Off to San Francisco

I had a terrible night sleep on Monday, so Tuesday was a drag at work as I struggled to keep my eyes open. However I finished work at 16:00 we soon had the car packed and were heading south.

We stopped off in Uxbridge for some supper at Zizzis', I had a lovely Rustica Pizza while Victoria had the Spaghetti Pomodoro. We finished off with a coffee and a shared Gelato before completing the final leg for that day at the Premier Inn.

Unfortunately the RCD key tripping out in the room, but apart from showering in the dark we both had a great nights sleep. Special mention for the staff at the Premier Inn on Shepiston Lane they always are very happy and helpful.

Up at 06.30 we dropped the car at Purple Parking and were soon in the Baggage Drop queue at Heathrow T5. Whoever is the Baggage Drop manager should hand their resignation in forthwith. One hour in a queue, but only half the stations manned. Come on British Airways, it's not like you don't know how many tickets you have sold on a given day.

After baggage drop we were swiftly through security and airside. Ready for breakfast we thought to give Gordon Ramseys' 'Plane Food' a try. I had the granola with yogurt and fruit, Victoria had scrambled eggs. Both were rather lovely. We polished off with a coffee and made our way to Gate B36 to board our flight to San Francisco.

After an uneventful flight and arriving at SFO we were met by our AirBnb host, Peter who drove is back to the lovely little apartment we have rented.

After dropping off the luggage we walked to Fishermans Wharf, along the Embercado and then back onto Columbus to have a very expensive cappuccino ($5.00) at Caffe Pellegrino on Washington Square. We walked up Columbus to the Hotel Boheme where we stayed on our visit last year and had a drink in the cafe opposite.

Back down Columbus we had a Bellini each at Panateri, a bargain at $3.00 and then finished off the evening with a pint of Speak Easy IPA at 901 Columbus, another Happy Hour bargain at $2.00 a pint!

It was only 2000 but given the eight hour time difference our bodies were screaming 0400, time for bed.

We both awoke at about 0230, but successfully got back to sleep and slept through to 0645.

We got showered and did some unpacking before a stroll up Columbus for a lovely breakfast at Cafe Greco. Victoria had a cream cheese bagel while I had scrambled eggs and cheese on a bagel.

We wandered through China Town and downtown having a look in the Levi's store, Bloomingdales and then into Macy's where Victoria had her brows done.

We walked along Market to the Ferry Building. At the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant www.fpwm.com I enjoyed a Fort Point Park Wheat followed by Ommegang Hennepin Saison and Victoria had a wine, a 2010 Sonoma Solstice Syrah,

Nicely refreshed we shared a Macaroni and Cheese from the Cowgirl Creamery before continuing up the Embercadero, we walked along the pier next to the San Francisco Bell paddle steamer. Carrying on we stopped at Pier 39 to enjoy the sword swallower/magician act. Then along the pier to take a look at the WWII Liberty ship and U.S.S. Pampanito then in to vintage arcades at Musee Mechanique.