Hello from San Francisco - my first post in the US !!

[AussieDave]

I love this city - vibrant and busy as ever. And the weather has been glorious - my sister says she can't remember it being so nice so late in the year, and she's been here 20 years.

Went and saw an exhibition of Titanic artifacts today - very interesting !! Farmer's Market and Fisherman's Wharf tomorrow, whatever on Sunday, then off to Washington DC on Monday and New York next Friday - looking forward to that so much.

Hope y'all are behaving yourselves........

[BlueCollar]

1. I miss the City

Enjoy

[AussieDave]

19. I do every time I'm here - thank you

SF is one of my three favorite cities so far..........

[Random_Australian]

2. Are you going to be AmeriDave soon, or is this just a holiday?

ie. is this a permanent trip we're talking about?

[AussieDave]

18. Just a holiday, mate - I'll be back in December

just in time for summer - ya don't get rid of me that easily...........

[Bullwinkle925]

3. Hello and WELCOME!!

Enjoy the Farmer's Market tomorrow. I love it!!
Eat your way through the city and be embraced by the beauty of the Bay Area.
Have a wonderful trip.
I hope to visit your beautiful country some day.

[AussieDave]

20. I did indeed - it was wonderful

going back again the day before I fly home. There so much to do here and so little time......

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear AussieDave!

Behaving ourselves? You must be kidding!

Sounds like a fabulous trip..........have a blast, and take lots of picures!

Welcome to America!

[AussieDave]

23. Dear Peggy - thank you so much

I'm not much of a picture-taker but I'll do my best !!!!!!

[xchrom]

5. woo-hoo! enjoy your walkabout!!!

[AussieDave]

24. It WILL be a walkabout - it's what I do best !!!

Specially in NYC - so much to see.........

[Kutjara]

6. Welcome to the insane side of the Pacific.

The natives are usually friendly, but always strange. Keep your eyes open and your back to the wall. You're in dangerous country now.

[AussieDave]

25. It's been great so far, and everyone has been sooooo nice

They must all be Dems...........

[Auggie]

7. Welcome to the Bay Area AussieDave

Suggest you try Napa Valley if you can make it. The vines are changing color and the smell of fermented grapes is in the air. It's quite lovely here right now.

[AussieDave]

26. My brother and brother-in-law owned a resort on the Russian River

so I know the area rather well - it IS beautiful, specially with the leaves turning. A lovely part of the country.

[Arugula Latte]

8. Welcome to 'Murika!

I used to live in S.F. and loved it. Actually, I used to live in DC and loved it too (though not as intensely). There are many free attractions in DC, such as all of the Smithsonian Museums. New York is a sensory-overload kind of place -- very exciting.

[AussieDave]

28. Thank you so much - at any time I expect to see pictures of the Dear Leader

everywhere. It must have taken some soul-searching to leave SF, and DC would have been quite different. I've been to NYC twice before and have hardly scratched the surface.

[Arugula Latte]

49. Yes ... I remember watching fog-shrouded SF recede in my

rearview mirror as I drove across the Bay Bridge. I had a feeling of "why am I leaving this place?" but I was headed to grad school and thought I'd return promptly to the Bay Area...Life took a couple of twists and I stayed in DC for several years...I'm glad to be on the West Coast again, though, and Portland is a much easier place to raise a family than SF would have been.

[swimboy]

9. Hey! I'm glad you're here!

Have a great time and be sure to spend a little time at least misbehaving!

[AussieDave]

30. Heya swimboy - thanks mate, it's always good to come back

Last time was 2003 - a little later in the year than usual so this good weather is a bonus. As for misbehaving, I'll see what's up in NYC.........

[Haole Girl]

10. Behaving ourselves?

Sure...

Glad you like San Francisco...it's one of my favorite cities, too! And, your sister is right, usually the weather turns cold and damp by late October in the bay area...so you are lucky!

Hope the rest of your trip goes well!

[AussieDave]

31. Thank you KC2 - my sister just keeps pinching herself at the weather

I think it's supposed to be cooler after I go, so it'll probably be back to normal when I come back in two weeks.

[LeftyMom]

11. Hope you're having fun

Just so you know, San Francisco, Washington DC and New York are all full of great places to eat. If you don't need to buy new pants before you head home I will be shocked and disappointed.

