SF 4: Extremes = Alcatraz 2 Ghirardelli (album)

I literally jogged thru Embarcadero St since the trains were running late on May 15, 2007. But even through I sprinted by Pier 1 to Pier 33 (where the Alcatraz Cruises were to sail off), I managed to get some pics between wheezing, sweating and puffing.

After more than 4 hours in super-windy Alcatraz (some of my landscape pics were ruined because I couldn't hold my hands steady against the wind) and imagining myself in such a desolate and cold place, I sighed with relief upon finding myself back in the mainland. 

I was grimly determined to have a hot fudge sundae to fend off feelings of weariness and hunger (no lunch since I was determined to squeeze every bit out of the Alcatraz experience, yes, even to the point of hunger!) and trudged the long way from Pier 33 to Pier 39 to Ghirardelli Square. Before reaching my destination however, I found that there were so many other places of interest on the way...from the sourdough bread and clam chowder (Boudin), wax museum, Ripley's and other stores which offered cheaper tourist trinkets, to the Cannery Row. Nothing really beats walking the beat so to speak.

I had to hurry through a bag of chocolates and my hot fudge sundae though, since I was to be meeting for dinner at AppleBee's my friends and former colleagues from Sara Lee, most of whom had settled already in the US. That meant a frantic search and pace back to where I could catch the Muni which would take me back to the nearest BART, and a mistaken wait at the wrong BART entrance while Jerry tried to pick me up from the other end...brrrrrr...good thing I had managed to buy a warmer coat AFTER Alcatraz (yeah..now I was too warm).

A perfect margarita as per Lala's recommendation, and for the first time while I have been in the US - a steak for dinner (and I wrangled Louie for it too). Some desultory but easy conversation between all 6 of us and all too soon it was time to hit the sack. I tried teasing Louie to take me to Monterey between an offer from Ronette to hang out at her place should I be late in arriving at BART the next day (the guys didn't seem concerned about my being in these places late at night though..but as Ronette said - "alam ko lalaki yan si Cat, pero still...." hehehe)...

I went back with Roehl, prepared mentally and gastrointestinally for lunch with Bong and as the next day progressed...dinner with Kaiyen...wheee! free food and good company always wins hands down over shopping...

 - May 30, '07 1:07 PM