San Francisco Outing
I told the UOP kids that if I'd die from boredom if we didn't do anything this weekend. So, 6 of us left for San Francisco Sunday morning and returned Monday afternoon via public transportation (in which my hatred of it deepened after this trip).
(I stole some photos ... and properly credited the owners?)
[credit: Stephanie; Karen (rennaii); me]
Let's meet the UOP kids who went!
Credit goes to Aaron for these brown retro pictures.
This is me (or at least the side of me),
and then there's...
Stephanie,
Karen,
Constipated Karen (I'm sorry, but this is the only picture we have of her),
Aaron,
Albert,
and Andrew!
Part I. Amtrak Station & Bus
Our only option with the least problems and best time schedule seemed to be going to SF by Amtrak since they were the only company who connected Stockton and San Francisco. We stayed in SF overnight because public transportation back to Stockton didn't run at night on Sundays. :<
[credit: Karen]
Aaron signing for Amtrak tickets. Exciting!
[credit: Karen]
Aaron had been itching to go to SF all week.
[credit: Karen]
I don't remember what this was for.
[credit: me; Stephanie]
Teeth!
[credit: Stephanie]
Stephanie: Yes! I got Costco!
[credit: Stephanie]
Don't these look like giraffe-horse hybrids?
[credit: Stephanie]
Peeing while on a moving bus is not fun and extremely difficult.
Aaron: Peeing on the bus is so fun! It's like a carnival game!
me: ... How is peeing like a carnival game?
Albert: Because you have to try and aim ...
Aaron: Yeah!
Uh yeah. Remember that carnival game where you shoot water into a clown's mouth and for some science-defying reason, a balloon grows from the clown's head until it finally bursts. That's the one we were thinking of.
[credit: Stephanie]
me: Oh... what is that? It looks like a noodle!
Aaron: -smacks forehead- What? That's a bow and arrow!
Christine's eyesight. Failed.
Part II. Arrival at Adante Hotel
We agreed the quality of the hotel would not matter since we were staying for only one night. Adante Hotel room 710 welcomed us without A/C or free Wi-Fi. What a first impression.
Our room had murals. Heck yes!
The window that would allow us to either witness a murder or become victims to a fat rapist.
Part III. Fishermen's Wharf
Locating cheap good food was first on our list. Most of us didn't have time for breakfast. Thank god for deep-fried calamari for me and clam chowder bread bowls for everyone else.
[credit: me; Karen]
I wanted bread!
[credit: Karen]
Ahhh!
When I first saw you Bread Bowl, I knew nothing's like it used to be
Bread Bowl, you have got to be the finest thing in history
The way I feel inside is just so hard to understand
You'd feed my appetite in ways I can't explain*
Hey, as long as she's not hitting on me, I'm completely fine with this!
*reference to Boa's ridiculous song
Part IV. Ghirardelli
Basically, we were wanderers. San Francisco was a really last minute trip, so figuring out how to get to San Francisco and where to stay was the most planning we had done. It's okay: we got a healthy dose of fresh air and exercise.
[credit: Karen]
[credit: Stephanie]
Let's be models now.
[credit: Stephanie]
[credit: Stephanie]
[credit: Stephanie]
I was being a fob on purpose, okay? Okay.
[credit: Karen]
Stephanie: Grandpa Albert. You should be careful walking down the stairs. Let me help you!
Albert: Oh thank you. You are such a good granddaughter
Heck like that'll ever happen. Real situation:
Albert: I'm going to slide down!
Stephanie: -nudge... or was it a push?-
Beach during the winter!?
[credit: Stephanie]
[credit: Aaron]
[credit: Aaron]
[credit: Aaron]
[credit: Aaron]
[credit: Aaron]
[credit: Karen]
Stephanie loves to take long walks on the beach...
... with seagulls? I didn't know she rolled that way and seagulls poop a lot, but the former of the two is okay!
[credit: Stephanie]
Okay, so apparently, I grew a tiny little arm with a red camera and got punched in the forehead by some stranger.
