NZ and USA baby: Arriving in San Fran

We took the long way home...flying through Sydney and arriving in San Fran to visit my cousin Jenny who lives right in the heart of the city. Qantas really screwed us over several times during the booking process (but I won't get into that now)....however by some struck of faith, we were somehow upgraded to premium economy. We were spoiled and had HEAPS of leg room. So much that both James and I could sit on the floor and play with Luca. Luca did wonderfully on the plane. It's much easier making these long haul flights with the two of us to watch him. He just barely fit into the infant bassinet, and managed to sleep about 5 hours on the plane.

If you ever get the option to fly into San Fran instead of LAX....DO IT. The arrivals, customs, and staff at the airport was so much more freindly, and way less hectic and crazy than LAX. James and I hadn't spend much time in San Fran before so we were looking forward to our 3 night mini holiday with my cousin Jenny. We're so glad that we did this, b/c it actually felt like we were on vacation (and not just on a wedding trip).

Jenny lives right down town in a sweet apartment. Everything she could ever want (except maybe a Target) is right around her apartment. Amazing 24 hour donut shops, check. Gym, check. Walgreens, check. Hundreds of eateries, check. Plant wholesale shop, check. Cute boutique shops, check. Get the picture?

She was such a gracious host to us, doing the San Fran highlights sight seeing trip for us, and even pretending not to mind when Luca would scream for hours when he was supposed to be sleeping. Jet Lag with baby = no fun.

Jenny lives right on the Streetcar/cablecar line, and takes it to work every day. Ok, how cool is that? We had an amazing time in San Fran. Although we could never afford to live there, I do think it's one of my new favourite cities.

Our wonderful hostess and taxi driver at the Golden Gate bridge.

We loved playing amongst the Redwoods at Muir woods. HUGE trees.

Okay, really bad picture of myself, but good shot of Luca. If only my eyes were open this picture would be perfect.

San Fran reminded me a lot of Wellington. Compact city and very easy to walk around. Built around a harbour and very windy.

We also spent a bit of town in different neighborhoods. This is Chinatown, which had shop after shop of chinese food resturants, crazy cheap chinese knick knacks shops, chinese herbal medicine shops, and crazy unidentified dried chinese things (pigs ears? crickets? fruit?) I thought chinatown might be a few streets, but it was actually this huge area. I expierenced my first Dim Sum meal here too. Not actually sure what I was eating, but it tasted good. Very fun....why don't we have more of those in NZ?

A pic of china town with a huge American flag on the wall. In the states you see flags everywhere. One of things I like about America...the patriotism.

Luca with doing his chinaman impression.

Hanging out on the waterfront with the seals. We also found this Sourdough bread factory that made bread into all kinds of different animal shapes. How cute are these turtles?