San Francisco...The big frisco. Jimmy two chins and Tommy two beers arrived from LA after a gruelling 8 and a bit hour bus journey through some of the most barron surroundings imaginable. I think the most exciting sight en-route had to be...the Optimus Prime Transformer trucks chugging along up and down the 101 freeway. It was not a pleasant day - especially with the heat and toms' thunderous snoring.

It was fairly late in the day when we hit San Fran (seems to be a trend with our travels so far) and keeping up with our traditions; had no idea at all where we were going to stay that evening. Luckily for us a girl also on our ride up here was looking a little lost...or so we thought.

..Introduction of Cat to our travels soon followed. Basically we just got in her taxi and followed her to the hostel she was originally booked in. Which turned out to be quite a good call. Comfiest hostel bed so far. Clean. 'Friendly' residents. The rest is history.

So; San Fur Ann thisco. What an attractively strange and quirky city. It's quite similar to New York without the constant buzz and not quite the mega metropolis. Talk about diversity in a relatively small place though. The typical local yanks and tramps, italians but a hell of a lot of 'love you long time' Orios too. And hippies. San fran has a huge hippy scene going on. Oh and did i mention homosexuals?
It almost seems impossible that there can be so many hills in one city. Nob hill, Russian hill, Telegrapgh hill...not good for the 'aul knees and on days like today when the sun is literally cracking the flags - shorts and hill walking = major gooch chaffage. Everyone owns a sausage dog here. It's yet another city with a little Italy and China world. And finding a pay phone in frisco is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Also, does this city have police? Suppose there's no chance of us being pulled for jaywalking again at least...Oops. I was also going to add it's by far the least 'rough' location so far...and no joke, someone had just been knifed literally just down the road. Nervous laugh follows...
No seriously, San Fran is fine. Everyones too wrapped up in their skinny jeans and sausage dogs to bother you.

We headed out on the first day with no idea where we were going or with any sense of direction. As per. This time however we had our new friend and soon to be navigator; catherine. From Sarf'ampton. Didn't take long to get aquainted and for her to realize that she'd be spending the next few days in close quaters with two immensley funny slash immature adult boys. Obviously when she explained she was used to it from similarly handicapped friends back home, we relaxed a little more and had many a good 'larf'.
It was absoloutly bucketin' it down and this pillock didn't really anticipate how long it would rain for...so it slightly hampered the sightseeing. Quick note on buying our umberellas. Tom found it hilarious to aim his new spring loaded shotgun triggered brolly at my crotch. I laid in a puddle for the next 10 minutes sobbing...As you can imagine, the brolly fight continued for some time. Resulting in many yelps and tom having a pair of fairly tender knees.

Not to worry, there was a 7 / 11 just around the corner from our hostel. True to form we ended up fairly smashed that evening. I say 'we', i mean 'me'. Sat in the hostel common room we became aqainted with another new friend, Pieter. Working at the hostel, originally from Sarf' Africa. All these bloody satherners'. It soon became apparent however that Catherine and Pieter were going to be the more 'relatable' characters in our company whilst staying at the Pacific Trade Winds. Don't get me wrong, they're very much welcoming and friendly...just on slightly different wavelengths to what we were used to. Especially Pete the p**** Seriously, it took all my will not to lift my ass from my seat and knock his gappy teeth clean from his mouth. He was just rude and obnoxious to everyone sat there. "Are all people from England p****...?" was his opening line. Plus, he had a listhp.
The following day was much more eventful and we really hammered the transport systems and city touring. So efficient those trams!! The weather played a big part too though. With our ray bans and shorts on we headed north upto Fishermanns Wharf. Passing Lombardo Street for a quick snap on the camera. Thats the big wiggly windy bendy road as Cat put it. You see it on all the films. Quite impressive. Reaching the coast we had a wander around Pier 45 and checked out the antique mechanical gaming thingy museum. But stood out on the pier by the WWII sub, eagle-eyed jim here spotted a large black fin pertruding from the waves only 100 or so yards away. Tom as ever immediatly shot down my claims, but sure enough, a minute later...the whale popped back up. Brilliant!!!
Forget the whale, i loved the 'told you so' more. Haha. Had a brilliant meal later that night, i even got to use a knife and folk. San Fran has done us a huge favour. We havn't touched fast food once!!! I kid you not. We've just eaten more and then walked up and down the hills all day. So this then meant we could again, go to the shop and buy crates of beers as a reward. Sat up chatting with my late night drinking buddy Cat till the early hours. Suffered for it the next day...

So, all trip Tom has pesterd about piercings or tattoos. To the point that he'd even convinced himself that he was getting his ears pierced today, and in turn, i was having my nipple pierced. Right!? We headed out for breakfast and then off in search of this tattoo piercing den west of the city centre. After a brief insight into the mission district and it's spaniard influences from centuries ago (see, i did listen Cat) we found the shop. It's basically just a big gay village by the way with pretty meditterian style buildings and parcs...
Have to say, this was probably going to be the most enjoyable day for me in San Fran. Jameson big african loopy eared man, led a nervy looking Tom into the back ( have to say - it was a very clean legit looking set up guys. Didnt slack on the sanitisation front. ) Phew...Tom won't get aids just yet. The needles were huge and as they were being driven into his lobes, for a split second, i felt a little sorry for our kid. The colour literally fell from his face. See pictures later. So Tom was now content. A little quiet, but sporting the trendy new look...we headed off on yet another arse about tit tour of frisco.

Alot of walking but all in all, worth it. Saw a herd of Bison in an enclosure, a heron...oh and the Golden Gate Bridge!!! What a place to get your mug shot...Just as the sun was setting too. Brilliant.

So, we have just one more night before we board that shed like bus back to LA for our last American night out. We said our goodbyes to Cat this morning. Little sad on the quiet after becoming fairly close in the last few days. No doubt we'll have a beer with our skater boy buddy Pieter later and share best wishes drinks and girls etc...
All in all, it's been fantastic. Loved San Fran eventually. It's no NYC but im glad i came saw and conquered. Shame we didn't get on the Alkatraz tour but hey...we've done so so much already. Can't have everything.

Next stop...Cook Islands!!! Actually, LA - Auckland - Cook Islands. Roll on the turquoise seas and white sands. Two weeks of detox. And most likely, no Subway outlets...