[credit: Stephanie]
At least I didn't grow weird spiky afros out of my hair.
Stephanie: Hrmm... what is this?
Stephanie: OH SHIT!
[credit: Karen]
This genius decided to reverse this jacket because of a waterstain on the outside.
Part V. To Chinatown and Far East Restaurant Dinner
I have no idea why in the world we went to Chinatown. Like I said, we wandered. The ride on the trolley from the piers was terrible (and probably absolute hell for the claustrophobic) because apparently the driver thought we were sardines. Dinner was delicious. One of the tables across from us ordered too much food, so they gave us their entire plate of roasted duck!
(All credits in Part V go to Karen unless noted.)
[credit: Stephanie]
Eating backpack on the trolley isn't that great. When is it ever?
[credits: Stephanie & Karen]
Yeah, I don't know what they were up to.
At least I was looking good.
Finally! Chinatown!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! It's going to miss Stephanie! Dang it!
Dinner rocked!
Oh snap! I can't believe we got this for free!
My fob sister from another mister.
I had to burp a lot.
[credit: Stephanie]
Being super Asian.
Part VI. The Walk Back
Like any other city, San Francisco at night has a different vibe. In the daytime, the streets are filled with tourists getting lost, people who actually have money shopping, and working people trying to get around. Once it's dark, everyone goes away and all that's left on the streets are the hobos. Scary. That was until we got to back to Union Square and saw the beautiful lights and the outdoors skating rink.
[credit: Karen]
They had scary things in them. One had a door with light shining through. Another had a staircase.
[credit: Karen]
We stopped by Starbucks! Hooray for gift cards!
[credit: Karen]
Prada. Failed!
[credit: Karen]
Lingerie for women. Failed!
Part VII. The Night at the Hotel
It was hot. Literally and figuratively.
Our room did not have A/C so it became a little toaster oven in there.
For some reason, the boys couldn't leave each other alone.
Every time someone farted, we beat them with our pillows
and trust me, there was a lot of farting going on Sunday night.
[credit: Karen]
Part VIII. The Morning After
[credit: Karen]
Oops.
Guys! Ever heard of birth control?
Part IX. Breakfast, Exploring,
Waiting for Amtrak Bus, and Leaving SF
Apparently, I was mumbling about a Wii, the Amtrak, and the hotel in 2 sentences total. I also hummed while brushing my teeth. I don't remember doing either of those things. I pushed Stephanie off the bed and went back to sleep. That I remember!
I had Korean BBQ shortribs for breakfast! Is that an awesome breakfast or an awesome breakfast? Afterwards, the girls and guys split up. We went to Neiman Marcus where we dreamed of all the things there we'd love to buy. Next, we went to Forever 21 and [OH SHIT IT'S CENSORED]. Around 12pm, we met up with the guys at the Amtrak stop and busted out the cameras. The Amtrak bus came and our driver was a douche. Thank God we took the train back the rest of the way from Emeryville!
[credit: Stephanie]
Fuzz on guys' chins is gross!
[credit: Karen]
[credit: Karen]
[credit: Stephanie]
[credit: Stephanie]
[credit: Karen]
[credit: Karen]
[credit: Aaron]
Part X. Amtrak Train
It was my first time riding a train! The view by the coastline was so beautiful!
Yay! We headed back to Stockton! Look at our excited faces!
[credit: Stephanie]
Apparently, my fob sister thinks I'm too ugly to be photographed.
[credit: Stephanie]
[credit: Stephanie]
[credit: Karen]
So we ate some Extinguishers chewy candy,
which by the way aren't that great, and then...
[credit: Karen]
[credit: Stephanie]
[credit: Stephanie]
Nasty nasty tongues.
[credit: Stephanie]
Soon, everyone was asleep except for me and Karen until we arrived in Stockton.
Part XI. Ride Back to UOP
We tried to fit 8 people into a sedan. Did not work, so we left 2 behind.
There are actually twice as many pictures as was posted in this entry.
[edit] Mission 101
4. Spend a day in SF with friends.