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| Big ships at Fisherman's Wharf. |
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| Chatting and laughing on the way to Alcatraz. |
Last spring Mike and I pretty much invited ourselves to an anniversary trip with our dear friends Pat and Darren and Mark and Marganne. Little did we know that between the time we hatched that idea and the scheduled San Fransisco celebration, we would change jobs and move countries. For weeks it was touch and go. I even think that there was a bet on whether we would be there or not. By the time September 20th rolled around we were more than ready to get on that plane and take a breather. After jumping thru hoops and meeting friends who would be here for Sallie(she stayed here in Doha) , and travelling for about 25 hours we landed at DFW. Early Saturday morning we were on another plane to beautiful San Fransisco ready for 6 days of laughter, good friends, and great memory making. And that is exactly what we had.
All my life my mom talked about her favorite city in the world..San Fransisco. I can remember her breaking into song "I Left My Heart in San Fransisco..." I would roll my eyes and smile. She loved that city. They moved there in High School and that is where she met my dad. He was visiting his parents who lived across the street from Grandma and Grandpa Brown. They were engaged before he left town, and married 3 months later. As Mike and I and our friends trooped up and down those amazing streets my mind constantly wondered if mom and dad had been there. Did Dad have a drink at the Top of the Mark with his war buddies? A tradition apparently going back to World War II before soldiers shipped out that still happens today. Did he and mom walk along Fisherman's Wharf? Celebrate the New Year down there? Where the prisoners of Alcatraz could hear their laughter? I remember how mom would laughingly say how Dad was the only man in the world who would eat steak on Fisherman's Wharf. I had a hamburger. :) When we got back from our trip I wrote to my Aunt Sally...Maybe she can answer my questions. I hope so. She and Mom had fun there. She will know.
After touring SF we headed to Napa and Sonoma Valleys. It was so peaceful. We stayed in a 3 bedroom house on a creek. Tasted wines, ate great food, laughed and talked for three days. I could feel the tension melt away. I think we need to vacation every time we head back to the US...the decompression is amazing.As for California. We loved it. Not sure I would want to live there but it is a great place to visit!
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| The Three Amigos behind bars on Alcatraz. |
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| Possibly the best meal we had, a roadside diner that Mike spotted. Served Pork. :) |
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| We could not get enough of the beautiful scenery. Soaked it in. |
