and made my way to our room at the Drisco where these were the views of the room
and of the bath.
It was San Francisco time -- Jane was there for the summer, I had some business there and Suzanne had to be in Tucson which is in the neighborhood (or at least the same time zone this time of year) and so we headed the wagons west. I parked the (very retro, very odd) rental car on the street
and made my way to our room at the Drisco where these were the views of the room
and of the bath.
Next morning, I was able to get the views out the window where these beautiful flower boxes were
before I assembled this meal
and Suzanne
and I sat down to eat.
My next stop was to drive across the bay and park under this eucalyptus tree
by the campanile
at the oval in front of Mills Hall at Mills College
where my car would sit with fronds of eucalyptus
as I checked out my goal
and then closed in on the bell tower
and the space for computer science (among other departments)
while admiring another tree
and watching a group of kids assemble by the sculpture in front of the student center
while surveying the large welcoming signs
and getting some documented photos of the healing gardens pertaining to willows.
Back at the hotel, I rested and then began a walk past (and often up and down) hills such as this
before getting to down town where I found Suzanne approaching from another direction
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with the proper address for Jane to emerge from her work.
Once Jane emerged, we headed for the BART station
where we waited 6 minutes for the 9 car train
that would take us to Berkeley where we could walk by this sign
at the Cafe Gratitude
and once Suzanne passed
I could record their message of the day
before Jane posed for the obligatory phone booth picture
and we found a post office
at which Jane could mail her post card to Ben
before we arrived at Chez Panisse
and went in to be seated by the hostess.
Some darkened attempts to read the menus
only amounted to a plate of olives
before I flashed and read (and dear reader, these can serve as a guide to the food that follows).
We began with bead
and butter
and a glass of wine
before the first course came.
After the first course we were treated to a tour of the kitchen which began with the freezer full of dead animals
which were being cut into small pieces
before the long view of the kitchen
took us past various stations
before we saw these that would be part of our dessert
and the remarkable bowl of peaches
along with what would turn into tasty chocolates
and as we watched the peaches
be sliced
we saw blackberries
and eggs being prepared (for what we just ate)
along with the tasty greens.
Next we heard the tale of $7 a dozen eggs
and the pasta of many eggs
and beautiful cherry tomatoes
as we watched more preparation
and some cooking
before some further assembly
had us back at our table for the next course
and a view of the wine
as our final course came
and a dessert drink menu
led to the candle
to ever so belatedly celebrate Suzanne's birthday
as the waiter took our picture
and we took his
and after a final sweet
we made our way past these flowers on the street
into the BART station where this sign stood
and Jane and Suzanne settled onto the BART car
on our way to Jane's apartment where Jane showed us the bedroom
and the wall hanging
and Jane's shoes
and floor decorations
as we winded through the hallways
back to the kitchen
where Jane and Sara posed
and then through the dining room
to the living room with fireplace
wall hanging
television
and amazing lamp.
Wednesday began with Suzanne and I taking a walk around our neighborhood. We admired the hills down to the Marina
and the Hotel Drisco
and these hills that we walked
and then some remarkable houses
ad we focused on the TransAmerica Building in the distance
and noticed the moon already in the sky
which convinced me to take pictures of flowers
interrupted by the views
the houses
and the hills
before I was back to the flowers (which seemed to be a theme of the trip)
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with a pair of shoes that had been abandoned (obviously by someone who felt the stairs were too steep)
and then I was back to flowers
beautiful houses
and his sign that stated the situation we saw around us
though the flowers kept us very impressed
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After checking out of the hotel, we drove downtown where parking proved to be quite the challenge but when we did park, we were treated to views of the TransAmerica Building again
interrupted first by Mark Twain Street (whose words rang true for us)
before we returned to views of the building from various angles
Once we got Jane, we headed to Sausalito where we had this view of the city
as the touring fire engine went by
and our hunger drove us to this restaurant recommended by my BlackBerry
as Suzanne posed
and Jane made a face
and then posed
so that I could take this self portrait
and this picture of the condiments
before Jane's sandwich
Suzanne's sandwich
and mine arrived
along with the French fries
and the ketchup to keep the fries going.
