First real bummer of the trip- Alcatraz was full – of tourists! We spent some time kicking ourselves for not getting tickets earlier then just had to turn our attitudes around and make new plans.
We stopped in a shop downtown and stocked up on some champagne and cheese, bread, and assorted sweets and caught the bus over to Golden Gate Park. We found a nice spot near the Rose Garden and the Japanese tea Garden and had a great picnic.
After that we had to make a trip through “The Haight” because why not – we were too close not to. We checked out the sights – each shop has the obligatory spray paint graffiti and plenty of Bob Marley murals just so you don’t forget how funky it is. We stopped off for a little sangria then headed back to the bus. It was cute and all but come on! The girls got mad at me for calling it hippy Disneyland. They think I am not getting to the spirit of things. I will admit I was being a little bit of an old person about the whole Haight/Ashbury thing.
Back into the city after a crazy bus ride full of real authentic crazy people and the girls were ready to pound the pavement for some more power shopping again. I know when I’ve had it and I didn’t have the energy to face another session. So I went back to the room and have just woken up from a nice nap! I’ll have a little wine and I expect they will be back bearing great shopping bags pretty quick!
OK, girls, don’t feel bad. The Rock will always be there, but your picnic in the park is probably a once in a lifetime experience. I’ve been to Alcatraz (which was interesting) but I would’ve voted for the picnic.
You left Haight Ashbury to go “back to the city”? There was a time when a lot of people thought H/A WAS the city! But if your pictures are any indication, you’re probably right Trace, it does look like it’s been sanitized to Disneyland levels. I was there in the ’60′s, so I know.
Hope everybody got their energy back for one last big night on the town.