(Written by Beverley, to be edited by others)
Waking up, last minute packing and then into the cab/shuttle bus to the airport.
Our only grey day in Seattle...no rain, the whole time though, despite it raining 200 days of the year...we were very lucky.
Arriving at the airport and trying to check in, overweight and so repacking taking place...though staff did let us to check in extra bags at no extra cost.
Went through security, ate some lunch and after looking at the shops but not buying anything because not really tax free and our limited allowance because of transferring in Iceland.
Got on the flight at 4, took off at 4:30 and we were on our way home.
We arrived back in the UK at 11am on Sunday and there our American Dream ends.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Day 29 - Seattle Number 2
(written by Beverley, to be edited by others)
The people staying at Kishan’s cousin’s house had fun lugging the suitcases we had UPS-ed there up from the basement! Charis and Rowena delivered Beverley and Jamie theirs at the hotel and then the four of them took the car back to the rental car office. After a tearful goodbye to our loyal Kia Sedona, which had not failed us the whole time, much to our relief, we headed down to Pike Place Market.
We spent the majority of the day in Pike Place Market, just browsing the shops and stalls...seeing fish being thrown etc. We met up with Kishan and Luke at 3pm in the Original Starbucks and then went to sit looking at the sea nearby. After sitting here for a while, we decided on a change in location...so in British style, we went to sit in a pub. We went to Pike Place Brewery. Here the girls tried the lightest beer (Naughty Nellie) on the menu, a good choice as Beverley discovered when her and Jamie did the sampler (small cups of 6 different types of Pike’s beer from lightest to darkest)
We ate food in this pub too which was tasty, first time Charis had ever eaten Prawn and rice in a pub! After food, we headed in the direction of the space needle. We split paths on the way, with Beverley and Jamie returning to the hotel to pack bags, the C,K,L,R going on to the 7Eleven by the needle and then heading back to pack bags till gone 11pm, and Luke going to the Sky Needle for dinner before heading to bed at Kishan’s cousin's.
The people staying at Kishan’s cousin’s house had fun lugging the suitcases we had UPS-ed there up from the basement! Charis and Rowena delivered Beverley and Jamie theirs at the hotel and then the four of them took the car back to the rental car office. After a tearful goodbye to our loyal Kia Sedona, which had not failed us the whole time, much to our relief, we headed down to Pike Place Market.
We spent the majority of the day in Pike Place Market, just browsing the shops and stalls...seeing fish being thrown etc. We met up with Kishan and Luke at 3pm in the Original Starbucks and then went to sit looking at the sea nearby. After sitting here for a while, we decided on a change in location...so in British style, we went to sit in a pub. We went to Pike Place Brewery. Here the girls tried the lightest beer (Naughty Nellie) on the menu, a good choice as Beverley discovered when her and Jamie did the sampler (small cups of 6 different types of Pike’s beer from lightest to darkest)
We ate food in this pub too which was tasty, first time Charis had ever eaten Prawn and rice in a pub! After food, we headed in the direction of the space needle. We split paths on the way, with Beverley and Jamie returning to the hotel to pack bags, the C,K,L,R going on to the 7Eleven by the needle and then heading back to pack bags till gone 11pm, and Luke going to the Sky Needle for dinner before heading to bed at Kishan’s cousin's.
Day 28 - Seattle
(written by Beverley, to be edited by the others)
We arrived in Seattle, our first two stops were viewing points of the city, where we took photos of the skyline, made famous by the show Frasier. After this we headed to the Pioneer Square area and went on the Underground Seattle tour after lunch in the cafe where the tickets were sold. The underground Seattle tour took you under the street level to show you the ‘ground’ floor of each building. Basically after a fire and floods, Seattle decided to build up their street level...businesses weren’t prepared to wait 25 years for this to happen, so rebuilt in 1889, but with the ground floor and the first floor having entry ways into the building, ready for street level to be raised 10-35ft by the government at a later date. Walking underground, you therefore saw the original ground floor entries.
After the tour, we went in search of luggage for all the excess we’d accumulated and decided Chinatown would be a good bet. However the China town was small and there was no luggage place in siight. Having failed in our mission, we dropped Beverley and Jamie off at their hotel to check in. After this, they just chilled in the hotel and then for a wander to the Sky Needle and then to Hurricane Cafe for dinner. They then stayed up late watching Doc Martin to re-culture themselves to Britishness.
