Meg's Epic Week Part 9: The Brits Are Coming!!

Before I launch into my account of a day in the City with a former colleague, Sarah, and two of her lovely friends, I just have to say one thing: I had forgotten how much I miss being around English people! By the end of the day, I could sense my own quasi-British accent returning, and I loved it. I am a California Girl, yes, but I am also an honourary (see the "u" in there?) Brit and always, always miss England.

Sarah is near me in age, and was one of the group of ladies I went clubbing with in England from time to time. She's also the first English friend I've seen in six years, which makes me sad, as I haven't been back. Oh, if only British Airways or Virgin Atlantic would just give me a round-trip ticket to London! I'd even serve coffee the whole way!

Anyway, this was Sarah's first visit to the US, and her friend Hayley's first visit to California. They started in Los Angeles, detoured to Las Vegas, and ended their holiday in San Francisco. Wednesday was their first full day there. They had walked to Pier 39 from their hotel the evening before, so when I met them (with their friend who had just joined them, Michelle) at the IHOP in their hotel, they asked what my plan was for them.

"Well," I said. "I thought I'd drive you out to the Golden Gate Bridge..." Hayley smiled and clapped her hands in delight. "There's a vista point out there where you can get some great pictures of the city and the bridge. Then I thought it might be nice to see Golden Gate Park. There's a Japanese Tea Garden..."

Hayley stopped me. "I was looking through my guidebook and those are two things I really wanted to do!"

I knew we'd get along famously.

We decided to first make our way on foot to the famous crooked bit of Lombard Street. I've only ever driven down, and the hike to the top of the crooked part is, well, an uphill hike. San Francisco is sort of famous for its hills. Our feet were hurting, but we made it, and it was well worth it to see my British friends' faces light up.

The Crookedest Street In the World

A great sign near Fisherman's Wharf

Sarah and I on the north end of the bridge.

A rainy day on the bay.

Japanese Tea Garden, Golden Gate Park

Sarah, Hayley and I braved the bridge. Somewhere on Facebook, there
is a picture.

The ladies all expressed a desire to see Chinatown and perhaps have dinner there, so we set off on a roundabout (read: Meg getting lost) way of getting there. We had tried to stop in the Haight, but parking was impossible.

Parking spots in Chinatown have fortunes.

We had a lovely dinner at one of the nicer sit-down restaurants. The others insisted on paying for my food, as I had driven them around all day. It really was my pleasure--it was lovely to see Sarah again, and to meet Hayley and Michelle.

I left the city at about 6:00 and arrived home by 8:00. I had a lot to do, and only a couple of short hours in which to do it...at 10:15, you see, I had to leave for the Sacramento Airport to pick someone up. : )

Made up the "guest bed" and Harley made himself at home.

Meanwhile, Millie protested the removal of the cushions (the Sweet Spot)
by partying.

 The drive to the airport was easy enough, and before long I was standing on the balls of my feet, bopping and bouncing around impatiently with a rubber duck in one hand. It seemed like AGES before I finally saw a familiar face--familiar only from pictures--at the top of the escalator. The hug of greeting was epic, and involved a lot of squealing and "oh-my-God-ing."

We talked non-stop all the way back to Stockton, and took a few minutes to take some pictures.

Israeli (Izzy) Swimmy and Cali Swimmy finally meet.

And so do their lovely assistants, Meg and Maayan!

Photo credit: Maayan

Needless to say, there was a lot of chatter, a lot of laughing, and not a lot of sleep that night.

Next blog post: The oh-so-EPIC Thursday adventures.