--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
October 26-November 2, 2017
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OCTOBER 26 - NOVEMBER 2
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
CALIFORNIA FLAG
October 26
SAN FRANCISCO
Spending a week in San Francisco visiting relatives and friends. My nephew picked me up at SFO, then had dinner at a Belgian restaurant at the Mission district.
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October 27
DALY CITY*SAUSALITO*GUERNEVILLE
This morning Mark, Allan and I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and had brunch at The Trident Restaurant on our way to the Russian River where we stayed at The Cottages in Guerneville. Walked to the river then went for wine tasting at Love Wins before dinner.
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October 28
GUERNEVILLE*DALY CITY*SAN FRANCISCO
After breakfast at the Cottages we checked out and drove to the Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve where we saw redwoods more than a few hundred years old.
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Lunch was at Patio Filipino in Daly City: ice cold beer, sinigang na bangus, pinakbet, and bicol express.
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We checked in later at the Holiday Inn in SF then we picked up Mark and Allan's engagement rings at Tiffany's before we went back to Daly City for their Halloween Party. Later most of the party-goers went to the Castro for more pre-Halloween festivities.
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October 29
SAN FRANCISCO*SAN JOSE
Spent the afternoon with my relatives in San Jose and they prepared so much food. They also picked so much persimmons for the party. The celebration was a mini reunion and also to celebrate my sister’s birthday who is in Calasiao.
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After the great family get-together, Mark drove me all over SF: Twin Peaks (too foggy), Haight-Ashbury, Fishermen’s Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, Pier 39 (sea lions), Treasure Island (gorgeous view of SF and the Bay Bridge.
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October 30
SAN FRANCISCO
I checked in at the Beresford Arms then took the bus to the Ferry Building to meet with my UP Pharmacy classmates Rorie and Irene and their husbands Caloy and Rene. Ate at the wonderful, trendy The Slanted Door Restaurant by Charles Phan.
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October 31
SAN FRANCISCO
After breakfast at the Beresford Arms I took a bus at Market St that went along the Embarcadero to Pier 39. Walked around the shops then looked at the sea lions before I took another bus to SF’s Chinatown. Ate Xia Long Bao and Chives and Eggs Pancakes at a Shanghai restaurant. Took pics then walked back to my hotel.
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Had some complimentary wine and cheese at the hotel at 5 pm then went up to my room to rest. About nine o’clock I went out again to check out the Halloween costumes at the Castro. Had a great slice of pepperoni pizza and an A&W root beer. Here are some interesting costumes.
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November 01
SAN FRANCISCO
Checked out of the Beresford Arms but left my heavy suitcase. Took the bus to Lombard and Van Ness and was overwhelmed when I saw the three hills I have to climb to go to the Crookedest Street in the world!
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Next tourist spot is the Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill, so more hills to mount! (Walked up the equivalent of 38 floors according to my pedometer app) The Tower was funded with Lillian Hitchcock Coit’s fortune. Took the elevator and had the most fantastic 360-degree view of the city. Mark picked me up later and joined me for a quick Vietnamese lunch in Chinatown.
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Dinner was at the trendy Foreign Cinema at the Mission District with Michael’s brother Brad who lives in Oakland, and Mark and Allan. I started with half a dozen oysters (Malpeque from PEI) and seared Pacific Yellowtail (golden chanterelles, white bean purée, wilted chicories, and almond salsa rustica). Wine was a Sauvignon Blanc (Cep, Hopkins Ranch, Russian River Valley, Sonoma 2016).
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November 02
DALY CITY*NEW YORK CITY
End of my California trip! Mark took me to the SF Airport. Nice but short and sweet. Thanks to Mark and Allan for taking me around and their hospitality.
