DAY 17 SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco Travel Blog

September 12th, 2010 –

view of the river

DAY 17

When I awoke the day was bright and clear a train made its way towards Emeryville where I would get the bus into the heart of San Francisco. The journey had beed pleasent enough buit when we arrive into San Fran I will need to contact British Airways in order ro get home quick due to the health of my Brother Bobby so the sooner I get there the better.The landscape is once again flat and we seem to cross over many rivers and bridge and pass through some lovley places such as Chico then Sacremento which is the state capital and where nearby the great "GOLD RUSH" started at the nearby Sutter Mill back in 1849(although gold was found there a year earlier).

Martinez

The train also passed there stranges town names such as Suisun-Fairfield and Mothball Fleet before stopping for a short while at Martinez which is named after a Spanish governor and the birth place of baseball star Joe DiMaggio. The train rolls into Emeryville on time and we get our belongings and head for the buses to take us over the bay into San Francisco and to check on or luggage which has been stored in the secure hold on the Amtrak tain but I am about to find out that it is not that secure.

As we are about to board the bus the luggage which is on a trolley arrives and I notice that it looks as if some clothing is sticking out of my suitcase but on further inspection I realise that the padlock and zip has been burst open.

The Coast Starlight snakes it way round the coast to Emeryville

I quick inspect the inside of my case and it looks as if some items have been stolen and at a quick check it seems several tshirts a pair of jeans my LAPTOP arghhhh and worst of all my prize possesion the USA Soccer Top what a bummer.I speak to the Amtrak gaurd who is bringing the luggage over but he is very unhelpful to say the least and he told us to get on the bus and report it at the other end when we get off the bus. I am angry at this time not because of the stolen stuff but the attitude of the gaurd and also that the suitcase was checked into a secure holding area on the train so how did this happen? also it seems as if other passengers had stuff taken but not as bad as mine so he ho and on the bus we got to San Francisco.All the passangers on the bus are talking about it and asking me questions but I have to say that it has happened and cant turn back time so we have to just deal with it then move on and I will report it when we get off the bus.

First sight of San Francisco from the bus crossing the Oakland Bay Bridge

We travel over the Okland Bay Bridge which is massive and in the distance we can see the famous Golden Gate Bridge and also in the distance ALCATRAZ which looks impressive but due to our timetable it looks as if we will not be able to see "THE ROCK" before we fly back to Glasgow Scotland.We miss our stop to get off at the Amtrak Office but the bus driver is very helpful and said he will swing back that way and drop us off at Peir 2 so we can report our loss.

At the Amtrak office the guy there couldnt have been more helpful but he was also angry as the people at Emeryville should have dealt with it then and there but he got me to fill out a form and such and would do everything to get this settled but we would need to return the next day as one of the people on that day would have a better understanding of procedure incase we needed to supply more information.

Geo with the damaged case at Peir 2 Amtrak office

After a few picture shots and a lot of waiting about we got a taxi to take us to our hotel which this time was call the Bayside Inn at the Wharf. We got our room key and just about collapsed onto the bed as it had been a long journey with not a great sleep then a lot of waiting about at the Amtrak office before we could get to the hotel.At the hotel I called British Airways to see if they could get me a flight home as quickly as possible and the gent I spoke to was really very helpful and sympathetic but he told us that because we were due to fly back from Chicago we would need to pay an excess to fly back from San Francisco but money would not be qan object and could he get us back as soon as which he said he might be able to do but would call us back in an hours time.After a quick wash it was out and about to see what was nearby and just a few hundred yards down the road was a couple of bar one being an irish bar(yet another one ha ha) but did not sell hard liquor so we just stayed in the bar on the corner which we would make our "local" for the short time we were there.

our local bar just down from our hotel

Back to the hotel to wait for the phone call but the news wAs not good as the best he could do was get us back home on a flight on Tues at 2.20pm and this was now Sunday but we had bo choice and had to accept that and pay and extra $650 between us but as George said money did not come into it at all which I thanked him for.It was getting late so after s shower and change we decided to go down town but as we were here in San Francisco and not able to do the touristy things we though the best way to get downtown would be by cable car.The cable car turnpike where they about turn and go back into town was not far from our hotel so we waited in the queue before boarding the car which they seem to cram as many people onto it as possible and at the same time try to take money for your fare on it -- crazy lol!!!.