The others meanwhile, took a walk down to Pikes Place still in search of suitcases, finding one in Ross (kind of like TK Max), then trundled it back to the car.Then headed to Wal*Mart and brought pasta and sauce for a dinner which they then cooked at Kishan's cousin’s house where they were staying.
We arrived in Seattle, our first two stops were viewing points of the city, where we took photos of the skyline, made famous by the show Frasier. After this we headed to the Pioneer Square area and went on the Underground Seattle tour after lunch in the cafe where the tickets were sold. The underground Seattle tour took you under the street level to show you the ‘ground’ floor of each building. Basically after a fire and floods, Seattle decided to build up their street level...businesses weren’t prepared to wait 25 years for this to happen, so rebuilt in 1889, but with the ground floor and the first floor having entry ways into the building, ready for street level to be raised 10-35ft by the government at a later date. Walking underground, you therefore saw the original ground floor entries.
After the tour, we went in search of luggage for all the excess we’d accumulated and decided Chinatown would be a good bet. However the China town was small and there was no luggage place in siight. Having failed in our mission, we dropped Beverley and Jamie off at their hotel to check in. After this, they just chilled in the hotel and then for a wander to the Sky Needle and then to Hurricane Cafe for dinner. They then stayed up late watching Doc Martin to re-culture themselves to Britishness.
The others meanwhile, took a walk down to Pikes Place still in search of suitcases, finding one in Ross (kind of like TK Max), then trundled it back to the car.Then headed to Wal*Mart and brought pasta and sauce for a dinner which they then cooked at Kishan's cousin’s house where they were staying.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Day 27 – Eugene/Springfield to Olympia/Tumwater
We started off our day with a trip to a tax free shopping centre. Jamie and Beverley took up place in the Starbucks to avoid temptation whilst the others went to spend their pennies. We met up for lunch in Quizno’s before heading to Wal*Mart, where Jamie did give in to temptation and brought a PS3.
After this, headed to David Hill Winery to wine taste and buy a bottle or two. After playing with the dogs that were hanging about and letting the wine wear off, headed back on the road to Tumwater for the night.
We arrived and then went to a Mexican restaurant around the corner...and then as always headed to bed after to prepare us for the day ahead.
After this, headed to David Hill Winery to wine taste and buy a bottle or two. After playing with the dogs that were hanging about and letting the wine wear off, headed back on the road to Tumwater for the night.
We arrived and then went to a Mexican restaurant around the corner...and then as always headed to bed after to prepare us for the day ahead.
Day 26 - San Fran to Eugene/Springfield
Pretty much just a day of driving...started off the day by getting tires filled with air as they were running pretty flat after 5500 miles! They were filled by two guys at the station, still not sure if they were employed there or just doing it for cash, either way we were pumped up and ready to go the next 532 miles. Headed back over the Bay Bridge and onto Interstate 5.
On our journey, we passed by Mt Shasta and the Castle Crags, and stopped in a town called Weed nearby to these. Some very pretty scenery on the way and Beverley had some fun driving down steep hills again.
We arrived in Springfield and headed to the Outback Steakhouse for dinner. It was tasty, and tasted even better when the cost was below that on the menu when the bills came and the lack of tax on top....it was almost like being back in the UK.
After this, headed back to Motel 6 to chill, do washing and then head to bed.
On our journey, we passed by Mt Shasta and the Castle Crags, and stopped in a town called Weed nearby to these. Some very pretty scenery on the way and Beverley had some fun driving down steep hills again.
We arrived in Springfield and headed to the Outback Steakhouse for dinner. It was tasty, and tasted even better when the cost was below that on the menu when the bills came and the lack of tax on top....it was almost like being back in the UK.
After this, headed back to Motel 6 to chill, do washing and then head to bed.
Day 25 - San Fran Day 2
Got up and after a breakfast where Kishan had 3 pastries! We headed to union square to get the bus to Fisherman’s Wharf so we could get the ferry over to Alcatraz....the bus set off later than we expected, so with some quick marching, we made it to the terminal.
One arriving on the island, the group split....Jamie and Beverley decided to go to the cells first at the top of the hill and the others opted for working from top to bottom.
