Rookie in the city, I gotta get my groove back!

What a day!! My parents just dropped me off at the hostel a bit ago and are trying to get out of the city (5:30pm), which is apparently where everyone else is headed too as they are at a standstill in traffic somewhere! They will have had an even longer day than I had!
My day started with an alarm clock going off. I sat up and listened because it didn't sound like mine but as I listened I thought, that sounds alot like my other travel alarm clock (how many does one need you ask?! Oh wait, its Karen you say!), packed deeply into my backpack. Oh I felt so bad! I had to turn my cell phone on to use the light to find the little bag packed within my big bag and turn the silly thing off! At that point I decided I might as well get up. I got all dressed and packed for the day and headed downstairs to breakfast.

Today was make your own pancake day! Its much harder than you think to do that when you've got old industrial style pans and old partly working stove top burners. It was pretty funny. Mine turned into a sad little crepe style mess, I scraped mine into the garbage. About that time a couple walked in and decided to give it a go and they had about as much luck. It was hilarious! I finally got the second one going better. Tomorrow I'll have oatmeal and call it a day :)
I walked across the street to the liquor store/market place and found that he has everything in there. Its a regular grocery store, larger than what I was expecting so I can go get some groceries there for the coming days.
Mom and Dad and Matt looked pretty bright eyed and bushy tailed when they appeared for their attempt at pancakes. I just giggled. We ate later!

I wanted to show them my walking tour of part of the city so that's what we did. I was starting to get into my city groove again today. It just took a day to happen. Knowing the streets and how to manage the city people and food etc. We walked through China town again today (I finally got to have a custard pie at Far East Bakery! Yummy!)and then down Columbus through North Beach (mom had a Canoli at Mara's Bakery~one of my favorite stops) then took a trip UP to Coit Tower from Washington Square. Oh my goodness, hill climb!! It was worth the work to get there, especially as the city was so warm and sunny again today, great views.
After all that work we walked back to Columbus and hill climbed up Lombard street so mother could see the crookedest street in San Francisco. We walked alot today. By this time we were hungry and tired so we wandered down the hill to Fishermans Wharf area and had an amazing lunch. You would not believe this place today either. Usually its people as far as the eye can see (Guven I said that for you). No chance of walking anywhere in a hurry etc but today was just right. Not too many people and the food vendors were all open and serving great food!
I had a spicy fish sandwich, oh man it was good!! Fresh bread and fresh cut jalapenos. Wow.

After our lunch we caught the Powell/Mason cable car back to Union Square. That was great fun. No lines!! Where was everyone today?! We got choice seats and had a fun ride up the hills and down the other side.
Once we made it to the square we sat and basked in the sun for a bit before we decided to pick up the car and drive to Muir Woods. I mean, why not?! We drove through the city (which I've got figured out now) and over the Golden Gate Bridge, my first time driving over it too by the way! Then on to Muir Woods. What a beautiful place that is! I am glad I did the drive, now I can say I've been there and hiked it before I lead a tour there next week! Ha! That would be about typical though wouldn't it?!
It was a perfect temp in the trees today and the sun was out. What a nice place. I think I'll enjoy going there on tours. I'll get my forest fix and its an easier drive than Yosemite so it won't be as stressful.
After all of that we drove back into the city and I dropped myself off at the hostel and dad took over the driving. They just now got onto the bridge (6:37pm). I started this typing an hour ago. My mom just text me that they were finally moving. Those guys will be happy to pull over and take a break in a little bit I'm guessing.
They were all ready to leave the city I think. It's just a tough place to be when you're used to parking your car in front of your door and having a gas station on every corner and things us country folks take for granted.
You have to put your city face on and just go for it. Ditch the car and get some good walking shoes (cute heels!!). Tomorrow I'm a city person. I'll catch the bus to the office and start training on the phones doing reservations. And thus it will begin...the summer of Karen (I've said that once before I'm sure of it!)