the cable car turnpike

It trundles along and although niot the most comf:-)ortable way to travel it is a must do experiance and a great way to see some of this vast city. It moves its way up and down the hills and the veiws are great and just like you see in the movies then it cut through Chinatown which we were tempted to get off but though we would try and go a bit further and got off where most people were alighting which I think was the finiance bit of the city.The wind was picking up and an icy blast was blown so we decided to head in door somewhere and maybe get something to eat.A quick look at the town square and the massive Macy's store we headed for a sports bar which was called Lefty O'Doul's and on entering was very busy and looked as if most of the people had finished work and were having a beer or quick bite before heading home.

Macy's

The bar was nice enough and I loved the large old baseball photo of some of the old hitters(includeing Lefty) on the wall but not sure if they were players for the San Francisco Giants team so if anyone can help please reply :-). We decided to have just the one then ventured back out into the cold wind which was dying down a little but we didnt want to go to far in the cold so we spotted another Irish pub where we sat at the bar and ordered a lovley hamburger and chips mmmmmm that what I do miss about being home as I loved the burgers over there.We started chatting to a lovley couple who were on honeymoon and from the south of Ireland who had been on a cruise before staying a couple of ngtin San Francisco and like us they were loving every bit.A few beers later we decided that it was best to head back to near the hotel and go to our local for a couple of drinks before the end of the night so after another long day if was off to bed about 1.

Lefty O'Douls

30am to start all over again.

September 13th, 2010 TravellingScot

me at fisherman wharf

Day 18 San Francisco

The day was bright and warm as we awoke and were planning what to do today as we had to change money and also get some gifts for my girls back home and also we had to head back to the Amtrak office to see if there was anything more we needed to do with the suitcase plus the items which were stolen from it.Before all that was done I called home to see how my brother was as he was getting worse each day and it was the news that I had been dreading and he had passed away in the early hours of Monday morning.

The doctors had gave him 4 weeks at the most but he only survived for 6 days but cancer is so so cruel and it wait for now one when it sets in.

George gace me a few minutes alone to myself to grieve for my brother and I for one was glad he was there with me as he has been a rock regarding my sistuation and as he said although Bobby was my brother he was a friend to him as all my mates have know Bobby for the same length of time.

Geo at Sur La Table

I kept thinking if only we could have got back sooner but people have told me that I done all I could seeing the places we were at the time and the only way we could have got home was the way we done it and we couldnt have got back any sooner :-(.

I will continue with this blog as im sure Bobby would have wanted it this way as he was always encouraging me to go on this trip and telling me to fufill my dream.

When George came back we went to the back we cashed some cheques and emptied my suitcase and took the old one down to the Amtrak office to see where we would go from there regarding the items and such stolen from it. A quick cab ride to the Pier and in to the Amtrak office to see the gaurd there.George had bought a bag of "Cheetos" which are cheesy puffs which we loved but this time they were not for me but for the seagulls at the pier which I sorted out my business(Think I will call George the Birdman of the USA).

Pampanito submarine

The guard was very helpful but he said that all he could do was send the form away to the head office and they would deal with it there and he kindly would dispose of my damaged suitcase for me. I wish I had thought more about giving the case for him to throw out as in the short time I have been here there have been a few homeless people walking about with thier possesion which im sure they could have found a use for the case. After the Birdman had fed his feathered friends we deicided to chill out and reflect and have a beer in Sur La Table which is on the front beside the Pier and it was a lovley day just to have a beer and chill out with our own thoughts.A couple of drinks later and it was off the see if we could get to Hard Rock Cafe as I have been to a few over the world and would like to cross this one off my list so off we went to try and find a cab.

