procrastinatress

This truly is a “tourist trap,” with the same ol’ t-shirts and knick-knacks you can buy at any other destination (customized, of course, but still…). However, I highly recommend going to where the fishing boats are docked, especially if you can make it there early in the morning. This won’t take long but if you are the daydreaming type it can be highly rewarding.

One other tip… unless you absolutely LOVE sourdough bread I’d recommend avoiding Boudin (the Sourdough Bakery & Cafe). Worst customer service I’ve had in a long long time and the bread wasn’t even all that great. Our chowders had nary a piece of seafood in them. Very disappointed, especially considering the prices.

Finally made it to San Francisco! I only got to stay for two days but I LOVE it there! SF is noisy, dirty, gritty, colorful, and full of life… also very European in a way. To me it seemed like a blend of Marseille, Berlin, and Prague. It has the “rough port city” appeal of Marseille, Berlin’s crazy people, and Prague’s adorable little shops and hidden spots. I enjoyed being able to get just about anywhere using public transportation… a big plus in my book and something I miss around here.

Also, don’t laugh but beggars around the world should be sent to workshops in San Francisco! Never have I been asked for money in such charming, creative ways. Yes, I gave money… and I wonder who got the better deal in those transactions.

Last but not least… I know this is going to sound weird but I’m grateful for the big quake in 1906 because it’s the reason much of San Francisco is built “turn of the century” style… which is what I love :o)

I’m hooked… can’t wait to go back!

… I’ll probably visit the cathedral while I’m in Cologne but the real reason I’d like to go is that I’d like to explore their Chocolate Museum! It’s built on a little “island” in the Rhine River, and designed to look like the bow of a ship from the outside. And inside (that’s the interesting part) they have a chocolate fountain designed to look like a cocoa bean tree. Well, an abstract one, anyway. I hear you can get little wafers to dip into the liquid chocolate… If that isn’t worth visiting then I don’t know what is!

http://www.schokoladenmuseum.de