Baiz - she's some cold!

So had a bit of a scare during our connection in Toronto – we were supposed to pick up our bags and go through customs with them..first went to the wrong baggage claim pickup, then when we got to the right one, jen’s bag was there but mine wasn’t!! waited..waited..then asked at the counter and I realized there was a bag similar to mine on the conveyor belt..and thought I bet someone took mine!!! The guy checked  my luggage tag and yes, someone brought my bag through customs instead of their own!! He assured me to go on through, that my bags would arrive in destination..at this point we were running short on time to catch our flight and we RAN down the hall as they were calling last call for boarding on our flight..we were FREAKING out! It was like a movie! My throat was burning..who knew cardio at the airport could be so fun..NOT. 


Anyway we didn’t miss our flight thank god – lesson #1 – always ensure my clients have a long connection time when clearing customs in Toronto as it can be a confusing process!

We also weren’t seated together on the plane but luckily a nice lady was kind enough to switch with one of us so that we could sit together and watch “What to Expect when you’re Expecting” and reruns of the Golden Girls..SO fun.

So we arrive finally in San Francisco and go pick up our car rental..a Jeep Wrangler!! Fun!! Well..didn’t start off so fun since the staff at the garage had no idea how to show us how to put the top down..after an hour of frigging with it, we sort of have it figured out.  Not sure if I love driving a jeep yet – but I’ve only driven it 30 mins from the airport so far as it’s been parked in valet service since we arrive at the hotel.

HOTEL: The Donatello

First impressions – lobby isn’t anything special but nice enough – since we arrived late the check-in process was quick and efficient.  We booked last minute and got a handicap accessible room – weren’t sure what that would be like but it’s great!

 

 

Huge comfy bed, a sectional couch, kitchenette area with fridge and microwave, and get this – in the bathroom, there was a tv built into the MIRROR!! HOW COOL!!

After bringing in our bags we went down the block to a 24 hour diner for a hamburger and a salad then called it a night. 

Day 2:

Got up early and first impressions of San Francisco – it’s bloody cold! And there seemed to be a lot of bums everywhere..made walking around all the more interesting!  We wanted to check out a famous breakfast spot – walked there but the line up was too long – we had to meet our walking tour guide at 9:30 so we decided to make our way toward the walking tour meeting point and see what was on the way..wing it..as they say.  I don’t wing it very well, usually, and so we walked by a number of places until we finally popped into a deli/café type place..well..the waitress/counter clerk seemed very inexperienced..she forgot the cheese on my sandwich, put Dijon when there wasn’t supposed to be any, and burnt Jen’s bagel and told her it was the bagel’s fault because it had holes in it..ugghh ok.  So…lesson #2 – always have a plan B and plan C !!

 

 

Met up with our tour guide – and walked for about 10k throughout the day and visited many neighbourhoods.  We also got to experience the cable car, bus system and BART system - It was a great way to see the city quickly while getting exercise too!  We were able to see what areas we might like to go back to, to visit the next day.

Went back to our hotel and decided we’d visit Beretta in the Mission area for dinner.  What a great choice – the place was very hip and cool without being overly pretentious – had to sit at the bar for about 30 mins while waiting for a table but it was great to interact with the bartenders and watch them work their magic.  We were mesmerized!

We ordered the Saffron Osso Bucco Risotto and Funghi Pizza..both excellent choices but the Osso Bucco Risotto was OUT OF THIS WORLD.  One of the best meals I’ve ever had. 

 I go to the washroom and jen surprises me with shots of tequila..but they were WINE GLASSES OF TEQUILA!! ugh!!! Asked the waitress where might be a good place to end the night with a few drinks and were recommended a few areas and so ended up walking around and came across this place that had a small lineup..played reggae music so we thought, great let’s check it out.  Well..we wait in line while a number of homeless walk back and forth around us, one spitting food everywhere, it was quite the show.   Every so often we’d spell marijuana and thought someone in line was smoking..we shortly thereafter got into the bar and realized the ENTIRE bar was FULL of weed.  Drugs on the bar, people rolling joints everywhere we looked!  It felt like we were in the twilight zone! We ordered a drink, danced to a song or two and hailed a cab..who also appeared high on something and we feared for our lives for a short moment !!  Ended up having a nightcap at a great little neighbourhood bar near our hotel and called it a night – all in all – a great, weird, night!!