Finishing LA and San Francisco

Tuesday Morning and a late start with brunch at Wholefoods - Lobster Bisque and make your own salad and off to the Griffths Park Observatory which sits atop the Hollywood Hills

There was a great show in the Planetarium about water and the universe. and the exhibitions were all quite interesting.

I head to Burbank (Studio City) for the Leno Show taping. Despite the queuing for 60 minutes it was really good fun. The guests were Laurent Graham and Ken Jeong (I knew neither). His band is awesome and the most interesting part is that it is recorded directly to tape with no retakes and all mistakes are left in. Leno's pre show audience monologue was very funny and the show was very enjoyable.

My back has been giving me some trouble so I arranged to have a remedial massage which turns out to be near the Leno Show taping so have a one hour massage and feel much better as I head back to the hotel with a light meal in a nearby restaurant.

No more tickets or bad news and I find out that I should not have been booked so have to plead my case - Yawn

Next morning I had planned to leave for San Francisco at 06:00 but don't hit the road till 08:00. Bad planning on my part - I had wanted to drive up the coastal road for the scenic beauty but only found out the night before that this was around 10 hours versus the six plus hours straight up the freeway. I opt for the less driving option!!

Stopping a few times along the way I reach the Gilroy Premium Outlet Centre around 15:00 and spend two hours there. Now I don't really need or want much so have to thank my kids and kids-in-law for providing reasons to go to outlet centres. Polo Kids, Osh Kosh Kids, Hilfiger Kids and more relieve my need for retail therapy.

The hotel I booked is in Japantown - unbelievably accurately named. Apart from the hotel being called the Kabuki Hotel there would be 50 Japanese Restaurants of all types immediately surrounding the hotel. A tired puppy has a Ramen Soup and an early night.

Next day, a rather chilly one for which I have not packed clothes, I end up doing things I have done before: Pier 39, Sausalito Galleries, Union Square and a lot of general walking. I buy a ticket to Alcatraz for Sunday morning which is the firs available. Haven't done this for many many years so it has some appeal. Breakfast/Lunch taken care of.

Well its Thursday night and all is good in the world. Blog soon and hope all are well.
XX David