[AussieDave]

32. Heya LeftyMom - thanks so much

the shorts I brought are already feeling a bit girdle-like - not that I'd know what wearing a girdle feels like - I'm just imagining it - just so's you know.........

[u4ic]

12. Hey AussieDave!

Haven't seen you around in awhile! Have a great vacation on this side of the pond!!




Behave ourselves???

[AussieDave]

33. G'day u4ic - yeah I've been keeping a low profile lately,

last-minute stuff for this vacation - it's all been good so far !!!!

[u4ic]

51. You've went from hot and sunny

to hot and sunny?

What about a REAL vacation experience. Come up here - it's snowing!!!



(and a balmy -9c)

[AussieDave]

52. It would be a hoot for a little while, but I couldn't live there

me and cold weather just don't mix.

The "good weather" bubble has burst and a cool change has come in, though it's still sunny, the temp dropped about 15 degrees, still better than rain I guess.

Off now to shop !!!

[Hell Hath No Fury]

13. You picked the perfect time to visit!

Our summers mostly suck but our falls are amazing! The weather has been exceptional -- especially at sunset when it has been very, very still and warm. Classic San Francisco EARTHQUAKE weather!

If the weather holds I would hit the beach and go see Sutro Baths and the new Cliff House. There are a handful of days you can actually enjoy the beach in this town -- take advantage of it!

[AussieDave]

21. I don't want to shock the natives - me in a pair of "budgie-smugglers" isn't a pretty sight

[sakabatou]

14. Whenever I go to the Metreon...

after I look at the cool stuff, I stay downstairs where the games are.

[AussieDave]

35. And there's a shitload of games there too - way over MY head.....

[sakabatou]

48. My fave, that's not on ground level

is the boxing game.

[mike_c]

15. c'mon up to Humboldt County...

...where the weather is just as beautiful but the traffic is nonexistent!

[AussieDave]

37. I think the furthest up the coast I've been is Mendocino,

though I'm not sure that's close to you at all - Humbolodt County sounds wonderful though...........

[LaPera]

45. It just keeps getting better up here in Humboldt!!

[Mz Pip]

16. Welcome!

THe new De Young museum is worth seeing if you have the time. Then walk around Golden Gate Park. THe weather should still be nice on Sunday.

Mz Pip

[AussieDave]

38. Thank you for that Mz Pip - I've been to GG Park but not the new

De Young - if I don't get to it this time I'll see if I can get sis to come with me when I come back.

[livetohike]

17. Welcome to California!

Have a great time in the states .

[AussieDave]

40. Thank you livetohike - I always do, in SPITE of the clowns

currently running the joint..........

[bigwillq]

22. WOO HOO!

Enjoy the country!

[AussieDave]

41. Heya bigwillq - thanks, mate

I surely will indeed !!!

[bridgit]

27. Yippe!! have fun...

http://www.sfbrewing.com

[AussieDave]

29. Isn't that place fantastic ?? I like the Albatross lager myself,

nothing fancy - straight-out grog to savor & get shit-faced by.

[GreenTea]

34. It is great...As the republicans try to put it down constantly...

"San Francisco values" which is simply, openness, caring about others & and our planet... with tolerance...Offering hope & help...Progressive NOT regressive!

[AussieDave]

42. Like that ad that John Hostettler (R-Naturally) in Indiana

has on trying to scare people about Nancy Pelosi bringing "San Francisco values" to the whole country - what is it about patriotism, courage, tolerance and love of family and country that he finds so scary ???

[bridgit]

36. you've got that abso-freak'n-lutely straight, friend, a great place...

to kick it & get yer little ole spit-face on, classic atmospherics

[AussieDave]

39. "spit-face" - even better !!!!

[bridgit]

43. heee, continue to enjoy, stay safe, take lots o'pics, feel under no obligation...

whatsoever while here to salute a damn thing, and have another round or two with me in mind

[AussieDave]

44. You got it - thanks !!!!

[LaPera]

46. My hometown - born & enjoyed...Thanks for your compliment from ALL of us Homies!

[SoCalDemGrrl]

47. If you get a chance, get over to Berkeley- Great Fun!!

[Arugula Latte]

50. I second that!

My alma mater --

Love that town!