J&B, got the audio tour from the shower room in Alcatraz and worked their way around. It was definitely a worthwhile experience...the prison was so run down and unpleasant. The thing that was most unpleasant and eerie though for Beverley was stepping inside the solitary confinement cells....it was extremely creepy, even for the brief few seconds, and definitely not something she’d want to have to experience on a longer basis. After doing the tour, they made it to the next ferry and then ran to catch the 1:30 Golden Gate Bridge tour. It was packed! They managed to find seats on top and had the windswept journey across the bridge...and windswept it was. After a brief stop on the other side, the bus journeyed back into San Francisco.
J&B got off at stop number 10 which was by Lombard Street, the ‘crookedest’ street in the world. Basically, instead of being a straight line down the hill, it weaves back and forward. After the steep inclined up the back of it, and the walk down it and picture taking, J&B headed for food. They found a pizza place near the Cannery (where Canning of food took place) and then they headed to Ghiradelli Square for pudding. Ghiradelli (a chocolate brand) had its first shop here; J&B had a look around the shop and then ate a rather scrummy but very sweet ‘Gold Rush’ – Vanilla Ice Cream with hot fudge and peanut butter sauce. After this, they headed back to the hotel via the cable car, because a trip to San Francisco would not be complete without one.
Luke, Kishan, Charis and Rowena meanwhile.... started off watching a video documentary on Alcatraz before heading to the audio tour shower room beginning. Ro commented that the shower room reminded her of a milking parlour. They walked around and then attended a talk on Al Capone with a ranger called Al. After this they took the ferry back and then did some tourist shopping before getting the Golden Gate Bridge tour, which was windy. They then did Lombard street which was very steep and then to cable car to market street. Hopping on the Muni train, they went to check out Castro, the gay district of San Francisco. They saw the Harvey Milk Memorial at the former Castro Cameras, the store that Harvey Milk operated in San Francisco, and now sells jewellery. They stopped off at the Human Rights Campaign store where Luke bought a Kenneth Cole t-shirt. Afterwards, they had a drink at Harvey’s Bar on Castro Street. Rowena and Charis had beer, Kishan had lemonade and Luke had a Harvey’s Mai Tai. Took a tram to Union Square and then walked to China Town for dinner. They then took a taxi back to the hotel. In all they took 7 modes of transport that day...no wonder Kishan was so shattered he tried to let himself into the wrong room when they got back to the hotel.
One arriving on the island, the group split....Jamie and Beverley decided to go to the cells first at the top of the hill and the others opted for working from top to bottom.
J&B, got the audio tour from the shower room in Alcatraz and worked their way around. It was definitely a worthwhile experience...the prison was so run down and unpleasant. The thing that was most unpleasant and eerie though for Beverley was stepping inside the solitary confinement cells....it was extremely creepy, even for the brief few seconds, and definitely not something she’d want to have to experience on a longer basis. After doing the tour, they made it to the next ferry and then ran to catch the 1:30 Golden Gate Bridge tour. It was packed! They managed to find seats on top and had the windswept journey across the bridge...and windswept it was. After a brief stop on the other side, the bus journeyed back into San Francisco.
J&B got off at stop number 10 which was by Lombard Street, the ‘crookedest’ street in the world. Basically, instead of being a straight line down the hill, it weaves back and forward. After the steep inclined up the back of it, and the walk down it and picture taking, J&B headed for food. They found a pizza place near the Cannery (where Canning of food took place) and then they headed to Ghiradelli Square for pudding. Ghiradelli (a chocolate brand) had its first shop here; J&B had a look around the shop and then ate a rather scrummy but very sweet ‘Gold Rush’ – Vanilla Ice Cream with hot fudge and peanut butter sauce. After this, they headed back to the hotel via the cable car, because a trip to San Francisco would not be complete without one.
