accident Chestnut St. We lunch at Becilli's Diner, while Chelsea gets her haircut, more glamour shots to come.
We all walk along Chestnut, Lou buying a stylish sloppy joe from "Lucky" Jeans. We hop back in the Jeep and drive along Lombard St, narrowly missing more parked cars. We drive along Lombard finally climbing the 70 degree incline before reaching the summit pausing for a moment to look at the view across to Coit Tower and to dodge a tourist standing in the middle of the road. we pass through the STOP sign (still hazy on the give way rules here) and wind our way down San Francisco's most famous street. Pausing once again to have an action photograph of "the driver" "whilst turning down one of the hedged bends.
Back at the Hotel we all chill out. Scarlett and Lou nap before we use Skype for our first Video Mothers Day call to Ganma. Everyone very excited, with Scarlett even jumping out of the bath in the nu nu to talk to Ganma and Nonno Lou who enjoying a warm bath to herself remained discreetly out of view.
For Dinner we walked up Powell St to Uncle Vito's for a great Pizza and Pasta meal Chelsea giving this one 4 Star rating.
Tmrw is Mothers Day, and Chelsea has carefully hidden Lou's bountiful supply 0f presents.
More later.
For Dinner we decided to venture forth to Chinatown. Wrapped up in our coats and scarves we hopped on the Cable car and started the crunching climb up Powell st . Scarlett who feels the same affinity for the cable cars as she does for Thomas the Tank Engine clung to Lou in nervous excitement. We hopped off and began our walk along Grant St trying to decide which restaurant. We passed the celestial Chinese garden restaurant which had been used for an episode of the Streets of San Francisco and the Love Boat, and had served Butterfly King Prawns and Snow peas to President George Herbert Bush. We pushed on. Then guided by a very persistent Hawker we found a nice place off Grant that served lovely Mu shu Pork, Peking Duck Fish Dumplings (in the shape of Goldfish) and as Lou has remarked really nice green tea ice cream. The excitement proved too much for Scarlett and we ventured back to the Handlrey by taxi.
Today was spent enjoying the Sunshine along the Marina District, Aquatic Park and Chestnut St a hip and trendy area similar to Bondi. We drove from the Hotel driving along Powell St dodging the cable cars and terrify Lou with an imminent collision with the parked cars on our right side. Forgoing the bike ride (that's for Mothers Day) We had a late Breakfast a Fort Mason. Home of The San Francisco Roller Derby Girls, Artists and Poets in residence, and Greens Vegetarian Restaurant all with sweeping views of the Golden Gate and Alcatraz.
We sat by the dock of the bay munching on croissant chocolate and peanut and jelly sandwiches, having our first semi decent coffee. Chelsea refuses to recommend Green's Hot Chocolate, and has reserved judgement on American Hot Chocolate till we've tried Ghiradelii.
We experienced our first American Supermarket, not easy to find since arriving, not quite sure where everyone in San Francisco does shop. Safeways has a lovely view of the Bay, and a extensive selection of baby wipes and formula. 5 stars for the view and speed of the checkout chick.
With the rise of Obamaism the American preoccupation with service seems to have died, no more have a nice days, no more complimentary glasses of water. Most service industry people seem on a permanent go slow, or it will take 1 GAP shop attendant 15 minutes to fold and ring up 12 items of clothing, ably assisted by 4 supervisors. The only people who have retained the service culture are the homeless of Union Square, who are more polite than the folk you may find at Sydney's Town Hall Station.
But I digress back in the car and dodging the parked cars and head toward the Explanatorium, found in the grounds of the Palace of Fine Arts, built as a temporary structure for the 1915 Panama American Exhibit only to be retained and used as backdrop in Sean Connery's the Rock.
The Explanatorium is great fun lost of hands on science experiments that Chelsea, Lou and Scarlett all got into of particular note was the large bubble maker, and various smoke machines. After a few hours we leave the girls feeling peckish, we walk around the lake filled with seagulls and surrounded by Japanese tourists and small dogs.
We board the Jeep and we discover, by accident Chestnut St. We lunch at Becilli's Diner, while Chelsea gets her haircut, more glamour shots to come.
We all walk along Chestnut, Lou buying a stylish sloppy joe from "Lucky" Jeans. We hop back in the Jeep and drive along Lombard St, narrowly missing more parked cars. We drive along Lombard finally climbing the 70 degree incline before reaching the summit pausing for a moment to look at the view across to Coit Tower and to dodge a tourist standing in the middle of the road. we pass through the STOP sign (still hazy on the give way rules here) and wind our way down San Francisco's most famous street. Pausing once again to have an action photograph of "the driver" "whilst turning down one of the hedged bends.
Back at the Hotel we all chill out. Scarlett and Lou nap before we use Skype for our first Video Mothers Day call to Ganma. Everyone very excited, with Scarlett even jumping out of the bath in the nu nu to talk to Ganma and Nonno Lou who enjoying a warm bath to herself remained discreetly out of view.
For Dinner we walked up Powell St to Uncle Vito's for a great Pizza and Pasta meal Chelsea giving this one 4 Star rating.
Tmrw is Mothers Day, and Chelsea has carefully hidden Lou's bountiful supply 0f presents.
More later.
HAppy Mother's Day Lou and when is Chelsea's bday? Happy Birthday Chelsea.
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