so exhausted...
seriously. i just want to sleep all day, but it's san fran and it's pretty!
more on san fran later - first an LA update
so on monday i went to universal - photos are being uploaded at my flickr as i write.
i loved loved loved the studio tour. it was fricking awesome - a good combination of information and spectacle. they put us in a flash flood and a collapsing sub way station (in a sound stage), drove us across a 'dynamite rigged' bridge, showed us dancing cars and jaws! we also got to see all the outside sets - 6 points texas, little europe, warrior square, monster square, central park (lol), the ocean (more lol) skull island, and wisteria lane. also all the cars from their films including the MULE (serenity) i only really got one remotely decent photo of it though :(
the rest of universal was ok, despite hating the simpsons i loooooved the ride. definitely the best simulated ride i've been on. and it had a good story too, building on sideshow bob's murderous streak. the jurassic park ride was pretty cool too - made you kinda feel like you were in the film. and the mummy was good, but too short. still i went on it twice :P i think my favourite bit of universal itself was the exhibition of props and costumes. managed to gt some good photos too. woot for museum setting and good lighting! the special effects display was pretty good too, despite technical difficulties. if for no other reason than the hilariously bad jokes.
so tuesday was my last day in LA and we spent it in santa monica, which was really lovely. a lot of the stuff at the pier wasn't open, but i went on the ferris wheel and got some amazing views. And i dipped my feet in the pacific... FROM THE OTHER SIDE lol. i also got to catch up with jen again, the minnesotan turned angelina i met through couch surfing. she's awesome and i'm so glad i met her. did i tell you all about the margaritas and karaoke?
i actually ended up liking LA a lot more than i thought i would. there are still a few places i'd like to see - venice beach, the grove, the WB and Paramount studio tours - and i got a good feel for some of the areas of the city - like i totally loved west hollywood where jen lives. it's also not acutally as big as i thought it would be, i mean, sure it is this big sprawling metropolis, but it's totally possible to get around on public transport if you live in the right area (amanda doesn't) and you can even get around central LA without freeways, not that you would.
So here i am back in SF.
went to the zoo on thursday and got burnt. irony! it's almost a tan though, all the red will be gone by the time i get to chicago.hee hee californian tan! seriously though i didn't wear sunscreen at disneyland or universal and not even pink! the sun is so much stronger in melbourne and adelaide.
then thursday night i went to the SoMa kniting group at the samovar tea lounge in yerba buena gardens - except they didn't show up!- so i ended up having delicious tea in the most beautiful urban park/terrace in a part of the city i might not otherwise have explored. the staff were so delightful and kept checking on me, and i even got a tarot reading done! it was just a short one and we asked about my trip. we drew three cards to represent the journey, a card each for US, canada, europe and UK and an overall guide card. it was a very very positive and in tune reading. the guide card was the princess of wands, and when he explained that a princess can be brave and take risk and get her hands dirty so to speak, i actually got goosebumps!
yesterday i spent at fisherman's wharf. Finally! i've been wanting to go there since i arrived. it was wonderful. i spent way too much money though - including buying a pearl straight from the oyster! i picked the smallest and ugliest i could find and got quite a large sized pearl out of it. very white pearl too. and then i bought a setting and necklace in sterling silver, which unfortunately added up - but not as bad as the white gold heart shaped setting she showed me, which of course i really wanted, but was $175! still i now have a real pearl pendant that i chose. which is kinda awesome.
i also went to the aquarium. i don't really know why i go to aquariums in foreign cities, since i don't like fish at all, but have to admit the touch pools were coooool. no squids at the aquarium though - sorry house o' squid - i was thinking of you. they did have a largish octopus. they've also recently added some land animals to their conservation disply and eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepp chinchillas. gawd i want one. seriously. way cuter than a bunny!
I went on a bay cruise, totally awesome. not only did i get good sights, but i learnt a lot about the city and it's history and the bay.
and i saw boudin's bakery window and had a good long chat with the baker - she was making sourdough animals - crabs and alligators- and she was really nice. what a great job - dangerous though, all that free bread - hmm, new career essie?
ended up having dinner at Alioto's. it was quite expensive, but very delicious with a great view and it's obviously a landmark sort of restaurant.
not sure about today - i want to go to de young and the science centre in golden gate park and i also discovered where the craft and folk art museum is in soma (that's south of market btw - i love how the americans do that!) so i'd like to go there. also found a shop that's a bit like cotton on - nice colours, basic styles, good fabrics, and i want to see if i can pick up some cardigans! it's a bit chilly!
photos to come when they're done and uploaded, but you can always check out binkabookitty on flickr at your own leisure!
