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Here's our latest update, almost a week in. We seem to have just about recovered from jet lag. Whilst in SF we enjoyed (to varying degrees) climbing up and down the hills - saw the bendiest road called Lombard Street, saw all the trams and the tramps. There certainly seems to be a lot of begging going on, some completely in your face with placards that say, 'Lets be honest, I need money for beer!'. We managed to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge OK - although it was very foggy with the cloud and mist coming in from the Pacific Ocean - it looks so bleak out there that the flight onwards seems as though we will never come out into the sunshine of Fiji - but I'm sure we will. On Wednesday we went to Alcatraz, or 'The Rock', a short boat ride, but an inhospitable swim. Whilst on Alcy, we found out that there are in excess of 1 million visitors per year (our trip including audio tour was $16 each) and that the sea gulls on the island are protected in a bid to look after the environment - you can't even take a feather off the island. Interestingly enough however this didn't extend to the gull shite and if you were a victim of an exercising bird you were fully entitled to take that piece of fishy environmental excrement back with you. What an interesting dichotomy - on the one hand there's the 'SAVE THE SEAGULL Policy' and on the other there's the "WHAT HAS THE KYOTO AGREEMENT GOT TO DO WITH US? Policy'. I feel someone, perhaps I should, write to Arnie (as a government representative) to let him know that those car fumes and other pollutants provided by the consumer society are totally f'ing up the planet (including the seagulls on Alcatraz) - you know, maybe he could do a movie about it - he could be Samson the Seagull surviving the CO2 emissions and splatting on any car driver who takes an unecessary journey!?! Hmmn, on the other hand, I dont think Hollywood will buy into it, but perhpas I could get a UK lottery grant for it? In the evening we went to see Beach Blanket Babylon on Green Street. Another tortuous route of up and down hill gradients- however much we've tried to plan our walk around the city, it always seems that we find the steepest streets to climb up and the shallowest to walk down. Upon arrival, we're standing in the queue when two ladies from Sacremento appear with wine glasses in hand. Despite the fact they're as pissed as f*rts, they see through our thinly veiled/disguised accents to work out we're from Ireland? No, England we say. Ooh, but you're both so cute, they say. We strike up a conversation (sorry Barbara, not disimilar to The Racecourse incident), and they discover we're on a career break, having worked for 20+ years. No-way, they say, but you both look 25! 'Welcome to America', I say as a way of thanking them for their compliment. OK, before we get too carried away remember I did say they had a glass of orange juice in their hands. Their conversation remains animated, and they ask us where exactly we're from in the UK - as I attempt to put Northampton on the world map once more my heart sinks a little 'cos I realize that the brain cells in thier heads responsible for receiving this information are already giving up thier will to live, thanks to Californian Chardonnay. As we chat, people in the queue are giving us a wider berth - the ladies ask us where we're sitting (and I secretly pray its nowhere near them)? I rather Englishly give up this information all too easily and they trade where they are sitting but I'm the first to give a silent phew when I know that our friendship is going to be terminated within the next five minutes. Charged with this information, I know I can now enjoy the moment more, especially when they tell us a) we're so cute (they love our 'accents'), and b) they're concerned we wont understand the (political) american humour. All of a sudden I see an opportunity to introduce the subject of voting for George Dubya and the 'when is a mark on a voting slip not a mark' scenario? The joviality disappears - in fact there's a deathly hush - it's certainly a tumbleweed moment and I don't think they believe we're so cute anymore. To try and regain some charm, I mention the fact that it's all gone a bit quiet and one of the women seems to appreciate me mentioning this - she says that her and her friend don't share the same political views, but they have seen each other through several husbands - I appreciate the lifeline she's thrown me and grab it firmly with both hands by saying - 'The same one?' They quite flatly say no - I'm not sure they understand the British humour (well, mine - but I have my Dad to blame for that, I guess). To save myself one last time, I ask about the performance - turns out they've seen it several times and we're in for a treat. They were right, we'd recommend it to everyone. The singing was fantastic (not quite 'awesome', but very good all the same) and the costume changes quick and slick. The storyline had been kep very current (including all theat funny American political stuff) and the finale with the hat costumes WERE truly awesome, er I mean amazing. A great night out then that kept us fit with the walk there and back to the hotel. Since leaving SF we have had a much more relaxing time. Although it took us about 3 hours to drive 60 miles out of the city into the Napa valley, we are now staying at a small place called St Helena - this is, I guess what we were expecting California to be like - very hot and well, relaxing and fantastic (NB Mylo is great Californian driving music Mr Duffin). We've been up into the mountains and the lakes today, and this evening saw the Napa Valley Wine Train come past whilst we were dining at Taylors Refresher - a road side diner that serves good American food, beer and wine. I embarrased Helen (just like sending this email) by getting them to shout out that our order was for Frostie and Wonder Woman (hope you appreciate that Lisa). off to Yosemite today - no where booked just going with the wind! best wishes from us both helen and david
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