FRIDAY

Our early flight to San Francisco was pretty uneventful lasting nearly six hours - no meals or anything on American Airlines - all the airlines are cutting back because of the fuel costs. Big penalties on extra luggage as well. We had arrived at the airport in what we thought was plenty of time (and hour before departure), but all the security etc meant we only just had time to grab a drink and a snack to take with us before we boarded.
There was a marked difference in temperature once we got to California, after the heat of New York it was great to emerge from the airport into a temperature of about 25C. We caught a train from the airport right to our hotel in SF and managed to get our rooms early (it was 10.30am - we lost 3 hours coming west) and hurriedly changed into some warmer clothes, then caught a tram to Pier 33 near Fishermans Wharf to get our boat trip to Alcatraz Island.
                                                  
It was fantastic to get back to a bit of normality after the madhouse that is New York, the city here is far quieter and less busy - even the freeways were quiet - and we are looking forward to seeing the rest of the place tomorrow.
There was still a large crowd of tourists waiting for the boat tours - lots of  Europeans - but we eventually got the ferry out to the island, and walked up the steep hill to the old prison blocks. Most of the island is in very poor condition and the were thousands of nesting birds all over the place, but a few buildings have been restored, and it was quite spooky to wander along the rows of tiny cells and see the terrible conditions the inmates endured.
                
Later we had a wander along the streets enjoying the wide, clean footpaths and lack of mayhem that was New York. There were a lot of beggars (or panhandlers as they are called) and many weird types about, but overall the city is old but clean. We saw quite a few of the huge gay population aand noticed many shops selling mens cosmetics - all a bit "metro" for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SATURDAY

We had to rug up fro the first time on the trip this morning as there was a biting wind blowing and the temps were in the 60's F (about 18C), and we grabbed some breakfast and caught one of the many hop on - hop off busses and had a look at the central city block and China Town. Mostly very old buildings but all clean, neat and tidy, with lots of big name shops and lots of tourists browsing them. We got off at Fishermans Wharf which the main tourist area and quickly bought a couple of cheap polar fleeces to wear on the open topped bus. We took a tour out over the Golden Gate Bridge - very impressive sight - but we couldn't see the tops of the towers because of the fog! It was freezing cold when we stopped at the viewing area and we joined about 5,000 others getting some photos before we drove back up through some very wealthy areas overlooking the Bay (houses cost $8,000,000 to renovate) where all the old houses have to be kept in their original appearance. There were two clearly defined types of housing as a result of the 1906 earthquake which flattened half the city, all the old English and French designs were in fantastic condition, as were pre earthquake ones which sell for the big money.
It was a fascintaing tour seeing Lombard Street, which is the crookedest street in the world, and seeing the queue of cars stretching 2 miles while people waited to drive through it! Also saw all the famous cable cars and the very steep streets. We had lunch at one of the hundreds of restaraunts and Jasmin and I tried the locally famous clam chowder which was superb.
          
          
                                                          
San Francisco is a great place to visit with a subway, trams, buses and the cable cars making getting from A to B very simple and very cheap. A lot of places could take notice!!! The tourist facilities are first class and we have all enjoyed the brief visit, although it would have been nice to be able to see the bridge and more of the hills without the fog!
Tomorrow we have a 14 hour bus tour to Yosemite Park which should be great.