Luke, Kishan, Charis and Rowena meanwhile.... started off watching a video documentary on Alcatraz before heading to the audio tour shower room beginning. Ro commented that the shower room reminded her of a milking parlour. They walked around and then attended a talk on Al Capone with a ranger called Al. After this they took the ferry back and then did some tourist shopping before getting the Golden Gate Bridge tour, which was windy. They then did Lombard street which was very steep and then to cable car to market street. Hopping on the Muni train, they went to check out Castro, the gay district of San Francisco. They saw the Harvey Milk Memorial at the former Castro Cameras, the store that Harvey Milk operated in San Francisco, and now sells jewellery. They stopped off at the Human Rights Campaign store where Luke bought a Kenneth Cole t-shirt. Afterwards, they had a drink at Harvey’s Bar on Castro Street. Rowena and Charis had beer, Kishan had lemonade and Luke had a Harvey’s Mai Tai. Took a tram to Union Square and then walked to China Town for dinner. They then took a taxi back to the hotel. In all they took 7 modes of transport that day...no wonder Kishan was so shattered he tried to let himself into the wrong room when they got back to the hotel.
Day 24 – San Francisco
Entered San Francisco over the Bay Bridge- which in fact is longer than the Golden Gate bridge, completed one year before, is two tiered and is sinking 1.5 inches each year as a result of the 1989 earthquake....just a few facts for you.
We parked the car and headed for Union Square, the site of the first underground car park. On our way we saw the famous San Francisco cable cars being turned around at Market. Arriving at the square, we were convinced to get a dodgy looking tour bus, but for $28 and 4 tours for the price of two usually, we couldn’t really complain. We jumped on the downtown loop to go to Fisherman’s Wharf...we were told that the lighthouse on Alcatraz was the first ever...what I think the tour guide meant to say was that it was the first one on the North Pacific coast line! We headed to pier 33, and got tickets to visit Alcatraz the next day and then jumped back on the bus to get back to Union Square for the 1:30 Golden Gate Park tour.
The park however, was closed on a Sunday... (Or so we were told...Beverley believes that yes the ordinary entrance was closed but that the driver missed the alternative he was directed too as she saw another bus inside the park!) Instead of being taken around the parks, the driver instead took us to see all the ‘beautiful’ (his catchphrase) things around the area. We saw lots of ‘painted ladies’ which are painted Victorian properties. He took us back via Alamo Square, where we saw the most photographed/postcard painted ladies.
After arriving back, we took a stop into Starbucks to warm up, and Rowena got another free coffee for guessing the difference between real and instant. We then did a brief stop in Borders before hopping on the ‘Night’ tour – if you can call 5pm and daylight, night time. This tour took us on a slightly different route so we could get a good view of the Bay Bridge.
We headed back to the hotel and Luke and Kishan got talking to a teacher collecting money for supplies in exchange for I heart SF stickers. When we got back to the hotel, decided to go for dinner nearby and so headed to Basil, a Thai restaurant a few doors down...very tasty food.
Back to the hotel to overhear a domestic in the room next door, and eventually to sleep.
We parked the car and headed for Union Square, the site of the first underground car park. On our way we saw the famous San Francisco cable cars being turned around at Market. Arriving at the square, we were convinced to get a dodgy looking tour bus, but for $28 and 4 tours for the price of two usually, we couldn’t really complain. We jumped on the downtown loop to go to Fisherman’s Wharf...we were told that the lighthouse on Alcatraz was the first ever...what I think the tour guide meant to say was that it was the first one on the North Pacific coast line! We headed to pier 33, and got tickets to visit Alcatraz the next day and then jumped back on the bus to get back to Union Square for the 1:30 Golden Gate Park tour.
The park however, was closed on a Sunday... (Or so we were told...Beverley believes that yes the ordinary entrance was closed but that the driver missed the alternative he was directed too as she saw another bus inside the park!) Instead of being taken around the parks, the driver instead took us to see all the ‘beautiful’ (his catchphrase) things around the area. We saw lots of ‘painted ladies’ which are painted Victorian properties. He took us back via Alamo Square, where we saw the most photographed/postcard painted ladies.
After arriving back, we took a stop into Starbucks to warm up, and Rowena got another free coffee for guessing the difference between real and instant. We then did a brief stop in Borders before hopping on the ‘Night’ tour – if you can call 5pm and daylight, night time. This tour took us on a slightly different route so we could get a good view of the Bay Bridge.
We headed back to the hotel and Luke and Kishan got talking to a teacher collecting money for supplies in exchange for I heart SF stickers. When we got back to the hotel, decided to go for dinner nearby and so headed to Basil, a Thai restaurant a few doors down...very tasty food.
Back to the hotel to overhear a domestic in the room next door, and eventually to sleep.
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