www.henningn.dk

February, sunday 2'nd

There are not many strange people left out there, from the time where Gratefull Dead was ruling the area back in the sixties. But on the way I meet a lot of sad people, who's got there whole life in a black plastic-bag og a stolen shopping-trolley. This is what I hate about America - that no one cares about these people.

At Haight Ashbury I visit a the huge record-store of Amoeba Music. This store is the size of the biggest supermarket in my hometown. They sell both new and used CD's - and a lot more. I buy only 2 - but could have used the whole tour-budget right here. 

Later it's timer for another walk - from the hotel - through Chinatown - to Coit Tower, with a nice view - and down to the touristtrap of all touristtraps in this world - yes its Pier 39 and Fishermanns Wharf. It's not just a long walk - it's also up and down all the way. So that's a good reason to take a tram back home.

Dinner in Chinatown, at a chinese restaurant that I remember from my first visit to San Francisco. That is 15 years ago. From here it's time for Baldwin Hotel again. The radio-station is playing Doors, Neil Young and that kind of music - som acid-heads is still around anyway.

February, monday 3'rd

Wake up at 6 am!! - on a vacation-day. This is not normal. I read a little before going for breakfast.

Later I take no. 14 to The Mission, a spanishspeaking and quite lively neighbourhood. Lots of murals around here. I just take a look around, sit at a cafe - and let the life of The Mission pass by.

On to Mission Dolores - an old church for 1776, when the spaniards were ruling around here. Supposed to be the oldest building in San Francisco. Then it's on to Castro, another area for people with a different lifestyle. And finally it's a tram back to downtown

A long trip today, with the bus from Great Pacific Tours along Highway 1 to Carmel and Monterey.

Then the trip goes along The 17-mile drive. This is very nice - and the sun is shining all over. There are 5 famous golf-courses right next to eachother, among them Pebble Beach where they are prepering for a pro-am tournament this weekend. A lot of celebrities will take part - Neil Young for instance - so much for acid-head.

You can buy yourself a house in this area. It's about 12 mio. $ - and thats the cheapest!!

On to Monterey, an old sardin-town known from a few John Steinbeck novels - for instance Cannery Row.

Finally we return for San Francisco, with at stop at Garlic World, where everthing they sell is with garlic. Even the icecream - yak. We pass a lot of artichoke-fiels, where undepaid illegal mexican immigrates is harvesting with their bare hands. They won't be the one moving to Pebble Beach.

Back in San Francisco at 7.30.

February, wednesday 5'th

Start the day with a cable-car trip to Fishemans Wharf. From here you can take the boat to Alcatraz, to see the famous prison, known from severel movies. Years ago it was occupied by som indians, living in an autonomous society, but they were thrown out years ago.

At the prison the give you some kind of walk-man thing, which is used as a guide. Old inmates and guards tell about the life in the prison. That is very interesting. I spend a few hours out here - before heading back to Fishermans Wharf

Then it's on to Pier 39 to see the sea-lions. They occupied an area of Pier 39 about 10 years ago, making their own society. Well - they have been thinking of ways to get rid of them, but they turned out to be a huge tourist-attraction, and was therefor allowed to stay. Seems to be more money coming from sea-lions than from indians. 

In the evening it's time for the the worst part of this trip. I had a ticket for an NBA-game between Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs. But they would let me in because I have bringing a small backpack and my amateur-camera. They thought it was a big backpack and a professionel camera. There was nowhere to store it - and I didn't have the time to go back to the hotel. There was nothing else to do than sell the ticket on the black market. I complained to the club when I returned back home - and the offered me a ticket for another match!!. They sure a clever at Golden State Warriors. You can't be surprised that they are doing so poorly in the NBA.

From the morning it's down to SOMA (South of Market) to take a look at the entertainment-center Metreon. Nothing fancy about that, but the Yerba Buena Gardens close to was very nice.

Then it's on to Union Square, the center for shopping in San Francisco. Here you find Macy's. I take a look around, but there is really nothing that I need to buy. But I could go shopping-crazy in the bookshop Borders, at the corner of Union Square. I only buy 3 books, but american bookshops are really something.

Later it's back to Fishermans Wharf. Here I take a trip with San Francisco Sightseeing to Muir Woods and Sausalito. Muir Woods is a forest with old Redwood-trees, that are very high. That's a very nice place.

Then to Sausalito, a tiny village at San Francisco Bay. Why this is on the sighseeing-list I don't quite understand. So I spend the time chatting with a swiss guy from the bus, that is on his way to North Korea, to teach them how to make cheese.....

Back in San Francisco at 7 - and dinner in Chinatown.

Friday, february 7'th

I take the bus back to Fishermanns Wharf - it's time for a late pizza at Pier 39 - tram back to the hotel, where I'm back at 5 pm. This is kind of it for today. So I spend the evening in front of the TV watching Leathel Weapons 4 on TBS Superstation

Starting the day with a little shopping. There's a huge golf-store just opposite the hotel. I buy myself a nice pair of golf-shoes, half the price compared to Denmark.

Time for sightseeing again. I have found a great walking-guide on the net of Pacific Heights - the very rich neighbourhood. So I take my favourite cable-car up there. It runs up and down California Street, and not nearly as many tourists, as those who runs to Fishermanns Wharf. I take a look at Pacific Heights, and you can see on the cars and the houses that money is no problem around here. I reach the top at Fillmore Street, with a spectacular view of the city and the bay.

Later that day it's time for another walk around Chinatown. The main thing around here is shopping. On Grant Avenue you can buy anoything crap - while all the food-stalls are gatheted at Stockton Street. There are a lot of shops with fish not dead yet. 

They are warming up for the chinese new year, that is celebrated this week. Tonight they will crown "Miss Chinatown". From now celebrations will continue until we reach the year of the ram.

Dinner at a real american Diner. Lories Diner is one of the real kinds. There's a Corvette right in the middle. But you can not sit there and eat - like you can do in Pulp Fiction.

Sunday, february 9'th

I just walk through the park - that will take a couple of hours - and the trip ends at Haight Ashbury. From here I take no. 7 downtown. 

Later that day my final San Francisco-shopping at Borders - and my last San Francisco Dinner at Lories.