San Fransisco Day 5

Up early, around 345am. I really didn't get any sleep the night before, but that is just because I am worried I will sleep through my alarm and miss the flight. So I am out the door a little before 430am and heading to the BART to go to the airport. Trying my hardest to steer clear of the homeless and thought I had, up until I smelt the most awful smell of a person who probably hasn't showered in weeks. It smelt like urine that has been setting in a toilet for days (nurses you know what I mean!). Luckily he was asleep and I just kept on walking, even faster. Got to the BART and headed to the airport. Met a couple from WI heading back home who were originally from Iowa City. Got to the airport to find myself having trouble printing my ticket. Finally got it done and headed to the security line. Why can't they all just be the same and ask the same things from everyone. Des Moines wants this and San Fransisco wants that. I swear! I finally get through and the plane is already boarding! I haven't eaten, I am thirsty and I am still trying to get my shoes on. Oh, I didn't check anything so I am carrying a heavy dufflebag around too! Luckily it isn't my turn to board, so I am able to get a drink. Board the plane and head to Chicago!
On the plane I sat next to the lady who is the creator and president of Japonesque. It is a company that sells makeup brushes. I try to make small talk, but she wasn't very talkative, which I could understand. It was an early flight and a long one at that. But I did at least tell her I had some of her products and I liked them. She was glad, but I didn't get anything free. Darn.
In Chicago I sat and waited at the airport for an hour or so before we would board and take off for Des Moines. I called and talked to Jeff for a little bit, then read a book. That was part of the best part of my trip. I got to read books that didn't involve nursing. It was great!
Then off to home where Andrew came and picked me up. I was so glad to be home.
If you want to see more pictures let me know. I have all 300+ pictures printed off in an album!

Sunday I headed over to Alcatraz. Getting there was slightly difficult. I bought my ticket for the trolley for the ride back to the hotel first. I got in line for the street care to take me there, but then realized I was in the trolley line. So I got to the stop for the streetcar. While waiting I met some ladies from LA who were in town for the Senior Olympics. We talked and when the bus came the driver told us this was not the streetcar to the piers. So we had to cross the street and wait for the next streetcar to take us over to the piers. So if comes and I get on, only to get crammed liked sardines into the streetcar. Not exactly pleasant. I was really getting nervous thinking I was going to miss the boat ride to the island. When we finally reached my stop, I walked super fast to get there, only to wait in line for my ticket. Speaking of the ticket, I bought it a couple of weeks before I left and had it emailed to me. Only I never received it so I had to call the company and make sure I had my ticket because my card had been charged for it. Luckily they did and I told them I would pick it up at the ticket office. And luckily for me, other people were running late!
The boat ride over was cold and windy (obviously). I took pictures going there and also had our camcorder to get footage of Alcatraz.
Here are some of the pictures I took.















Once back on the mainland, I walk a little bit to get on the trolley to take me back to the hotel. I waited probably 30-45 minutes to get one. Then once again I was crammed into a trolley like a sardine. So many people on. And then to make matters worse, we kept stopping to pick more people up! There was no room. So finally we are moving along when we almost hit a car because it wouldn't move. Apparently trolleys have the right of way in the city. Once we get past that car our trolley dies! Yes, it died! I was so frustrated. I called Monica to tell her I was running late. Meanwhile supposedly another trolley is on the way to pick us up. The driver is still working on it and with moving some gears around gets us moving again, slowly. So slow in fact that we needed a push. So the driver gets out along with a couple passengers to give a little push. This is great up until we are heading down the hill and there are cars in the way! I was about ready to just get off and walk back. I kept looking at my map figuring out where I was and how far the hotel was from each stop. I even called Andrew in the middle of the debacle only to loose his call and make him frantic! I finally just got off at a stop and started walking. I was familiar with the area because of all the other walks I had taken. Called Andrew back and told him all was okay.
Got back to the hotel and we headed to the great little French place that made all different kinds of crepes. It was soooooooo good. I don't remember what I had for my main meal, but for dessert I had a Nutella crepe with white chocolate and caramel. It was divine!
Then off to bed to get up early. Heading back home!

San Fransisco Day 4

I didn't do much Saturday. Woke up around 9am and bummed around. Laureen and I went to move her car to a different parking garage when we came upon the Filipino parade. It was interesting. Here are just a few pics from the parade.





Then I decided to go to some of Moncia's conferences on Medical Sociology. They were very interesting and I even did some of my own networking. It was fun.
For dinner that night Monica, Laureen and I went to a Spanish place and had some Tapas. Interesting. Then we went back to the hotel room and vegged out. Laureen actually read our Tarot cards. It was fascinating to see the difference from when she read them last year to this year. I wonder what they'll say next year?....

San Fransisco Day 3

On Friday we changed hotels for Monica's conference. While she was there, I went to the the Museum of Modern Art. There was a Georgia O'Keefe and Ansel Adams exhibit that I really enjoyed, but couldn't take any pictures. I also stumbled across the San Fransisco Chronicle. Later that night, Laureen, Katie (another one of Monica's friend of the University of Arizona), and I went to supper at a French restaurant La Bastille. Very good. After that we all met up in the room and just hung out.

San Fransisco Day 2

Thursday we got up and headed to Coit Tower and Telegraph Hill. Lunch at a cafe, then a coffee break at a different cafe. After lunch off to the City Limits bookstore where many famous authors has spent some time. Monica's friend Laureen, from San Fran, picked us up and drove us around for a "quick" tour of the touristy area, aka Fisherman's Wharf. Then to the Palace of Fine Arts, the Golden Gate Bridge, and finally The Golden State Bridge Park. Later that night Monica and I went to the Contemporary Jewish Museum, but I do not have any pictures from there.