San Francisco Marina

“Water is life's mater and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water.” 

- Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

Our first full day in the city Elijah and I took the BART (commuter train) into town.  We went down to the Embarcadero (the walk along the piers) and then eventually to Pier 39 where we met his friend and his fiancee for dinner (best. salad. ever.).  After dinner we strolled on over to Fisherman's Wharf and eventually got to the Ghiradelli factory for dessert (mmm).  Here are some sights!

I never did end up taking a trolley ride - guess I better go back to SF soon!

Bay Bridge going into Oakland.

Coit Tower

One of my favorite things from SF.  This dude hides behind this fake bush and then jumps out and scares people walking by.  It is really hilarious.

Adorable sea lion!

This guy (gal?) was funny. He got in the water and started show boating - he also "yelled" at another sea lion in the water.

Elijah is almost the same size as the whale!

Hard Rock Pier 39

This place was cool - we made some mixes of our own. It smelled so amazing!

How could I not take a picture with this guy?

So there is an entire store on Pier 39 dedicated to left handed people - it was pretty cool.  Lots of funny things.  If it would not have been so expensive in there I would have bought myself some left handed things!

If you pick this up right handed and drink out of it, there is a hole and it will spill the contents on you!

Alcatraz Island from the end of Pier 39.

Open your eyes, man!

Little bit windy!

Fisherman's Wharf!

Yeah, they just smash these babies open right there.  Talk about fresh!

So I saw this sign, thought it was hilarious and took a picture.  I did not realize it was for the Giants (who are about to win the World Series)!

Next up: chocolate goodness!

More Hollywood Glamour!

“Hollywood is a place where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul.” 

- Marilyn Monroe

We spent a good portion of the day walking around Hollywood, here are some sights!

Hollywood Boulevard!

Frederick's of Hollywood - IN Hollywood! No, I did not go in - thought that may be awkward what with the little brother and all.

Hard Rock Hollywood =)

Capitol Records building. 

Of course we walked along the star walk - ALL OF IT. It is seriously so long.  I have a ton of pictures of different stars - but won't bore you with them all.  Here is one of the cooler ones:

Had to get this one, of course! =) Indiana represent! 

We also went to Grauman's Chinese Theatre.  We didn't tour the inside or anything.  Honestly, it is not that exciting.  There were a couple of slabs that were cool, though. 

This one made me laugh - who knew Mr. Eastwood had such a funny bone!

Of course I had to get this one - being the HP freak that I am.

 

 

 

 

Outside the theatre's entrance.

These are called Chinese Heaven Dogs - and flank the sides of the entrance.

I wonder if anyone accepting one of these has ever had such a blank expression?

Clearly I am more cut out to win one! ;)

Here are some other randoms:

We really just wanted a picture with Jack the Pumpkin King - but this woman horned in on the action. Oh well!

I thought Brittany and Atlee might like this one of Jack the Pumpkin King!

I found this magnet, too.  Just thought I would end this post on a classy note! 

Blogs about San Francisco to come. Next destination: OREGON. =)

Just partying in Hollywood - No big thing!

"...And those Hollywood nights, in those Hollywood hills..." - Bob Seger (Hollywood Nights)

So the place we stayed in Los Angeles was more like a free hostel than a private residence - and it was awesome!  There were so many people staying with our host, Galen.  We met a lot of very nice people which made Elijah's first CS experience completely bad ass. 

The second night we were there I was supposed to go see an amazing band, The Harm, at a bar in Hollywood.  I wanted to show support for the band, so I invited the other CSers to come along for the ride.  Four of the other house guests decided to come along - Jade and Jodie (cousins from Quebec) and Nadja and Petra (friends from Slovenia).  We had a really great time!  Jade and Jodie invited a friend they met in San Francisco, Adel, which made our group seven strong (eight if you count Jade's fake glasses, which made it into several of the pictures).  

The lovely Jade and my lovely brother.

Jodie and I waiting to catch the metro before the concert - and yes, she is petting me.

This is a very flattering picture of the two of them, agree?

The one and only Jason McKeever taught me the benefits of upside down photographs - which I passed on to Jade.

The glasses really complimented my outfit.

This is Adel - without whom I would not have met some famous faces later that night.

Sibling love =)

We are straight out of the Carmen Electra workout video.

Hooray - they took a normal one!

Poor Adel...

So this is what a Hollywood martini looks like.  Much like a normal Indiana martini - except it is $10 DURING HAPPY HOUR.

The one and only Scott Goldbaum, singer/guitarist extraordinaire for The Harm!

The Harm = total bad assery!

I put this picture up for one reason: right before I took it I was like, I cannot get a good shot because of this dude with freaking porcupine hair!  Look who it was...

Ryan Cabrera. Don't remember him?  He dated Ashlee Simpson and had a song called "On the Way Down."

Oh, hello Christopher Mintz-Plasse (aka McLovin)!

The one...the only...SCOTT GOLDBAUM! haha...Seriously though, he was a very nice guy and the music was fabtastical.  When he blows up to be famous - I can say I met him and such things.

Post show at the metro station - the girls in the back are Petra and Nadja.  Such a fun night!

Elijah's bed the first night - night two he slept in a recliner because there were THIRTEEN people in that loft.

My sleeping surface.  Yes, it is a giant bean bag.  Yes, it was amazing.

Galen - world class host.  Thanks for everything, good sir!