05 May, 2006 (Friday) San Francisco

Three days of unlimited city travel in San Francisco is $18. It's not a bad deal if you're doing a bit of travelling. We continued to explore the city.


Boudin Bakery
Boudin Bakery was founded by French immigrants during the gold rush days and has built up ever since. It's a local institution, it's sour dough bread famous throughout the West Coast. Boudin offer a tour of their bakery and history from their Fisherman's Wharf complex. For $3 the tour includes a glimpse of the gold rush days, an introduction to the science of bread-making, a birds-eye view of their bread making facilities and a free tasting. I did a computer-based quiz to find out what bread I was, from my answers it was determined that I was a Dark Rye bread. I could have told you that. The tasting was good, I wolfed down a dozen of their little bread squares dipped in honey, oil and corn salsa. I think I got my $3 value. (Picture: Boudin bakery making buns)


San Francisco Nightlife
Sean passed out early, but I was determined to make the most of my first Friday night in San Francisco. I had hoped to make it down to the Mission District, but doing it alone felt a bit intimidating. Instead I wandered up Fillmore and into the Grove Cafe. (Picture: San Francisco cable car)


The Grove
I like The Grove, it has a really nice ambiance to it. Scott recommended it just before he left, describing it as a bit studenty, a bit artsy. You get that, but there's more to it.

The soft orange lighting gives it a warm, comfortable feel. It is this, coupled with the wave of voices in conversation which characterises the place for me. Inside the decor is wood and leather, in a semi-rustic theme. A mix of tables and benches and stools mean that whether you're a student typing away at an essay, corporate reading a report, or wanderer (like myself) just in for a drink and some quiet writing time, everybody is a winner. I ordered a pint of their house brew and got given a huge glass. The serving gal gave me a white toothed smile and asked how long I was in town. Flirt. I sat down and wrote.

It was past 11 by the time I was done in The Grove. I spent the last 10 minutes watching people, watching interactions - clusters of students, youths on a night out, older couples. All seemed engrossed in conversation, leaning across tables, adding to the murmur of voices.

Harry's Bar
After a walk around the block I ended up next door at Harry's Bar. Inside it was packed out with people, a good selection of the beautiful set of San Francisco - young 20-somethings with money. It was $3 Corona / $5 Margaritas night and the bar girls were being kept busy. I pulled up a stool and half-watched The Wedding Crashers on the big screen... and the crowd. After my third beer I went for a walk to clear my head, and on a whim decided I'd have one more then head home. (Picture: A freaky 25c machine - here's one for the kids!)

A couple had been dancing behind me for half the night, and as I got comfortable the guy squeezed into the bar area. Somehow we got talking, his name was Brian and he'd just met the girl, Jo tonight. When I mentioned that I was a visitor in his city Brian got excited and told me to come out with him for a bit, that he'd make sure I had a good time. A cab ride later we ended up in an alley in front of a set of townhouses. It was past 12 by this time and the alley was deserted and dark. A big iron grill-worked door kept us on the footpath as Brian and Jo tapped away at their cell phones trying to get us entrance. It was ten minutes before a light came on and the door opened. (Picture: We noticed this when we were walking up to downtown. Guess he's had a few bad experiences)

Inside the townhouse was lushly furnished - wood panelling, designer looking decorations and a back patio area. While Brian and Jo danced in the living room I met Mariah, Sarah and Leigh. It was around 3am when somebody suggested we go for a spa. At 4am I caught a cab back to the apartment to sleep. An interesting night. Sorry, no pictures unfortunately.