The first day of our big trip to San Francisco.
It all went very well. We went down to Charlotte the evening before and stayed at a Drury Inn Carmen wanted to try. Then the next morning we went to the airport by 8:30. Almost all of the lots were full and the airport was packed. I was a little worried when I saw all the people but everything at US Airways was organized and they moved us right along - everyone in a good mood. The flight was long - 5 hrs 15 mins. The couple next to us each slugged down four drinks before the end and were well lubricated - just this side of obnoxious. My reading for the trip was yet another book on The Fall of Rome, this time a short one with lots of pictures.
It was a gorgeous day when we arrived at San Francisco. On the van ride into town we got our first sight of what the city looks like. We arrived at the Queen Anne by 1 pm, which was too early for our room to be ready. The desk manager gave us a very good map and directions on how to get around the neighborhood. When he heard that we were here to visit our aunt at the Broadmore he ran out to the sidewalk to show us how close we were to it. You can see it from the front door.
Since we had some time to kill we went for a long walk since everyone seemed to be surprised that the weather was so nice. We walked through Japantown, a remarkable shopping mall area of Japanese restaurants, shops and a large bookstore. It was built by the city as a mark of 'conciliation' with the Japanese-Americans and seems to have taken off. Though if you read the signs on many of the shops and restaurants you discover that they are Korean rather than Japanese. We went into the bookstore and except for a small section of tour books, with a stack of the new Harry Potter book released that morning, everything was in Japanese!
From Japantown we walked up Filmore Street, or Yuppietown. Lots of upscale shops, restaurants, and a coffee shop for every 50 residents it seemed. And when I say we walked up Filmore, I mean UP. We stopped at a Thai restaurant where I had a Stella Artois and a Silver Noodle Salad, both of which were great.
After getting settled into our room we went down to see my Aunt Louise and my cousin Pam. All four of us went to eat at the Mediteranee Restaurant on Filmore. Pam drove, and just like my mother, she found a parking space right in front of the place. The food was great, and very interesting. I had something called Armenian potato salad which was not like any potato salad I'd ever had before. Very crisp and cool with lots of cilantro. I noticed they had Armenian beer on the menu but passed on that (the interesting thing is that Armenia is nowhere near the Mediterranean). There must be billions of dollars worth of weird beers imported to America just for ethnic restaurants.
After we said good-by to Pam and Louise we went for a steep walk up to Lafayette Park. It is at the top of Pacific Heights and looks down over all of the north beach of San Francisco from the Embarcadero to the Golden Gate. Everyone with a dog, especially big dogs, really big dogs, brings them to this park for a little 'walk'. On our way out we saw an impressive white and black hawk setting in the tree just above our heads.
We were ready for sleep when we got back to our room, in the strange but charming little 19th century bordello style Queen Anne.
It all went very well. We went down to Charlotte the evening before and stayed at a Drury Inn Carmen wanted to try. Then the next morning we went to the airport by 8:30. Almost all of the lots were full and the airport was packed. I was a little worried when I saw all the people but everything at US Airways was organized and they moved us right along - everyone in a good mood. The flight was long - 5 hrs 15 mins. The couple next to us each slugged down four drinks before the end and were well lubricated - just this side of obnoxious. My reading for the trip was yet another book on The Fall of Rome, this time a short one with lots of pictures.
It was a gorgeous day when we arrived at San Francisco. On the van ride into town we got our first sight of what the city looks like. We arrived at the Queen Anne by 1 pm, which was too early for our room to be ready. The desk manager gave us a very good map and directions on how to get around the neighborhood. When he heard that we were here to visit our aunt at the Broadmore he ran out to the sidewalk to show us how close we were to it. You can see it from the front door.
Since we had some time to kill we went for a long walk since everyone seemed to be surprised that the weather was so nice. We walked through Japantown, a remarkable shopping mall area of Japanese restaurants, shops and a large bookstore. It was built by the city as a mark of 'conciliation' with the Japanese-Americans and seems to have taken off. Though if you read the signs on many of the shops and restaurants you discover that they are Korean rather than Japanese. We went into the bookstore and except for a small section of tour books, with a stack of the new Harry Potter book released that morning, everything was in Japanese!
From Japantown we walked up Filmore Street, or Yuppietown. Lots of upscale shops, restaurants, and a coffee shop for every 50 residents it seemed. And when I say we walked up Filmore, I mean UP. We stopped at a Thai restaurant where I had a Stella Artois and a Silver Noodle Salad, both of which were great.
After getting settled into our room we went down to see my Aunt Louise and my cousin Pam. All four of us went to eat at the Mediteranee Restaurant on Filmore. Pam drove, and just like my mother, she found a parking space right in front of the place. The food was great, and very interesting. I had something called Armenian potato salad which was not like any potato salad I'd ever had before. Very crisp and cool with lots of cilantro. I noticed they had Armenian beer on the menu but passed on that (the interesting thing is that Armenia is nowhere near the Mediterranean). There must be billions of dollars worth of weird beers imported to America just for ethnic restaurants.
After we said good-by to Pam and Louise we went for a steep walk up to Lafayette Park. It is at the top of Pacific Heights and looks down over all of the north beach of San Francisco from the Embarcadero to the Golden Gate. Everyone with a dog, especially big dogs, really big dogs, brings them to this park for a little 'walk'. On our way out we saw an impressive white and black hawk setting in the tree just above our heads.
We were ready for sleep when we got back to our room, in the strange but charming little 19th century bordello style Queen Anne.
posted by Clemens | 8:58 PM
4 Comments:
I wonder if the owner meant to write "Albanian" instead of Armenian?
It would be the Adriatic sea but close enough
--Joey
No - I'm pretty sure they meant Armenian. Which hints that the cuisine might be Turkish, which could be construed as "Mediterranean." Not sure what the beer was like. I've read that the Armenians are trying to create a wine industry but so far haven't been too successful.
Still, everyplace needs to have its own little brewery.
I'm going to hazard a guess that the menu at La Mediterranee is pulled from countries all around the eastern side of that sea. I've eaten there many a time, and have recognized Greek, Turkish, Lebanese and Armenian influences, and I'm certain there are more!
Glad you enjoyed your visit...
Thanks Richard. I thought it might be more eclectic than the Armenian Potato Salad and Beer made it sound. Everything was good. Have you had the potato salad?
We thoroughly enjoyed San Francisco and plan on going back. My aunt doesn't realize just how popular she is going to become.
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