San Francisco and surroundings, 'must see'.

[porcy62]

I am back!

Apologies to everybody if I didn't contact anyone, but we had lots of things to do in order to enroll my son to Academy Of Art University, I didn't imagine that much. And it was a "family business", both practical and emotional, so I skipped my personal wishes, including meeting some of you guys. Hope I'll get the chance in the future: my son will be in SF the next four years, guess I'll visit him more then once.

Anyway I followed some of the suggestions you gave me.

I rented a car at the airport, luckily not a Toyota, and drove directly south along the coast, Monterey and Santa Barbara, where I have some friends. Then the Grand Canyon, thanks God for the GC, the north rim was closed because of snow so were most of trails, but it was marvellous anyway. The Monument Valley was just around the corner so I took the usual pictures, tasting definitely different with the snow. Then Las Vegas, one night with dinner, psycologically interesting place, the Hoover Dam and Death Valley. We weren't really lucky with the weather, it's winter overall, so I drove a lot, there was no point to spend more then one day in places with rain, clouds and snow, it was raining in Vegas too!!

We spent lots of time in San Francisco, loved the city and the friendly people, (btw Vegas a part I met always nice people along the trip), walking around was a good exercize too and the weather was fair. Took a bike trip from Union Square to Golden Gate Park, Presido and Chrissy Fields.

On a week end I rented a car and drove north to Mendocino and Humbold Reedwood.

I didn't buy any records at Amoeba in Upper Haight, but I bought a couple of cool hats in North Beach, Goorin Bros, some books for my son at City Light Bookstore, and some clothes at the sales, excellent prices, compared to Rome.

Now I am at home, with a terrible jet lag, I wake up at six am every morning and the weather is awful, I miss my son and San Francisco too!

[BruceH]

I'm glad you had a good time. But the thought of someone being in Rome and missing San Francisco just really throws me for loop!

[porcy62]

I'm glad you had a good time. But the thought of someone being in Rome and missing San Francisco just really throws me for loop!

I guess my son in SF and the fact I have to go to work every morning here are playing a some role in it.

[WorldB3]

I'm glad you had a good time. But the thought of someone being in Rome and missing San Francisco just really throws me for loop!

I was thinking the same, did you see the Yahoo story on the most beautiful cities in the world with SF coming in behind Paris but just ahead of Florence. I love SF and glad to live close and work in it but I was thinking did they really explore Florence?

Porcy, glad you had a great time and got a chance to see Mendocino and hit North Beach.

[BFrank]

I've been to the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley in the winter, too. A great time to go there. There are no crowds and the scenery is even more dramatic. We sat in our car through a light snow storm in the middle of Monument Valley - fantastic.