Our Roadtrip to SAN FRANCISO
FRIDAY
We left Sherman Oaks at 6.30am. Our first stop was Santa Barbara, where we had a trashy breakfast at Sambo’s on the beach before it started raining. In fact, it rained on and off most of the way to SF.
Stop #2 was San Luis Obispo – The Madonna Inn
You really have to see this place with your own eyes to believe it! The website pictures had me intrigued a long time ago but being there is somethin’ else.
The dining room had hundreds of golden ornate cherubs attached to each flowering chandelier; lattice-work of fairy lights hanging everywhere, carved doorways… rock walls and waterfalls, the deep burgundy and candy pink vinyl upholstery …
We had cherry pie in the Copper Café waiting for the rain to calm down and I would’ve taken a photo of the PINK sugar, had there not been so many people around… Eddie snapped up this pic of the men’s restroom urinal – a rock waterfall, of course.
Stop 3: Cambria. This is a cute and quaint artsy-crafty village. We visited an Antiques centre where Eddie found a really nice Pebbles Golden Book.
‘The Video Kid’ – a sign in Cambria
The Pacific Coast Highway had some trully awesome views in spite of the rain and cold winds.
Maybe the drop in temperature was why we were needing restroom stops every half hour….More photo opportunities, of course.
Eddie and giant cactus
A major highlight of the coastal drive had to be the Elephant Seals near San Simeon.
click on pics above to enlarge
There were bodies on that stretch of beach as far as the eye could see. These big-ass seals were groaning, grunting, barking, burping (and emitting some stinky smells) while they nestled against each other, fought, smooched, slept, waddled…. A truly amazing spectacle.
Our next stop around 5.30pm was Monterey‘s Fisherman Wharf. We didn’t stay long. Walked around the wharf to stretch our legs and take in the sea air, had some fresh oysters and shrimp.
Santa Cruz: First we checked out the Boardwalk’s seemingly unloved carnival attractions and rollercoasters. (Where are all the people?) Then we drove to Downtown Santa Cruz and got lost. After getting some bogus directions from a guy in a store, we found ourselves back on Hwy 1 (when really we were looking for Hwy 17 – which leads to the 101). Ah, what’s a few extra hours when you’ve already been on the road for about 10?
We arrived in San Francisco around 8.30pm.
According to the Time-Out guide The Phoenix Hotel is a funky hotel located in the unfunky area of Tenderloin near the red-light district. Having lived IN a red-light district (Kings Cross, Sydney) this was no big deal to us. If Johnny Depp, Ziggy Marley and JFK Jr. have stayed at the Phoenix then it must be OK, right?
After seeing our room, we both agreed this is the FUNKiest hotel ever. Everything on the brochure is true. Our room was brightly colored with a massive Gauguin-style painting on the wall, bamboo furniture and leopard print cushions. There was even a bamboo xylophone …
But let me backtrack a bit and mention the “creative concierge services” (as per the hotel brochure). When we first arrived at the reception desk, we were both expecting to find your typical dude in a suit but this guy looked like a member of Japan or Soft Cell (80′s new wave). As matter of fact, so did the concierge who relieved him the next day.
These guys could tell you where to hang out depending on your scene and tastes. And they can also book you a “rock n roll hairstylist” for your hotel room should you need one.
SATURDAY
Some general observations about San Francisco:
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Coming from L.A., San Francisco feels like a real CITY!
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It feels like a cross between New York and Sydney. There are people walking on the streets, most of the architecture and streets are stunningly photogenic
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There are lots of scooters!
- There is not enough parking for cars.
- The streets are a nightmare to navigate through by car. Just when you think you have your directions sorted out, you end up stuck with one-way streets and no-left-turns everywhere you go. We were getting lost A LOT.
- San Francisco is overwhelmingly STEEP. There are streets sloped at 40 degree angles. (SF needs escalators like in Mid-Levels, Hong Kong) Some super stunning views of the city and surrounding bay.
- San Francisco doesn’t feel Californian. Not only the cooler weather, also the urban residential feel and the fact you could get around on foot – which we like!
ONE day is not really enough time to get to know a city. We only managed to skim the surface of Union Square, Chinatown, then drove out to Haight-Ashbury, spending several hours there and way too much money.
Blue Demon bag spotted in a gift-shop on Haight.
And how could we resist visiting SF’s Amoeba Music store?
Eddie: And yes, Amoeba on Haight were playing Jefferson Airplane as we shopped! Pity we miss El Vez who is appearing day after we leave.(tomorrow – Cinco de Mayo)
Haight was great for shopping!
We also drove through Castro (the Gay and Lesbian neighbourhood) which was like a giant Oxford Street with lots of rainbow flags; Mission (busy Latino nieghbourhood); spent some time in Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach…
What’s with the WINDMILL in Golden Gate Park?
Dinner at the Tonga Room!
It was too dark to take good pictures but believe me, this was a tikiphile’s dream come true. (alongside Disneyland’s Enchanted Tiki Room)
Plusses: The Polynesian Theme interior was great. Lots of thatched huts. In the middle of the restaurant was a pool. Every so often, there were sounds of thunder and fake lightning flashes up above … followed by RAIN. Yes, rain. i,e. water falling from the celing and into the pool. And in the pool, there was a floating RAFT from which the covers band performed!
Minuses: The food and cocktails were overpriced and we both felt that the supreme tackiness was wasted on the very mature yuppie ‘Nob Hill’ crowd.
Eddie: A great Tiki experience! This place actually gives the Madonna Inn a run for its money in cheesiness. Now if only the house band were dressed in grass skirts and played ‘Rock-a-Hula Baby’…ah well.
On his knees, Eddie gives thanks to the god of the Tonga Room
(after several drinks)
Reviews of the Tonga Room
After dinner, we wobbled down to the movie theatre and saw Identity. Go see it! This is a great movie. Scary and clever.
Eddie: Not only is this movie truly great, it’s inspired. Also, we sat through trailers for Charlie’s Angels 2, X-Men 2, The Italian Job (they’ve gotta be kidding!) and (God help us) S.W.A.T. (!) Yep, every trailer we saw was based on a crap TV show, or an existing movie or comic book. Personally, I’m refusing to spend money and support an lazy industry that’s totally run out of ideas. Forget X-Men - go see Identity.
TODAY
… was Golden Gate Bridge day.
The Verdict: OK, it’s big and grand and famous, but (no offense to San Franciscans) the Sydney Harbour Bridge is MUCH more magnificent.
Eddie: Yeah, sorry San Fran…and I say this without bias, as I’m not from Sydney…but Lili’s right – there is nothing like Sydney Harbour.
Today, we also managed to get lost THREE times.
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We were looking for the entrance to the Presidio Park (GG Bridge), took a wrong turn and ended up on the 101, then panicked and exited onto the 1 and got lost in Sunset…
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On the way out of SF, we took a wrong turn and ended up north in San Rafael (when we should have been going south)
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Entering L.A., we ended up on the 134 East towards Glendale…
Eddie: So who was navigating? 
But we’re back now. It was fun. And we’d do it again! 
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