So yeah as the saying goes it does happen. I can't believe it. I fell in love with the San Francisco insane. I love it miss and made some incredible friends there. I think I've covered everybody in previous blog posts but theres one person that still needs a lot of gratitude.
Tony's been my support and anchor throughout most of my year here in San Francisco. He's helped me grow in so many ways that I could have only imagined before. Times got rough for both of us and we stuck by each other. Most of my time in San Francisco was spent with tony and I cant wait for him to come to Ireland. He helped me to the airport (with all the crap I have) and when I got into line for security, I was gurnin' like a baby. Thanks for everything Tony, I really will miss you and the Ewok memories and amazing times that we shared will never be forgotten. I'll be back :)
As for San Francisco, I am keeping my heart there … that way I do have to return to such a beautiful city. I'm not done with it and its not done with me. See you soon San Francisco!
Went to Santa Cruz Beach Board walk... pretty cool place... kinda like Portrush. Arcades, tickets, amusements, rides, roller coasters (an 85 year old roller coaster at that), candy floss, ice cream, funnelcakes (yum) ... Infact its better than Portrush. Took Caltrain from San Francico to San Jose then took an easy ride on the bus. Anyway the pictures pretty much say it all... fun fun fun ... !
Last weekend, which was Jo's last day in San Francisco, I thought it was finally time to visit Alcatraz Island. Jo, Dave and myself all went across to the penitentiary prison and of what fun we had. First off, for those who've never heard of Alcatraz is an island, located 1.4 miles from San Francisco. We took a ferry across to the prison. It was cool, you could just walk around the grounds and see things like what the prisoners did when they where bored etc. It was also great to see what you saw in the movies, got you geared up to watch 'em too like 'The Rock' and 'Escape from Alcatraz'. There was an audio tour which guided you through the cell blocks but wow was it intense it was realistic with sound effects and you walked around the cell blocks hearing a range of different stories that went on in that very room ranging from crazy escape attempts to mad prisoners rioting ... it was an unreal tour and I could probably do it again! Anyway enough blabbing on ... here's some pictures ... check out the view of the bay ... and the solitary confinement.
Wow...well its been a year at Extranomical...what a year! Where'd the time go? It flew in... It feels like I just arrived here yesterday :( I've grown so much as a person, I wouldn't know where to begin describing. This has been a great experience for me and it's sad that it has come to an end. Anyway my last day of work was on Friday ( July 31st)... And its now VACATION! woohooo! I got a week in San Francisco hanging with the homies that haven't left yet, then a East Coast to Philadelphia ... then I hit the heat in Arizona for Chelsea's Birthday(its gonna be HOT) in Phoenix, then Tucson with some friends from camp (hopefully) then to Las Vegas once more (with Chelsea) then last stop is Miami were the beaches are at :) I'll keep you posted if I manage to have some free time at the airports :)
There is a few things I would like to say before I take off gallivanting around San Francisco. I've left the Vantaggio ... I'm not the only one to be checking out this weekend... all of my Family there have left... and the 'next generation' of students have arrived. We had a party on Friday ... super fun drunk times ... like always ... the party at Vantaggio was off the hook ... great food and great drink and great times. The party started great ... Roly made some GREAT pasta... and then Jo had made her famous Sangria ... the Irish in the Vantaggio ... now 4 of us, decided to start singing (like the Irish do after they've had a few) ... then we're greeted with two guys ... in Uniform ... haha yep the cops. There's a saying somewhere that goes something like 'you know the party is good if the cops show up' so yeah... we were too loud apparently ... anyway they left... and it was all good, the party still continued... everyone got happy VERY happy... some even fell asleep because they were so happy! Those who where still awake decided to go to the Temple Bar (which was only a block away) for a karaoke sing song. I hadn't sang at Karaoke since I've been in San Francisco... I love it :) anyway after that it was time to call it a night ... I had to check out of the Vantaggio and go to Alcatraz (that's a post to follow) the next day...
Just a few words now... sob...
Extranomical Adventures - Thanks guys, I had a great year and met a lot of really great people. It was a pleasure working with everyone there and I will miss you all... I hope that my job in the future involves as many cool people as you guys. Your support throughout the year has been great and the opportunities provided I feel are once in a life time. Thanks a lot to everyone at Extranomical.
Vantaggio Suites - My main home throughout my stay... I made lots of friends there to whom are friends for life... I've already mentioned my goodbyes as all my really close friends have already returned to there home countries... First of all, Jo, thank you so much for being a great friend, you're a great person, I will miss you but I will see you you are a friend for life and I'm coming to Venice to see you soon! (you're coming to Belfast too). I love you Jo! Then the staff at the front desk, Megan, one of my chums... a learned a lot from her and times did get tough through the year ... we helped each other out... thanks Megan! Sen, (works the grave yard at Vantaggio) I would come home from a night out on the piss and have serious drunken conversations(he'd be sober of course) with sen... Funny times!
