Monday 25 June 2007

Somewhere in ... the city of Love


Yes, we do mean San Francsco, California. After a horrible flight on United Airlines,we arrived to hippie, chilled out (and I mean cold) San Francisco. We loved it from the start, a mixture of hip cafes, expensive shops, many homeless people and poor neighborhoods but also a sophisticated, european charm with its abundant, gorgeous 20s architecture with fire escapes everywhere, the tram-covered hills, Chinatown and a relaxed feeling in the streets which gets under your skin.

We also got surprised again to arrive to San Francisco right before the biggest event of the year which brings a million people to town, the Pride Parade of Gays and Lesbians, just as it had happened before to us in Sydney, clearly we're being followed! Thankfully we had already prebooked a hoel as rooms go for at least $400 a night in this period, so we got to see a most colourful and extravagant parade, we even got photographed for the local gay newspaper as a lovely heterosexual couple (we hope!)

Next biggest attraction was the Rock, otherwise called Alcatraz prision, impressive specially due to the audio tour given by ex-inmates and officers. Golden Bridge was also a must on the to-do list in San Francisco, but for us, nothing so special as we have drunk many beers under a bridge exactly like this one, back in Lisbon (if you really want to see San Francisco but can't afford it come to Lisbon instead where the hills, trams, cafes and bridge will make for a similar experience).

Tomorrow we'll have a final trip around the charming "streets of San Francisco", and we'll start our tour of the West Coast in Schwarzenegger's country, sunny California!

PS- And a big congratulations to Lenka's sister Lucka for graduation with honours! We knew she is the best!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

here comes a C
here comes an O
here comes an N
...
Congratulations Lucka!!

Great to hear from you guys!! I know that bridge on the end!!
I really enjoy the picture on the blog! really nice!
Already feel the holiday feeling!!
And on the 6th, here I go to Germany!

Anonymous said...

Previous coment is mine!

Brian Adamson said...

Hey Lenka & Pedro! You guys are motoring round the world at a pace that only makes me .. well jealous!
California .. ah the sunshine, the beaches .. but you guys are in San Fran, so of course .. the fog! I see you have found the way to forget about the fog (in Nappa!)
I can't believe you are so far round, and you are going to fulfil my big travel dream of crossing America (overland!). I told you I'm jealous! But a big thanks too, as through your blog we are all there with you. I'm impressed that you guys have continued the blog with the same enthusiasm that you did when you left SXB. Enjoy California ..and the way to the East! Bon voyage ... encore!

Timea said...

Congratulations to Lenka's sister (although I have not met her yet) :-) Have you seen any bellydancers in San Fran? Apparently it is also a famous bellydancing capital.. :-)
Enjoy the ride dudes!