Alcatraz

I thought being at the per it would be easy to get a cab but this was not to be the case but as we were standing a limo type car pulled up and asked if we needed to go somewhere so we jumped in and asked to take us to the Hard Rock. The driver name was Henry Zhang but he was illegally picking us up as only yellow cab drivers are allowed to street pick up but as we were tourist we didnt really care.I think he was Korean and didnt understand or Scots accent and all the way all all we got was NICE WETHER EH ! VERY WARM EH ! after a few minutes of this it got quiet boring and I didnt think he actually knew where he was going so when we reach Fishermans Wharf we decided to get out. He told us $20 very cheap ride he said but we paid although we know we had been conned but its not the first time on this trip we have been conned out of money or cigaretts or stuff lol.

The Hard Rock Cafe

It actually worked out well being dropped there as there are loads of gift shops and also we could see Alcatraz and it looks as if that is as close we would be getting to see it given our time scale.Even from the piers it is a great sight to see and memories of famous films done there spring to mind it was just a pity we could not get onto "The Rock".Also at the pier there is an olsd World War II submarine called THE PAMPANITO---- Pampanito was turned into a memorial and museum at San Francisco on 21 November 1975 transferred to the Maritime Park Association (formerly the National Maritime Museum Association) on May 20, 1976, and opened to the public on March 15, 1982.In 1986, Pampanito was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and declared to be a National Historic Landmark.

at Beatles memerobilia

She is now owned and operated by the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association and is moored at Pier 45 in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf area, where she is open for visiting.She flies a broom from her mast, indicating a "clean sweep": a successful patrol that "swept the enemy from the seas. In total, she sank six Japanese ships and damaged four others, with a total of more than 27,000 tons of enemy shipping sunken.

James Taylor guitar

Pampanito has completed four maintenance drydockings since becoming a memorial and museum."The Pampanito still has several working parts, including one torpedo tube, the periscope, engines, galley and ice-cream maker." The museum runs educational programs including one that allows organized groups of children and adults to sleep overnight in the submarine's 48 bunk beds. In 1995, she played the fictional rust-bucket USS Stingray (SS-161) in the movie Down Periscope. The movie, with Kelsey Grammer as the ship's captain, is set in Charleston and Norfolk harbors, on the U.S. east coast, but San Francisco's Fort Mason is prominent behind the submarine in the closing shot of the movie.

Anne and Ian from Renfrew

Filming is actually of the Pampanito sailing under tow in San Francisco Bay and venturing past the Golden Gate Bridge. It had been fifty years since she sailed under the bridge.

Pampanito earned six battle stars for World War II service

After a few picture shot it was off to find the Hard Rock Cafe but as we were walking along the shop from we thought it would be a good idea to get some souveniers for the boys back home.

We are all going to Munich - Germany for the Ocktoberfest in a few week time so I thought it would be cool(or daft) if we all had t-shirts from different American Football team and we could all wear them going into Munich so we purchased the following.

Me under Machine Gun Kelly and Al Capone

Washington Redskins - Dougie(the chairmain),San Francisco 49ers - Jim(steve martin),Minnesotta Vikings - Eric(the Viking),Green Bay Packers - John(the green tim),New England Patriots - Gordon(me vice chairman).Chicago Bears - Andy(the blue bear) and LA Raiders - George(Mr Vodka) so all sorted it was off to the Hard Rock.I have been to various Hard Rock Cafes and the best one is the one in Orlando Florida at the Universal theme park but although they are a bit pricey I just love going there and seeing at the rock memrobilia that they have there.After a few beers and many picture taking we got chatting to a lovley couple called Ian and Anne from Renfrew in Scotland and it was my first encounter from "REAL" scots since I have been here.We chatted for a bit then it was into the shop to get t-shirts for my girls before heading back to our hotel and me to buy another suitcase as the other one was no use to me now.

