Hey!
I got up at 5.45am to catch a bus at 6.30 from LA to San Francisco which didnt actually turn up until God Damn 8.15!!! I was sooooo annoyed!! But nevermind, it was a sleeper coach so I just curled up on one of the `beds` and snoozed my way to San Fran. My first day here I took a walk down to the bay and walked around for a bit. Checking out the piers and avoiding the seagulls!! I was planning on buying a ticket to see Alcatraz for the next day, but decided just to go over that afternoon! It was a nice ferry ride over and I even saw the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time! There were some amazing views of the city and the bridges from the island but other than that it was just a prison to me. I was given a headset and walked around listening to an audio commentary. I saw Al Capone`s cell and a couple of cells where they tunnelled out in 1962. There was a riot then and the marines dropped gas canisters and stuff through the ceiling to try and gain control and you could still see the scars in the concrete where they exploded. After 2 and a half hours exploring the island and cell house I hopped on the ferry back over to the city. I then walked down to Pier 39 and perused the gift shops for a while. There was a Canine Lovers shop with loads of cute little doggy things. They had magnets, keyrings, statues posters and even Christmas tree ornaments of all the breeds. They also had the obvious doggy couture with designer leads and collars etc. I checked out a candy store with all the Harry Potter sweets, inc. those every flavour beans and chocolate frogs but they were expensive!! Another chocolate shop I went into had chocolate pasta and chocolate coated salted crisps!! People will buy anything if its chocolate aiy! I resisted the gorgeous smells though and left without a thing!
The next day I tormented myself by walking around Macys and Bloomingdales and all the other shops in the city. Checking out Chinatown on the way back to the hostel. Those pictures of steep streets in San Fran are in no way an exaggeration!! The street next to my hostel is soo steep they had to put stairs in instead of normal pavements! And there are cars parked on these inclines, my god I`d be way too scared to leave my car on a street that steep! There are signs on them all with tips on how to prevent rollaways - make sure you put your brakes on!! When I got back i collapsed on my bed for a bit before heading downstair to the common room for free beer and a spot of beer pong! It is such a weird drinking game which is apparently very popular at Uni over here. You line up 6 cups in a triangle each with a bit of beer in the bottom at each side of a table. You then have to throw or bounce a pingpong ball into the cups, when you get one in that team has to drink the beer in the cup and then remove it. Whoevers beer is gone first loses and has to drink what is left of the winners. It was a good laugh whiel it lasted and some of them did last for ages!!
Today I walked around to see what I hadnt yet. I took in the sights of City Hall and United Nations walk, Alamo Square and Postcard row, the marina and the Golden Gate Bridge and finally Lombard Street - the crookedest street in San Fran. This street snakes down literally in about 4 or 5 S bends all the way to the bottom. I walked miles today, I had a pedometer on and I clocked up almost 25,000 steps! Thats one hell of a lot in 6 hours!! I`ve just had my free meal at the hostel - mexican tortillas, and am about to head upstairs to fill in my paper journal and repack before heading back to LA tomorrow to meet my parents, woohoo!!! I havent seen anyone in 11mths, its going to be sooo strange!!!!

I`ll be home in 3 weeks!!

Sarah xx