Sunday, June 14, 2009
Day 13
Jen and the kids got bumped from the Denver to KS flight and wtayed there for the night. Denver was a stop on the original itinary. I am glad they got to CO and that made 9 states on their trip.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Stats
~2300 miles, 200 bathroom breaks, ~40 different license plates (We did find Alaska. No Hawaii, Conneticut), 32 PopTarts, 16 bottles of wine, 8 states, 1 bloody nose, 1 lost tooth, 0 vomit
Favorite Things
Joe: Park City
Pete: California
Abby: Lake Tahoe
Bop: Yosemite
Jen: Lake Tahoe
Donna: Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Cheyenne, WY
Pete: California
Abby: Lake Tahoe
Bop: Yosemite
Jen: Lake Tahoe
Donna: Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Cheyenne, WY
Day 12: Last Day
I really wanted to fly a kite in SF as it is one of those images I have of SF. Jen and kids have a flight from San Jose Airport that leaves at 5 pm and Bop at 6. A. Honey is staying a few extra days. So we have plenty of time to fly a kite. I get up and take the kids to Walgreens to buy the kites, get some coffee and we head back to the hotel. Bop and I did not properly clear the room in Park City and left Jen's car seat bag in that hotel. So Jen, A. Honey and the kids head out for breakfast and to find a bag to pack those bulky things (eg pillow, blankets, car seats) for the plane ride home. We are able to find a bag but took a little longer than expected. We have another yummy breakfast and then go back to the room to pack everything up. We drop my stuff off at my new hotel (unfortunately, our hotel was fully booked on Sat night and I could not stay there) and then there head for the Pacific Ocean thinking we might have 10 minutes or so to fly a kite. We get there and we only have time to dip our toes in the ocean. We all head back into the car and they drop me off near my hotel. I was very sad to see everyone go. It was a great trip.
Day 11 San Francisco: Farewell Dinner
We all knew we wanted Chinese food for dinner and at breakfast I asked our helpful waiter for a recommendation. He did oblige and while it appeared to only be 8 blocks away we knew from our previous outings it was 8 blocks all up hill. As we are walking out, I ask the lady at the front desk (who is Asian) if she is familiar with this restaurant. She is not but recommends the K&G Lounge and calls a car service for us. We all get into a snazzy white town car and head off to our dinner celebration. We have a great chat with Chris Choi our driver who was born in China but has lived in SF for 19 years. He apologized for his broken English but I thought it was pretty good. While the kids try to figure out where China is in relation to Kansas and California, I insist that Chris tell me what authentic dishes I should order as I do not want any American Chinese. He makes some recommendations (eg a whole steamed fish but picking through those bones is no good for me) and we decide the princess chicken would be a good choice.
Well...we get to the restaurant and they tell us the wait is over 1 hour. Imagine the disappointment... We walk out and I say, let's put our name in anyway. When I go back, the hostess is telling, more like ordering, people to go downstairs, go upstairs, go over there. I say can I put our name in for a party of 6. She looks at me sternly and says is your party all here. I say, "yes" and she says, "go upstairs." I run to get everybody outside and we go upstairs. You never know.
Armed with my knowledge of authentic Chinese cuisine, I firmly and confidently order the princess chicken. The waiter says, "No. I bring you house style beef". We ordered a few more items including the Mongolian beef, lemon chicken, chow mien, pineapple and shrimp rice. We all get our drinks and make a toast to wonderful trip!
The first thing to come out is the house style beef and it is delicious. So tender and tasty... The kids do a good job with the chopsticks and everyone enjoys the farewell celebration. Chris is not available to drive us home so we walk up to the Hilton and get a taxi home.
We get home and little Joey Boo Boo who has had a loose tooth the whole trip had a tooth fall out tonight. Fortunatly, the tooth fairy was able to find us!!!!
Well...we get to the restaurant and they tell us the wait is over 1 hour. Imagine the disappointment... We walk out and I say, let's put our name in anyway. When I go back, the hostess is telling, more like ordering, people to go downstairs, go upstairs, go over there. I say can I put our name in for a party of 6. She looks at me sternly and says is your party all here. I say, "yes" and she says, "go upstairs." I run to get everybody outside and we go upstairs. You never know.
Armed with my knowledge of authentic Chinese cuisine, I firmly and confidently order the princess chicken. The waiter says, "No. I bring you house style beef". We ordered a few more items including the Mongolian beef, lemon chicken, chow mien, pineapple and shrimp rice. We all get our drinks and make a toast to wonderful trip!
The first thing to come out is the house style beef and it is delicious. So tender and tasty... The kids do a good job with the chopsticks and everyone enjoys the farewell celebration. Chris is not available to drive us home so we walk up to the Hilton and get a taxi home.
We get home and little Joey Boo Boo who has had a loose tooth the whole trip had a tooth fall out tonight. Fortunatly, the tooth fairy was able to find us!!!!
Day 11: San Francisco Part 1
I was very excited for today. We had planned to ride the cable cars, walk on the Golden Gate Bridge, and have an authentic Chinese feast in Chinatown. We did all of this and more.
We start the day off with a yummy breakfast at a local cafe. I had already forgotten about my vow to eat cioppino three times a day and went for the veggie breakfast burrito. Jen also went for the BB, Bop some french toast and the kids got smiley pancakes. This waiter was very helpful and provided us with some good tips or the day. With a full belly, we head off to tackle the first item on the agenda, the cable car ride and I could not wait. Well, I would have to wait about 30 minutes more because there is a line, a long line. But the good news is that we were the first ones on the trolley and we got to choose our seats. Bop, Jen and the kids sit on the outside and I stood on the platform and held onto the bar. Just like in the rice-a-roni commericals. It was very cool.
