California Trip, day 1

We flew into SFO and arrived about 12:30. We picked up the rental car, drove to our hotel, dropped off our junk and arrived in the city around 3:00 p.m. We went immediately to the Ferry Building which houses high end food shops. Karen had read about the Acme Bakery and when we looked it up we found out that we could also hit up the Cowgirl Creamery, Scharffen Berger Chocolate and Miette (bakery). (We also wanted to go to Sur La Table but we never made it there in San Fran.) We planned to eat lunch by buying some yummy bread and cheese, with a chocolate dessert.

We went to the Acme Bakery and it was mm, mm, good. H and I bought a sweet dough bagette. Then we went to the Cowgirl Creamery which totally reeked, and by reek I don't mean the 80s version of the word that means it was nasty, I mean it smelled bad, way bad. Cheese shops aren't exactly a paradise for a person with a sensitive nose. However, we purchased a Gruyere (swiss like) and a Tome de Haute Savoie (softer cheese, medium in boldness). I also got a few fancy olives. Boy, the bread and cheese were amazing. Even Travis who couldn't bring himself to even enter the cheese shop was raving over the flavors.

At SB's I bought a Mexican Chocolate truffle. It had cinnamon and jabanero in it. It was chocolate with a slight kick. Amazing.

At Miette we bought a few items, but my main purchase was a lemon tart. I didn't eat it until the next day but it was so good. I love lemon, but a good lemon tart really rocks my world. (For all my weight watching friends out there, it would be safe at this point to say that I did not follow any kind of meal plan while I was away, unless you count my plan to eat everything that looked good, I followed that plan just fine!)

We then went to Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, Chinatown, Union Square and then drove down Lombard Street. Then we drove across the Golden Gate Bridge. Here are my favorite pics from the bridge.


After looking at this pic, Harold says that he can see why people think Karen and I are sisters.





My man in San Fran










The Boys







After the bridge we went to a restaurant and had dinner. After that we went back to the hotel for some sleep. All four of us in one room, being as cheap as we are. But it worked out fine, except that none of us really slept at all. The bed was comfortable enough and it wasn't too hot or too cold, so I have no explanation for not being able to sleep. I am not sure what everyone else's complaint was, but we were all a little tired the next day. But when you are on vacation without the kids you can really find energy you didn't know you have.