San Francisco by the Bay

A beautiful morning greets me when I wake at 7:00am having slept really well throughout the night. Up and dressed and to meet a friend who lives here. We meet at what I have now called the Disneyland of Restaurants - Mamas (http://www.mamas-sf.com/) . I get there 15 minutes early at 08:15 to be greeted by a queue of about 15 people waiting to get into closed front doors. Every few minutes the door opens and a female head comes through asking for how many people and immediately shutting the door. From time to time a few people are ushered in. My friends arrives at the allotted time just as we are shown into the restaurant to be greeted by....a queue to order our breakfast. Well I soon worked out what was happening after I ordered my Crab Eggs Benedict - (sauce on the side Dr Moss) - it was superb. Justin, I am sure would have enjoyed the three different bread French Toast one of which was Kugelhopf After we finished we are shown out the exit door at the other end of the restaurant. Great Place.

We go to Baguet for a coffee where I turn down the French style h-u-g-e bowl in favour of a paper cup. My friend tells me how bad things are in the USA. A building he knows about has fallen 60% in value in the past 12 months with little prospect of recovery. The banks are not lending and when one is able to secure an offer of finance it is on ridiculous terms.

Back to my apartment where I meet up with Ally and Auryn, who have left Nye to sleep - or should I simply say they couldn't get him up, and we went to a nearby park and merry-go-round before some shopping. We catch up with Nye and plan to get the trolley car down to Fisherman's Wharf but of course it has broken down so a cab does it. Shrimp Lunch on the wharf and a lengthy walk along the waterfront in the most gorgeous winter's day is just great.

We wind up at the trolley car stop to head back but seeing the queue I leave the others to catch the trolley car while I head for the hotel and a two hour relax before what I am hoping is a good dinner.

Off to the Foreign Cinema Restaurant (http://www.foreigncinema.com)for/ a superb meal. 6 oysters (3 varieties) which were great followed by a very soft D'Affinois Cheese tapas. For main a Haddock Clam Chowder and shared dessert of Pomegranate Creme Brulee, Chocolate Pot and Egg Nog. All quite superb. Auryn, exhausted from the day's activities, slept throughout which was good and bad as he is very good company and very well behaved. He didn't miss out as we stopped at Wholefoods on the way and got him S&S - Soup and Sushi.

Back to the hotel for a good night's sleep. San Francisco. I do love San Francisco, not as a city to live but as a place with a really nice feel about it. Lovely architecture, great and stylish shops and great food varieties. I do make an effor to fly into San Francisco rather than Los Angeles for this reason.

Well early start tomorrow
Look after yourselves
X David