We walked a bit around Market St and Union Sq, go to the bathroom in the elegant St. Francis Hotel, and then try to hop a trolley back home. The cable cars were very crowded and we had to split up. We made a plan to meet in La Beuna Vista for our Irish Coffee. Jen and Pete get on the first cable car. Turns out an exhausted Peter falls asleep on the ride home and we met up with Jen in the Starbucks vs. the bar because there was no room in the bar.
But no honky, we chat with other travelers for a while and then we move on to the Golden Gate Bridge. I got the car, we loaded up and headed for the Fort at the base of the bridge. It is a beautiful day. The wildflowers were in bloom, the views of the bay were spectacular and it was not too windy. A.Honey who is always cold had to take her coat off. Unfortunately, Abby is having a bit of trouble with her ears and is not able to make it all the way to the bridge. Joe, Peter and I walk about 300 yards up onto the bridge, snap a few shots and we make our way down the hill. There is great bookstore and cafe called the Warming Hut where we enjoy some popsicles and cold beverages at a picnic bench. Over yonder we see they are setting up for a wedding, we see the wedding party arrive in what appears to be Indian (not native american) style garments but the people appear to all be Caucasian who are wearing them. We are confused by this.
We make a stop on the way home to get some medications for Abby and I impress Bop with parallel parking skills. We go back to the hotel to rest up for our last night on the town.
We start the day off with a yummy breakfast at a local cafe. I had already forgotten about my vow to eat cioppino three times a day and went for the veggie breakfast burrito. Jen also went for the BB, Bop some french toast and the kids got smiley pancakes. This waiter was very helpful and provided us with some good tips or the day. With a full belly, we head off to tackle the first item on the agenda, the cable car ride and I could not wait. Well, I would have to wait about 30 minutes more because there is a line, a long line. But the good news is that we were the first ones on the trolley and we got to choose our seats. Bop, Jen and the kids sit on the outside and I stood on the platform and held onto the bar. Just like in the rice-a-roni commericals. It was very cool.
We walked a bit around Market St and Union Sq, go to the bathroom in the elegant St. Francis Hotel, and then try to hop a trolley back home. The cable cars were very crowded and we had to split up. We made a plan to meet in La Beuna Vista for our Irish Coffee. Jen and Pete get on the first cable car. Turns out an exhausted Peter falls asleep on the ride home and we met up with Jen in the Starbucks vs. the bar because there was no room in the bar.
But no honky, we chat with other travelers for a while and then we move on to the Golden Gate Bridge. I got the car, we loaded up and headed for the Fort at the base of the bridge. It is a beautiful day. The wildflowers were in bloom, the views of the bay were spectacular and it was not too windy. A.Honey who is always cold had to take her coat off. Unfortunately, Abby is having a bit of trouble with her ears and is not able to make it all the way to the bridge. Joe, Peter and I walk about 300 yards up onto the bridge, snap a few shots and we make our way down the hill. There is great bookstore and cafe called the Warming Hut where we enjoy some popsicles and cold beverages at a picnic bench. Over yonder we see they are setting up for a wedding, we see the wedding party arrive in what appears to be Indian (not native american) style garments but the people appear to all be Caucasian who are wearing them. We are confused by this.
We make a stop on the way home to get some medications for Abby and I impress Bop with parallel parking skills. We go back to the hotel to rest up for our last night on the town.
Day 10: Arriving to San Francisco
About 30 minutes outside the city I am truly shocked to still see windmill farms and little to no signs of the great metropolis. It was like Park City all over again. All I can say is good for us. There was no traffic and we get to hotel with no problem. Then we unload the car again (but sadly for the last time) only to find out that our hotel room is in another building. I thought JMJ and then I ask the bellhop can I borrow their cart to move to the other building when he remarked the cart stays with him and he will move the bags to the other building. You have to remember we have a lot of bags so this was no small task in hilly SF.
We freshen up a bit and then hit the town. First we go Pier 39 on Fisherman's Wharf and check out the sea lions, the amusement rides and other touristy things. We had a couple of missions in SF. 1) A. Honey was going to eat cioppino 3 meals a day and 2)BOP wanted to continue in her family tradition to have an Irish Coffee in a bar near the hub for the cable cars. We do not have the name of bar but I was willing to try a few different places for the sake of a family tradition. But then as we head up to Ghiradelli square, I see the wooden turnaround wheel for the cable cars and then a Irish bar called Tiernan. I thought BINGO. For some reason BOP was immediatley skeptical. She goes in and turns out BOP is right. The famous Irish Coffee is found in a bar across the street call La Beuna Vista. Now that we have that figured out we can all focus on my cioppino. We find a wonderful place for dinner that has something for everyone. My cioppino came in a sourdough bread bowl which I was not a fan of but they were very happy to bring me a bowl.
We freshen up a bit and then hit the town. First we go Pier 39 on Fisherman's Wharf and check out the sea lions, the amusement rides and other touristy things. We had a couple of missions in SF. 1) A. Honey was going to eat cioppino 3 meals a day and 2)BOP wanted to continue in her family tradition to have an Irish Coffee in a bar near the hub for the cable cars. We do not have the name of bar but I was willing to try a few different places for the sake of a family tradition. But then as we head up to Ghiradelli square, I see the wooden turnaround wheel for the cable cars and then a Irish bar called Tiernan. I thought BINGO. For some reason BOP was immediatley skeptical. She goes in and turns out BOP is right. The famous Irish Coffee is found in a bar across the street call La Beuna Vista. Now that we have that figured out we can all focus on my cioppino. We find a wonderful place for dinner that has something for everyone. My cioppino came in a sourdough bread bowl which I was not a fan of but they were very happy to bring me a bowl.
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