After a very long wait for the bill, we took a few more pictures of what was a remarkable view of Alcatraz
and of the city
and then headed north on US 101 until this car driven by Sibelle Oskarsson (415.492.0777 (strutyourmutt@sbcglobal.net))
bumped into the back of our rental car
because there were too many dogs in the car (including one sitting on her lap).
Fortunately, there was no perceptible damage, so we drove on to the gate in Napa
and entered the magic code
so that we could park in violation of the signs in many languages and see Arlene and Michael.
Our visit began with a remarkable tour of their orchards, gardens and fruit trees
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and further trees, plants and flowers
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and the strawberry plants which tasted even better than they looked
and a few quite beautiful flowers
before Arlene
took this picture of Jane, me and Suzanne
and we were shown to our quite remarkable quarters
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before the owner took these pictures of all of us
and after coffee
and dessert,
Jane posed with Greg Cole who is the owner
and we recorded his Zagat's ratings before heading back to see the wonders in the Bernstein house.
Thursday began happily in Napa, as we came out of our apartment
and Suzanne
and I
took a few peeks at the olive trees
the bamboo
and a few flowers
before going for a walk with Arlene that took us past this ill conceived mansion.
After photo ops with Arlene and Michael
and Buddho
and then Suzanne, Michael, Arlene and Buddho,
we headed out to explore Napa and came to the road that gave its name to the winery
before turning off to the Hess Collection
where there were beautiful flowers
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as Jane
led the way to the lily pads where the flowers were quite beautiful.
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before we began to explore an art installation by Lynn Hershman-Leeson in which she created a fictional character named Roberta and led us through many experiences of Roberta's life
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with wiggly description
and Jane was given an opportunity to fire a gun that gave multiple images
and we saw another image
by Lynn Hershman
before this lovely piece
that Marcus Raetz made from 60 eucalyptus leaves.
After a glance around the tasting room,
we captured more pictures from the lily pond with bees
and one without
and said good bye to the gold fish
before driving on past the winery and along a lovely winding road
that eventually lead us to the square in Sonoma (probably because of a wrong turn)
so that we could go to the girl & the fig
where Jane
Suzanne
and I
ate the bread
and butter
and admired the sculpture
and ketchup
before Jane's sandwich
Suzanne's salad
and my sandwich arrived
to be followed by the bill that reminded us of the good meal we had had.
After taking a picture of some flowers in Sonoma,
the building of the Free Masons
and some sculpted trees
and the local ducks
we headed back to San Francisco where our arrival was synchronized with Sarah's and so after collecting her, we came to our room at the White Swan Inn and caught a short break before dinner.
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Dinner was at Greens
where we were met by Jacobo
as Suzanne, Sarah and Jane sat with the light in front of them
and Jacobo
and Jane's friends, Sara and RHB sat with the light at their back.
None of this prevented us from enjoying the wine
as both sides of the table posed again
and the bread
and salad
and vegetable roll
and pancakes arrived
to be followed by the main courses, all of which were good
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before Jacobo's curry
led all of us to pose
before the luxurious (and slightly sinful) desserts arrived.
On the way out of the restaurant, we observed that Long Now (the people who are making the 10,000 year clock) was next door
and were amused by their sign that described their view of the project.