The lovely barmaid in our local

As it was late we decided to just stay local as it was our last night and there had been a lot going on in my mind so that seem to be the best plan so something to eat shower then out down the road to our local.At night it gets a lot colder than during the warm summy day so i should have put on a jacket instead of a tshirt brrrrrrr.Acroos directly from our local bar was another slightly lit bar so we decidec to venture there first.Maybe because it was monday night the bar was not busy with some punter watching the local football game but the beer was good as it was MILLER HIGH LIFE - the champagne of beers mmmmmmm and George had his usual vodka.The juke box playing oldies music was a nice change and we started chatting to the barman about various thing from BIGFOOT to the LOCH NESS MONSTER which was fun before buying each other lots of drinks before heading back across tp our local bar.

ur big "dude" friend

In the bar we we made welcome with the lovley barmaid who I think was from Thailand or near there and although at one point I thought she might be a lady boy(opps sorry) I was informed by George that this was not the case so sorry to offend all ladyboys out there lol.A couple of racks of pool and we got chatting to some big black dude who had been to Scotland but to somewhere bizzard like Beith or somewhere and he said he was in the Navy I think but maybe George can refresh my memory later so many drinks later it was a quick stagger home to the hotel for a well wanted rest.Till the last day goodnight all.

September 14th, 2010 – by: TravellingScot

the keyhole buildings

Day 19 last day in San Francisco and the USA

After a early wake up call we got our stuff together and showered as we had to be at the airport for about 2.30pm to catch our flight home to London UK the onward up to Glasgow Scotland for our final leg of the trip.If all things had been going along okay we would have headed of to Reno then to Provo (Utah) and maybe Omaha before heading back to Chicago so who knows maybe in the future I will finish that leg and write another blog.Before we get on the plane home our soccer team that we support back home is Glasgow Rangers and they were playing Manchester United in a champions league match so during the coarse of the trip I have been in contact with some boys from the San Francisco Rangers Supporters Club and they have invited George and I to their bar to watch the game which is kick off at 12 noon USA time.

George waiting for the cab

I am sure Bobby would have got a kick out of that knowing we would be watching a Rangers game thousands of miles away in a bar having a few beers before flying home :-). The boys who run it are Grant and Scott and the gave me the address of their bar which is close to the airport so we would have plenty of time to watch the whole game before catching our flight.

After saying our farewells to the people at the Bayside Inn at the Wharf they ordered our cab to take us to the bar to watch the game and although we had the address it was a bit away so our cab driver called the Scott at the bar so he could give him directions and which interstate to get off which was really helpful.We arrived at the bar about ten minutes before kick off and we were met by Scott who had told us that he came to the USA with his parents when he was eight years old and had lived in Renfrew but has been back to Scotland a few times to watch Rangers games.

Geo and me at the banner in the bar before the game

We went into the bar called "THE BOWL" which is inside a bowling alley and all over the walls were pictures and things relating to Glasgow Rangers and there were about seven other guys there all ex pats who were there to watch the game and is was a but unreal to be sitting in a bar talking to fellow scots and about to watch a Rangers game in the USA at 12 noon ha ha.Later on the other member Grant arrived and we were introduced to him and he unfurled a San Franciscio Rangers Supports Banner which he said they always display before games which was so cool.

The game kicked off and before I knew it I was shouting and swearing at the tv and getting all nervous and sweaty so it was good to get back in the swing of things he he.

At half time with the score still at 0-0 I took some pictures in the bar and chatted with some of the other guys in there to find out their stories and why they were in a bar to watch the gaem.

in the Bowl bar

Most we scots who moved to the USA to work and live but still had the passion for Rangers but there was an american who was their on business but meets upo with the Chicago Rangers supporters to watch games.The game kicked of again and it was back to the shouting at the tv once again but at the end up the score was 0-0 which was a great result for my club especially as we were playing away from home.After the game we said goodbye to our new found friends and and asked Scott to get us a cab to the airport but being such a gent he would not hear of it and said he would drive us to the airport which was just about 5 minutes for there which was great news.Scott told us a bit more about him and the fellow "TEDDY BEARS" as we travelled to the airport and we told him if he was ever in Scotland to look us up what a great guy.

George outside the bowl many thanks to Scott and Grant

WEST END WALKS OF GLASGOW

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DAY 17 SAN FRANCISCO

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