Last full day in SFO - Jane and I went out for brunch to mamas, famous for hour long queues and the best American breakfasts in SFO. I have to say it was a damn fine omlette even with the wait and the twee American diner decor, but nothing cutting edge. The highlight was meeting an alaskan couple called Amy and Randy who were on holidays as well. We explored the trendy specialty shops around Hayes valley while waiting for our food tour to start. We saw and at...

We started our day visiting a church and talking to a priest! Grace cathedral looks like it is ancient but was rebuilt in the early 1930's using modern concrete casting methods so it is earthquake proof, then the recession hit and it was completed in the 1960s. I am sure it is the only church with Einstein in a stained glass window. It's internal art pays homage to inspirational American scholars and scientists. We were close to the nob hill cafe so stopped in f...

Jane and I caught the train to berkley with a guy who was returning to his hometown and university after 50 years, with his original berkley university jacket. It is a beautiful university, there was groups of new students taking orientation tours and graduating students taking photos. The area around the uni is filled with star bucks coffee shops, grunge shops and dorm accomodation. Jane and I were in berkley for lunch at chez panisse which turned out to be a ...

Free art gallery day!!! Checked out SFMoMa. Highlights were a pretty impressive collection of modern artists like Henri matisse and Frida kahlo and some detailed old photos of San Francisco which show how much change has taken place! We found an amazing coffee shop!!!! Finally!!!! Was starting to get desperate but to get there we walked through a couple of seriously dodgy streets with lots of lurking men. Homelessness and mental illness is all around and the ...

Jane and I went for a nice stroll over the golden gate bridge - we even had fog covering the top pylons. Unfortunately I was looking at the fog and Jane stopped in front of me and I ended up sprawled on the ground - so I have grazed hands knees and elbows as a souvineer! The only thing to do after losing skin and dignity was to go shopping - macy's gift with purchase on makeup still legendary value! I was a bit disappointed with what was in the shops - not sure...