more on san fran later - first an LA update
so on monday i went to universal - photos are being uploaded at my flickr as i write.
i loved loved loved the studio tour. it was fricking awesome - a good combination of information and spectacle. they put us in a flash flood and a collapsing sub way station (in a sound stage), drove us across a 'dynamite rigged' bridge, showed us dancing cars and jaws! we also got to see all the outside sets - 6 points texas, little europe, warrior square, monster square, central park (lol), the ocean (more lol) skull island, and wisteria lane. also all the cars from their films including the MULE (serenity) i only really got one remotely decent photo of it though :(
the rest of universal was ok, despite hating the simpsons i loooooved the ride. definitely the best simulated ride i've been on. and it had a good story too, building on sideshow bob's murderous streak. the jurassic park ride was pretty cool too - made you kinda feel like you were in the film. and the mummy was good, but too short. still i went on it twice :P i think my favourite bit of universal itself was the exhibition of props and costumes. managed to gt some good photos too. woot for museum setting and good lighting! the special effects display was pretty good too, despite technical difficulties. if for no other reason than the hilariously bad jokes.
so tuesday was my last day in LA and we spent it in santa monica, which was really lovely. a lot of the stuff at the pier wasn't open, but i went on the ferris wheel and got some amazing views. And i dipped my feet in the pacific... FROM THE OTHER SIDE lol. i also got to catch up with jen again, the minnesotan turned angelina i met through couch surfing. she's awesome and i'm so glad i met her. did i tell you all about the margaritas and karaoke?
i actually ended up liking LA a lot more than i thought i would. there are still a few places i'd like to see - venice beach, the grove, the WB and Paramount studio tours - and i got a good feel for some of the areas of the city - like i totally loved west hollywood where jen lives. it's also not acutally as big as i thought it would be, i mean, sure it is this big sprawling metropolis, but it's totally possible to get around on public transport if you live in the right area (amanda doesn't) and you can even get around central LA without freeways, not that you would.
So here i am back in SF.
went to the zoo on thursday and got burnt. irony! it's almost a tan though, all the red will be gone by the time i get to chicago.hee hee californian tan! seriously though i didn't wear sunscreen at disneyland or universal and not even pink! the sun is so much stronger in melbourne and adelaide.
then thursday night i went to the SoMa kniting group at the samovar tea lounge in yerba buena gardens - except they didn't show up!- so i ended up having delicious tea in the most beautiful urban park/terrace in a part of the city i might not otherwise have explored. the staff were so delightful and kept checking on me, and i even got a tarot reading done! it was just a short one and we asked about my trip. we drew three cards to represent the journey, a card each for US, canada, europe and UK and an overall guide card. it was a very very positive and in tune reading. the guide card was the princess of wands, and when he explained that a princess can be brave and take risk and get her hands dirty so to speak, i actually got goosebumps!
yesterday i spent at fisherman's wharf. Finally! i've been wanting to go there since i arrived. it was wonderful. i spent way too much money though - including buying a pearl straight from the oyster! i picked the smallest and ugliest i could find and got quite a large sized pearl out of it. very white pearl too. and then i bought a setting and necklace in sterling silver, which unfortunately added up - but not as bad as the white gold heart shaped setting she showed me, which of course i really wanted, but was $175! still i now have a real pearl pendant that i chose. which is kinda awesome.
i also went to the aquarium. i don't really know why i go to aquariums in foreign cities, since i don't like fish at all, but have to admit the touch pools were coooool. no squids at the aquarium though - sorry house o' squid - i was thinking of you. they did have a largish octopus. they've also recently added some land animals to their conservation disply and eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepp chinchillas. gawd i want one. seriously. way cuter than a bunny!
I went on a bay cruise, totally awesome. not only did i get good sights, but i learnt a lot about the city and it's history and the bay.
and i saw boudin's bakery window and had a good long chat with the baker - she was making sourdough animals - crabs and alligators- and she was really nice. what a great job - dangerous though, all that free bread - hmm, new career essie?
ended up having dinner at Alioto's. it was quite expensive, but very delicious with a great view and it's obviously a landmark sort of restaurant.
not sure about today - i want to go to de young and the science centre in golden gate park and i also discovered where the craft and folk art museum is in soma (that's south of market btw - i love how the americans do that!) so i'd like to go there. also found a shop that's a bit like cotton on - nice colours, basic styles, good fabrics, and i want to see if i can pick up some cardigans! it's a bit chilly!
photos to come when they're done and uploaded, but you can always check out binkabookitty on flickr at your own leisure!