Dave - My roommate for the year. Being totally honest when I say this, I don't think I would've asked for a better roommate. You where extremely understanding and it was great hanging out and talking with you. We'll hang out one last time before I leave San Francisco. Thanks Dave!
So I've checked out of the Vantaggio. My closest friend, Tony, has provided me with a room for a week. So I got somewhere comfortable to sleep for a week. :)
Like I said the next post will be Alcatraz... but below are the pictures from the parteee!
Ok one of my really close friends, Chrissi, left San Francisco last month. She returned to her home country as her year at Extranomical adventures had came to and end. I miss her so much, she was a really good friend and i wish her all the best for the future...and of course I'll be making the effort to visit her in Germany! :D So Long Chrissi...
Bettina and Marie say farwell... Bettina, from Switzerland and Marie from France said goodbye and headed on to exciting adventures... Marie went back to Marcielle and Bettina to Argentina. We had a sushi party to mark their leaving, sushi, booze and fun times(lots of it). Then we had lunch in an amazing Thai restaurant before heading to Bi-Rite for ice cream :)... I'll miss you guys...
Naomh Drops In...
Naomh had finished school in Montana, where she was participating in the BEI programme for her placement year, and was then living in Livermore with her friend Kathleen. Livermore's about 30 minutes to an hour away via BART. Anyway, Naomh and Kathleen came into San Francisco for the day. I showed her around some places in the City while we had a major catch up, before running out of time and taking her back to the BART station. It was fun seeing a familiar face :D
Chelsea visits for a weekend...
Chelsea FINALLY came for a weekend in San Francisco. She came with her friends earlier in the year and she did the typical touristy stuff such as Fisherman's wharf, golden gate bridge and the cable car (which i still haven't managed to do yet). I decided to take her to a few places which are hidden in the city...and some places she wanted to go. :) She arrived Friday night, we went to 'SF's Best Drag Show', which was great fun! The next day we wandered around and hung out in the park before going to watch the Disney Pixar movie, UP! in 3D, it was FAN-BLOOMIN'-TASTIC! Worth a look! She left sunday afternoon. Again it was fresh to see her, I'll see her again in August in my travels after my work here :D
After friends leaving and friends visiting, I'm starting to realise that my time here in San Francisco is drawing to an end this time round ... I've got 6 weeks left ... I've made some really cool friends here and I'm going to make the most of the time left here...but that's another blog entry... For those back home ... I'll see yas all soon :D
I can trust my friends. These people force me to examine, encourage me to grow
Yesterday I was working the evening shift, so I didn't have to work the evening shift, I awoke at around 10am. By 10:30 I was just laying on my bed, Justine, was on Dave's bed, her and I were just chatting while i was doing my thing on the internet, facebooking and checking the emails and whatever...then all of a sudden there's a gentle shake. This 'shake' was an earthquake! HA i could barely feel so it wasn't extreme but Justine felt it too(so i wasn't crazy and imagining things). I checked it out on google, and low and behold. it measured 4.3 so it was just a minor tremor, and the details can be seen here! It wasn't that scary, it was just gentle, i did get a little bit excited :)
I don't remember telling you guys that I seen my first celeb? Well it was a few weeks ago and I guess I didn't really have the chance to blog back when it happened. But anyway so I was at a restaurant in the Mission District having breakfast at a place called Boogaloos, and I sat down, and i said to Tony... i think i just saw my first celebrity in San Francisco, look left....and tony seen him... and recognised him too but we couldn't put a name to his face... he had just finished his breakfast... I could remember him having his own sitcom, 'The War at Home'... and I'd seen him in a few episode's of 'Friends' too you may also have recognised him in 'Prison Break' too... don't too excited he isn't A-list. So I asked the waitress (after he left) if she recognised him... she couldn't remember his name either! By this stage it's bugging me... so she asks her colleague and well he knew his name. Michael Rapaport! I heard it and obviously realised... a lot of people would hear the name and not recognise it until they see him...so yeah...I took the liberty to Google him for you :)
My one of my dearest bested friends, Chelsea is in town, so im off to meet and greet her and her friends :) The sun is finally out and I love ittttttttttttttt :D
SOOOOOOOOOO I thought that the fireworks where at the Golden Gate Bridge - They weren't... BUZZ KILL - well no... They where down at the Oakland Bay Bridge - they where still awesome lots of people and fun to be had... sky's were clear - no fog :D woohooo :D Chrissi, Ina, Tony and I Headed for the Embarcadero - We had our little flasks filled with happy juice we drank alot - Anyway Here are the pics...
