We have had a busy past few days. My schedule at work is so choppy this week, that I am having a difficult time remembering what day it is. Oh well, just very typical.
Monday Aaron got off of work and crashed for three short hours before our friends Chris and Karen arrived into town from Monterey. They're a couple we met in Wisconsin a couple of years ago, and we have managed to stay in close contact. They just recently got married and will be moving permanently up to Rochester, MN to work at Mayo Clinic. We always have such a good time when we hang out together, and my face usually hurts from laughing too much from their crazy stories. It is so much fun!!!
So, on Monday afternoon they came over and we headed into San Francisco to go on the evening Alcatraz tour. We managed to get there early, so we went to a nearby restaurant for appetizers and drinks. We ordered a few various food items and two rounds of drinks and the bill was well over $100.00. Wow! I suppose we should pay closer attention to prices next time, but that takes some of the fun out of it! After eating we went to get in line for the ferry to Alcatraz. I was stunned by how many Europeans and Asians were standing in line. Aaron and I are so glad they are here and supporting our weak economy! The ferry ride was brutally cold, but it was a clear evening, so we had to stand on the outer deck and take in the amazing views of the city and Golden Gate Bridge. The evening sky over the bridge was a perfect combination of orange and pink, and it was truly a mesmerizing sight. Once to Alcatraz we got off the boat and made our way up the rock to the main prison. The whole experience was really quite eerie, but that was to be expected. We each received a headset that took us through a walking-audio tour. The audio part was very informative, and the sound effects were fantastic. Aaron even found out that tourists can pay to spend the night on the island. Maybe that would be a fun Christmas gift for him! Hmmmm... So I won't go into too many details of the tour, but it was well worth the money and lots of fun to do with Chris and Karen. Following our time in SF we went back to our town and drank beer on University Ave. It is where all of the undergrads spend their wild college nights, and we love to drink quality brew with them at all of the quaint little pubs that line the street. A perfect ending to a great day.
I worked on Tuesday, but Wednesday proved to be very productive as we found an apartment in the city and even managed to sign the lease and get the keys all by 4pm. Not too bad! The apartment building is 51 years old, so it is quite dated, but it has lots of charm and character. It is only three floors, and the outside is painted a variety of 70's colors that remind me of The Price is Right studio. Even though the grounds are small and there is very little green space, I was so impressed with the flowers that have been planted around the building. We will live on the second floor in a very spacious 1 bedroom apartment. The kitchen is very small, but the living room and bedroom are big, so we will have plenty of space for all of our stuff. The landlord was so nice and had the lease ready for us to sign by 3pm. The surrounding neighborhood seems safe, and I can even see UCSF hospital from the bedroom window. Also, Golden Gate Park is just across the street, so Zuri will get plenty of exercise without going too far. We also managed to get into Chinatown for a couple of hours to eat at my favorite Thai restaurant. They have the best peanut tofu sauce in town, and it always gives me heartburn, but I can't seem to stay away!
The past couple of days I worked, and now I am off for one lonely day before going back tomorrow. I am thrilled to only have three shifts left! Today is for the gym, errands and hiking with a friend, and holiday beer in the evening. I found a great Christmas beer that has a nutmeg and cinnamon flavor. Drinking this is a heavenly experience!
No comments:
Post a Comment