Day Two in The City

We all woke up at the crack of dawn this morning — me because I’m on Atlantic Time, and Johnny and Jodi because they’re normal. We hooked up with Steven and Stephen for breakfast, and were later joined by Dan and Daniel and Nick.

While the silverorange boys headed off to Monterey to hook up with the elusive Tom for lunch, Johnny and Jodi and I walked down Market Street to the Ferry Terminal, and took the ferry to Sausilito (a Dave Hyndman suggestion — thanks!). Once there we had fantastic lunch of sandwiches at Venice, followed by a candy orgy, fuelled by a broad selection of candies purchased from a bulk candy store that encouraged (against our disbelieving protests) free sampling.

The ferry experience, as Dave mentioned, is heightened by the presence of a full bar on the ferry, offering spirits, wine and beer. As most of our fellow tourists headed to the outdoor deck, we were left with the bar to ourselves, and had a glass of wine (beer for Johnny) on the way back to the city.

Back in the city, we managed to figure out the trolley car system (note to fellow travelers: if you take the ferry, your trolley ride is free — just get a transfer at the ferry terminal before you exit), and rode the entire length of Market Street to Castro Street, heart of the gay village.

Along Castro we had an excellent cup of coffee, met many well-tempered dogs, and were handed pamphlets by supporters of Kerry, Edwards, and Kucinich (it’s Super Tuesday here on Tuesday; listen to Main Street on that day for my report from the ground). We walked back down Market Street and stopped in at Crossroads, a used clothing store. I found an amazing pair of red, yellow and turquoise shoes which, alas, Johnny and Jodi vetoed the purchase of (in retrospect, the turquoise was a little too clown like). Jodi did, however, snag an excellent pair of red shoes and a pair of jeans.

Further along Market Street we found Get Lost Books, a fair to middling travel books store (with an above average selection of travel accessories), and then the pinacle of my shopping day, FLAX, which is. bar none, the best art supply store I’ve ever encountered. I bought an amazing fountain pen (there’s nothing like buying a new fountain pen to enliven the soul) and we headed on our way with minutes to close; I could have spent hours and hours more there.

Back on the trolley to Powell Street, a brief stop at the Apple Store (it opened this morning at 10 a.m. and when we passed by around 10:30 a.m. there were, quite literally, about 2,000 people in the line to get in; at 6:00 p.m. we walked right in the door) where I got to fondle the new mini iPod, and we’re back to our hotel.

The silverorange boys are, at this hour, missing in action, and we may be forced to head out for nighttime Maximum Fun without them.

Tomorrow Johnny and Jodi are, alas, back to Canada, but their absence will be salved by Oliver and Sophie when I travel up to Davis. More later.