So after a late start they went out for breakfast. They went to Hans Cafe! ( http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/hans-coffee-shop-san-francisco ) it has had good reviews on line and people on the trip and the guide had recommended it! It is a diner. A cheap diner! But we had a nice breakfast! The freshly squeezed juice was very refreshing and the bacon sandwich was great! L enjoyed her eggs bennedict and so we set off on full stomachs!
Today's Plan as to visi the crookedest street in San Francisco! No, not lawyer row or accountant alley, but the street titled Crookedest Street. But first we had to get the tram. Now this was easier said than done! We thought we would head down to the end of the line at Hyde. The terminus is located just off Union Square beside the entrance to the Westfield Shopping Centre. When we got there the queue was quite long. Well, very long! The queue went down to the turntable for the tram and then round the turntable and started coming back up the other side!
L disappeared to see yet another toilet, this time in Burger King, and I slowly moved along the queue! A group of 4 in front of us were not happy and they thought because they had tickets they should get on before everyone else. Then after about 20 minutes they decided if the went up the line a it they would get on a tram quicker! So off they went!
L and A continued to queue and there were a few people making there way up and down the line. San Franciso, like a lot of major cities, has a high homeless population and they seem to frequent the busy city centres where the people are! Right now on MSNBC news President Obama is on telling everyone thatin America anyone can make it there if they really try. Well, they do not seem to do anything for the homeless. Many of them appear to have mental issues and there seems to be very little done to help them. However, they beg, they go through the bins looking for bottles and cans that they an get some money for through recycling and ask for money from anyone who looks at them. There appears to be a huge divide between the haves and the have nots. These people have reached rock bottom and will do anything to get a few dollars. The locals seem to want to ignore them and the tourists look uncomfortable, as we did, when they come at you. Some are polite while some with mental issues really have no way of communicating with other people. Obama is now speaking about values, hard work and economic difficulties - yet many are homeless and hungry or have dependencies on a wide range of substances.
But they continued queuing for the tram! The lime was slowly moving - despite being very long indeed. The trams would come to the end of the line and sit for a while before making it to the turntable where two or three of the staff turned the tram round on the turntable till it aced the line heading back up the route. Then they would let the people at the top do the queue on the tram.
After about 50 minutes it was our turn! You have four options on the tram. An inside seat, standing inside, sitting outside or standing on the outer Parton the tram and hang on while being shunted up and down the hills! Well, they made iron to the outside seats and had a good view until after 2 or 3 stops when the standing positions in front of us were full.
They had a good laugh when they passed the next stop and who was there but the four people who thought they would stop QUEUEING with us plebs and get on quicker! Well, as the tram came up to them the driver shouted out, 'You need to wait for the next tram! This one is full!' if you saw their faces it was a picture and I am sure the older lady with them saw upon the tram and grimaced as she realised we had even behind them in the queue! A and L looked at each other and just laughed!
Now the tram ride proved to be both a practical and entertaining journey. It was getting us to where we wanted to go, despite the wait, and it was also an entertainment! The driver was quite entertaining. Not only did he drive the tram but shouted continually at the passengers and thos waiting to get on the tram at the stops. He would shout at people to keep in their seats, not to hang out too far incase of accidents, and most amusing of all, he would shout at those at the stops!
'Ok! We can take the first four only on the far side! Come on people!' he'd shout.
'Sorry folks, we're full! No spaces here. You need to wait for the next car!' he'd shout again.
'Oi, no skipping up the queue. You won't get on if you skip the queue!' he should out loudly at the people queuing!
And the classic, watching a lady come right out to the tram when he stopped, 'Lasy, we're full! Wait for the next one! No, no..we are full! Get the next one!'
Everybody laughed but the women was not too happy! The problem s there are too many passengers needing on and not enough trams to deal with the demand. Each journey costs $6 or you can but tickets for multi trips!
So, after a long journey, well worth the 6 bucks, they made it to the Lombard stop at the top of the crookedest street! They got off and this allowed some to get on to the tram! At least they had got this tram and they were at the top of the street and they were not having to do it from the bottom up! There friends had had to walk up 2 or 3 hills to get there but they got it the right way!
The street is very short but it must have about 12 very tight hair pin bends that run down the street. From the time they got there the road was constantly busy with cars and taxis wanting to drive the famous street! The tourists walked down either side taking photos and the home owners must absolutely hate it! However, they knew what they were taking on when they bought the house! The street is immaculate and the gardens are all landscaped with colourful flowers! Despite taking 5 minutes to walk down it was well worth the visit!
They then walked back to Union Square via China Town Once more. They then went and got a drink and sat in Union Square watching the world go by. Then it was shopping in the Westfield Shopping Centre but neither of them were reallyn for it. How many expensive shopping centres can you visit and not shop in? So, they had a coffee and then made their way back to the hotel for a rest and to contemplate packing! They made it to the happy hour in the hotel and he 7 remaining passengers were there and they caught up with the days events!
Now they are packing and they are going to meet the others for a drink later on!
On their anniversary night out...but keep your eyes open!
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