It was our first day at the White Swan, so I recorded the breakfast I ate
as Suzanne
and I
were so happy to be joined by Sarah
that I went back for fruit
before we began our journey that began with Grace Church
which was opposite the park on Nob Hill where Suzanne and Sarah posed
before I saw the first of my hearts and recorded the title
as well as the sculpture
while the dry fountain
allowed for the beautiful flowers
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before we marched on and saw a cable car
and caught a glimpse of the Trans America building
as Suzanne and Sarah made their way into Chinatown
with this sign that characterized Sarah's current move
as we passed Chinese signs for the YMCA
and the Bank of America
as I recorded the streets of Chinatown
and this post
with this collection worthy sign
before we passed the store selling geodes
and found this slightly displaced ethnic restaurant
that didn't quite blend
into the gates of Chinatown
which seemed to inspire many photographers
before we took this photo for Jane's collection (does she still collect these?)
and saw our first heart at Union Square
with its signage
and then recorded some of the flowers of Union Square Park
and the monument there that had McKinley come to its ground breaking and Teddy Roosevelt come to its dedication.
After a few more flower pictures
and a leaf picture
we saw the naked cowboy.
After one more flower,
I used this facility
which amazed Suzanne and Sarah
who had only seen it from the outside
and wondered how it could be as clean as this heart.
Now we were on our way to meet Jane and Jacobo and so I recorded these leaves
and this directional sign
as we passed the old trolley
and the Ferry building came into view.
I sat as Sarah spoke on her phone and Suzanne explored the arts fair
before they posed together
and after recording the (recent) history of the building
we made our way inside
and past these mounds of cheese
to this view of the Bay Bridge
and the signs at the caviar store
before we found Jane at the Sideways Door ?
and Sarah brought this water as we switched guards at the table
until I returned to see Jane, Sarah and Suzanne eating
as Jacobo
and I
settled in and I had this water (with ice still in it)
and the mushroom quesadillas
and Jacobo had this pork sandwich.
We still felt short of food and so went to see this gentleman
who assured us that these desserts would make us happy
and they did fuel us well for the trip to the Marin Headlands with views of Alcatraz
and the city
and Tiburon
all involving great views of the Golden Gate bridge
before we were back to collected views
and then this photo of Jacobo and Suzanne
as I took a picture of Sarah taking a picture of me taking a picture ...
and then some photos of thistles
as we watched the container barge come in
and as the bridge stood tall
the container boat passed underneath.
After a few more pictures of the amazing scenery,
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and then Sarah, Suzanne and I posed
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and Suzanne posed
before I took some more flower photos
and pictures of this bumper sticker that we couldn't understand.
Next we looked at the path to Point Bonita but realized that the tunnel would be closed to us so that we couldn't reach the lighthouse
though this didn't prevent pictures of flowers
or of the path itself
or Jacobo
or the view.
After a rest period at the hotel, we headed off to Jamie and Staci's house with a detour down Lombard Street where the curves
flowers
grass
and crowds kept us going
until we were at the Slaughters and saw Jane with both boys
and Jamie with Jake
while my wine
didn't bring Staci into focus
but the cheese
kept the boys going
as Jane watched (and we heard tales of her Lego prowess)
before dinner was set out on the buffet
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as the Slaughter family led the way
before I made this face with my food
and Jane
Staci and Ben
Suzanne
and Jamie and Jake enjoyed their meal
though I could hardly resist a few more flower photos
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before my banana cream pie arrived
and disappeared to reveal a beautiful plate
as Fisher watched quietly
and after a trip upstairs to see the leaf pictures
and the Slaughters preparing for bedtime
we took this picture of Jane with her host family and headed back.
It was our last day of what had been a wonderful trip. We made our way to the Farmers Market at the Ferry Building and this sandwich
was split by Suzanne and Jane
as Sarah
and I watched
and took in the Ferry Building
and the crowds and skyline in all directions
before the sandwich was completed
so that Sarah
and I could lead around to the back
where the Bay Bridge stood out
along with these gulls who wanted their pictures taken
as did Jane and Sarah
while I recorded a sign that was poetry to me
which this man sold his poetry on the streets
and Jane ate this nectarine
as I ate this peach
before we saw Joyce
who took these family pictures (quite well, I'd say).
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Our time was running out, so we recorded Robert Frost (a poet who didn't sell his work at farmer's markets)
a few more flowers
and a last hill before heading off to the airport and back home.
