TRAVELS WITH LESLIE, PART 2!

I was all set, yesterday, to sit down and upload all of our San Francisco vacation pictures and tell you all about our fun time with this pretty lady:

But THIS crap got in the way!:

And I do mean CRAP--crappy flooding all around our house that just had me in a total tizzy! See, here in the Northeast we've also had our share of extreme weather this spring (but thank goodness no real tornadoes--I say a prayer for Alabama and the rest of the South, every single day), coming in the form of thunderstorms and flooding. We live right next to the gorgeous Moose River, which normally isn't a problem, but this is the worst flooding in our neighborhood since we built our home in 2004. So thankful this was the worst of it--most of our neighbors are still pumping out their flooding basements....yuck!

But back to pleasant little puppy dog and rainbow memories of our fun vacation, Part 2. From our stay in Las Vegas we flew into Oakland, California, which, if you haven't been to the Bay Area, is right across the bay from San Francisco. Our daughter is finishing up her sophomore year at UC Berkeley, which is right next to Oakland. Big Daddy and I were fortunate enough to get reservations at the famed old Claremont Hotel,  just blocks from campus:

A view of the tennis courts, from our suite....

Grand old lobby area.....

 

The CAL alumni office--lots of Berkeley parents stay here.....

Through the misty fog (in L.A., that would be smog), you can see over to San Francisco, across the Bay Bridge....

Before meeting up with some of my family, the three of us Willards hit the hotel bar for coffee, appetizers and, for Big Daddy, a gin and tonic--I just love this picture:

SOOOO great to laugh with our girl!

Next, off to my crazy funny Uncle Joe's apartment--he lives mere blocks from campus, and has been such a Godsend for our daughter! Joe practiced law for the University system for years, and knows his way around like nobody's business!:

My cousin Joe, truly one of my very favorite people on this planet, came over from his home in Palo Alto, just to drink wine and hang with the Willards. He and I are the same age, and always have fun together.....

Hmmm....is someone a wee bit camera shy?

After drinking our body weight in Pinot Grigio, the four of us headed out to a local Sushi joint. Egan grew up working in Sushi restaurants, so we alwaysssss let him do all the ordering!:

Does this guy look like trouble, or what???

Next morning, we picked up our kiddo and grabbed an awesome breakfast at the fabled Bette's Diner in Berkeley....such a cute atmosphere, and yes, that is a giant piece o' pie, hanging from the ceiling!:

We loved this place so much, we ate there the next morning, too!

Well fortified by smoked salmon and eggs and bagels and corned beef hash and coffee, we headed for that City By The Bay, San Francisco. My husband grew up just across the Golden Gate Bridge from S.F. (never never NEVER call it "Frisco"), and he and I lived there after graduating from college, while he was in grad school. I must say that I have traveled a great deal in my lifetime, but NEVER have I seen a prettier or friendlier city....it just feels like home! First stop, Union Square and the Financial District, where I went a little nutso with my still - new - to - me - camera (my husband has created a MONSTER!!):

The hills in this city are SO good for the thighs!....

The Transamerica building, shaped like a pyramid....

The Hyatt hotel....at the top is a restaurant that seriously spins around, 360 degrees, so you can take in the whole city while you dine.....

The Williams Sonoma store of my dreamzzz...over 4 stories tall.....

Abbie's cute city summer hat.....

Next we ran over to China Town, a favorite of ours. The colorful lanterns, festive shops and smells from the fresh markets and restaurants are magical to us. Here's the gate to China Town that welcomes visitors:

YUMM--roasted Peking duck!....

Toilet paper sold in a grocery store, called "Best Relief"....pretty funny......

Big Daddy and I used to eat at this restaurant back in our poor college days....the sign for Sam Wo's is right behind his head. Really bad greasy Chinese food served by very rude waiters that would yell at you to hurry up and eat. And yet, we kept coming back!:

A quite elegant tea shop....

Are you ready for more? Because our feet weren't QUITE bloodied stumps just yet, we ventured over to the waterfront area, to the famed Ferry Building. This building does still function as a ferry building, shutteling commuters between Marin and Oakland over to San Francisco, but in recent years the building also houses an amazing specialty food marketplace:

Not a bad way to get to work, right?.....

My new Bestie, Jonathan Livingston Seagull......

Inside the Ferry building was SUPER crowded, with everyone picking up gourmet meats and such for their Easter feasts:

Happiness is......

Gorgeous citrus....

The sign below says, "tasty salted pig parts"! Big Daddy was ALL over this store......

The Cowgirl Creamery....amazing cheeses....

Heaven!

Freshly baked breads......

Outside the Ferry building, on weekends, is a fun Farmer's Market, with lots of crafts. Abbie's favorite is this little jewelry booth; her offerings are made with meticulously preserved flowers:

We bought Abbie this little daisy ring that she coveted......that's a real daisy inside!

That's all I have from our fun day in the City....next up is Part 3, which is all about our time spent in Big Daddy's hometown, Mill Valley. Don't forget to stop back by in a day or two!

TODAY I'M GRATEFUL FOR:

1. My relationship with our daughter--I feel so fortunate that we have so much fun together, and that she LOVES hanging out with her lil' ol' mama!

2. The American Red Cross, who so needs our cash donations right now!

3. Once again, this blog! I am very excited for some new blogging additons that will be coming up, very soon, for your viewing enjoyment......stay tuned!