Viking Invades Alaska!

[love_the_life]

Grumpy cat is looking his usually erm grumpy self.

 

[Pushka]

Had to chase up the pav after 45 minutes. Very nice.
Boarding as we walked to the gate as we didn’t wait for the call.

Nice seat. Only one of 2 solos.

 

[love_the_life]

Had to chase up the pav after 45 minutes. Very nice.
Boarding as we walked to the gate as we didn’t wait for the call.

Nice seat. Only one of 2 solos.
View attachment 163874

View attachment 163873

Sigh. I want to be there too.

 

[Pushka]

Arrived safely into SFO about 2 hours ago and in the Chancellor Hotel in Union Square. It’s well, quaint. But in a great location.

Service was good. The menus




Had the pumpkin soup which was nice and then the chicken which although doesn’t look great it was fine.



Deserts came on a trolley which suited me as I was ready to sleep. Fell asleep straight away then woke about 4 hours later when the guy next bumped me getting stuff out the locker. Wide awake. Watched a couple of movies part way then decided I could drop off to sleep again, which I did.

Then could smell bacon so woke up again for breakfast which had been ordered the night before.
I don’t like scrambled eggs but it was the only way to get bacon. A strange crumpet as well.



Weather perfect, coolish and sunny.

 

[Pushka]

So tonight after 2 generous glasses of wine I’ve been told I have an American accent by one of the local SF’cans. And that MrP has a completely different and Aussie one. I have no idea what to make of that. Maybe too much US TV.







“

 

[henleybeach]

Then could smell bacon so woke up again

Bacon will wake anyone up
Great report so far , following on pushka!
I’m back next week , I’ll go down and mow the lawns at the shack for Mr.P

 

[Pushka]

I’m falling behind here. So last night being punch drunk from jet lag we decided on a close restaurant of which there are several. We crossed the road. Had pizza and spaghetti and ridiculously expensive wine and worked out we’d just spent $150 on a meal that was nice but not worth that much. Thankgod we will be on a cruise with food and drink paid for.

Our sleep was instant but at periods during the night we were awake for 2 hour stretches and consequently it was 10am before we woke.

We had missed breakfast which was additional anyway so no loss ($36USD ++) and checked in on a diner but kept walking down to Fisherman’s Wharf. Our plan being to go to Alcatraz. First shop said all tickets were sold so we walked to Pier 33 just to check and were able to get two tickets for an hour later cruise. Apparently in high season the tickets sell out weeks ahead online.

By then having walked up the three steep hills from Union Square to Embarcadero we were hungry and there’s no eating on Alcatraz. We’d walked past a sausage and onion pop up where the smell was wonderful. So after checking out an expensive carbohydrates laden diner we bought a sausage and ate in looking over the ocean. That’s all we needed. MrP has learnt American and asked for ketchup.



Then it was time to line up for the 20 minute ferry to Alcatraz. And it was super busy.

The views over to Oakland bridge and Golden Gate were excellent even though it was a dull and cold windy day.

 

[Pushka]

The Alcatraz tour cost $39 and consists of the ferry plus audio tour of the Gaol. Such a bleak place and wind blown environment.

Al Capone spent years here. Although many prisoners had committed property crimes rather then murder.



The birds here are huge.


Once the Gaol was closed by Kennedy in 1963 the Indian population claimed ownership.


The walk up to the Gaol was steep as it’s perched on the hilltop.





Laundry.

 

[Pushka]

Enjoy a nice shower with your new prisoner mates.

 

[Pushka]

Solitary confinement cells were larger than normal cells but faced the cold coastal side and which were bleak and freezing.



This being an original room with decorations as the prisoner liked painting.



This cell was one of three used during a Gaol break. The prisoners spent a year digging through the ventilation space (mid right of this photo) and three escaped on a lifeboat made from a rain coat. They made dummies to look like their heads. There were never seen again. Theory was that they died from sharks or exposure and some said they escaped to South America as they were learning Spanish.

 

[Pushka]

We finally escaped and in the gift room there were many books including one written by a former prisoner. He was seated at a desk to autograph the book! Guess they can make a profit from crime over here.






Caught the ferry back and then instead of the cable car we were cold and grabbed the nearest taxi back to Union Square. Decided to get Indian for dinner and found an excellent one close by.

Forecast for tomorrow is windy and rain. But tonight was warmer so we checked out the shop displays which were rather interesting.

Whomever would have thought a vacuum cleaner store would look good in a high end retail street.







Louis Vuitton in perfect style


Swarovski crystals.

 

[Denali]

Loving the photos! Hubby loves SF, I think you always remember your first cable car ride.

We did a twlight tour at Alzatraz about 2yrs ago and at the time there was offer a golf cart trip up the hill for those that needed it.

Keep posting!

 

[sinophile888]

I hope you can find some "Painted Ladies" to photograph.

 

[VPS]

On Qantas of all things! Nabbed award seats to the US the instant they became available. Via Sydney. Equals the awful bus. We do have 2.5 hours gap so hoping for some FLounging but MrP tells me he isn’t having anything to eat. To hell with that I say. We have agreed to do our own thing. Thank god.

I booked this cruise 18 months ago so plenty of time to sort out the other details.

Ha - I probably was there at the same time as you

 

[craven morehead]

Just caught up ......... looks great so far.

 

[Pushka]

Loving the photos! Hubby loves SF, I think you always remember your first cable car ride.

We did a twlight tour at Alzatraz about 2yrs ago and at the time there was offer a golf cart trip up the hill for those that needed it.

Keep posting!

Yes, they still do that but only for people with disabilities. And sometimes their companion can travel with them.

I must get MrP off to the gym today so I can do some shopping at Macy’s which I can see from the room. It’s either that or Saks which is just across the road. I think the weather is about to cave in, even as Far East as Grand Canyon where it’s going to only be 15 while we are there but up to 30 the week after. C that is. We have 2 more nights here then early morning flight to Flagstaff via Phoenix from Oakland, across that bridge.

 

[Pushka]

Brunch - local style. And brought the vegemite.









With vegemite of course. But forgot to say no Hashbrown and it wasn’t mentioned on the menus. A very busy place.



It’s rainy and cool here so shopping in Macy’s and a gym trip on the agenda. Might look into the baby section. Our DIL now holds 3 passports - UK, US and now Aus so a little US influence is appropriate. And better range than in Aus for non gender items.

Also purchased some US notes in small denominations for Egypt cruise at Christmas time. Had to sort out the non crisp notes and will spend them here.

 

[Pushka]

More tragic. But it was free.

 

[love_the_life]

That costume display looks like a happy find!

 

[Denali]

I still get a kick out of going through NZ airports and seeing LOTR displays.