San Francisco Take 2.

My friend Sara and I decided to visit San Francisco before we went home as we loved it so much the first time and it meant that we could also see our friend Kim one last time before we had to fly back to Europe! 

11 June 2014

On our first day in the city we went to the Ferry Building Marketplace which is a really cool place to eat and drink. There are many different stalls and shops all offering different things and I got some delicious ice cream from Humphry Slocombe. We then walked to Pier 39 where we had a look around and then up to Ghirardelli Square to check out the chocolate. Afterwards I had arranged to meet up with a couple of American cousins for dinner so we went to Chinatown to meet them and have dinner. The place was called X&Y, a small traditional restaurant, but it had great food! I was so pleased with myself that I actually used chopsticks for the whole meal, one of the things I learnt in America! After we had eaten and caught up we went to get Gelato and then we parted ways and headed back to Kim's house.

The Ferry Building

12 June 2014

On our second day we went to Berkeley with Kim and her boyfriend. We went to Amoeba, a renowned record store and also saw the university. We got a hot dog from Top Dog and then I got a Mint Chocolate Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich from Cream. On the drive back to Kim's house we stopped at a viewing point which had an amazing view of the foggy city.

View of San Francisco

13 June 2014

We got the bus to Haight Ashbury and then walked to Golden Gate Park where we saw the Observatory of Flowers. We sat down and relaxed for a while and then decided to go to Bubba Gump for dinner at Pier 39. 

Observatory of Flowers

Coit Tower

Seagull at Pier 39

Sunset in the Foggy City

Sea Lions at Pier 39

Bubba Gump

Bubba's After the Storm "Bucket of Boat Trash"

14 June 2014

Before our flight back to Long Beach we had a full day with Kim and her mum as we went to Sutro Heights Park. In 1894 a huge public swimming baths was built right next to the coast which could hold 10,000 people at a time. Water from the ocean was used to fill the pools and the owner wanted the Baths to be educational as well as recreational. The Baths, along with Cliff House, which overlooked them, attracted a huge number of visitors in the beginning, however it was not ultimately successful and its popularity dwindled. There was a fire in 1966 which destroyed the buildings and all that remains are ruins, in a pretty impressive setting.

The remains of Sutro Baths

Birds

Fishing

Heart-shaped rock formation

Abandoned Staircase

View of the Golden Gate Bridge

We took a look around the other side of the cliff and saw this massive beach.

We then went to have some clam chowder on Pier 39 before heading to the airport to catch our flight back to Long Beach. 

Finally having clam chowder

That was the last trip of my time in America, the most amazing year, I couldn't have asked for a better time! I can't believe its over but now onto the next thing, finishing my degree back in Hull! Thank you for reading over the past year!

That's all folks!

The End.

New York, New York! Day 6: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park.

4 June 2014

On our final full day in NYC we went to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. There was an exhibition of costumes and another highlight was seeing the famous pieces of Vincent van Gogh. The museum was so big and like a maze; so much so that we struggled to find our way out and had to ask several staff members to help us! The rooftop of the museum was also impressive, it had an interesting design and great views over a very green Central Park and Manhattan. You can get a drink, relax and enjoy the view.

The Met

View of Manhattan from the roof of the Met

Rooftop Garden

Vincent van Gogh in the Met

After getting lunch we walked through Central Park to see the parts we hadn't seen properly the day we cycled around. We saw the Alice in Wonderland statue, the Conservatory Water boat pond, the "Imagine" memorial for John Lennon and the Bethesda Fountain and Terrace which we had already seen but wanted to go to again.

Alice in Wonderland Statue, Central Park

Conservatory Water, Central Park

The Boathouse at Central Park

Bethesda Terrace, Central Park

Staircase of Bethesda Terrace

Me in Central Park

Boats

Strawberry Fields "Imagine" Memorial for John Lennon

After Central Park we went to the Empire State Building to go on the SkyRide which was included in our NYPass. It wasn't worth the time it took to go and the experience needs updating so I wouldn't recommend it unless it changes. We then got dinner at a food market nearby where they had really cool street food trucks and I had a great pizza! We headed to Times Square and then back to the apartment to prepare to fly back to Long Beach the next day!

NYC was amazing, one of my favourite places I went to in the USA and I can't wait to get back there one day to see more of the city!

Just one more post and then it is officially the end of my year abroad blog! The next and final one will be on my second trip to San Francisco!

New York, New York! Day 5: The Guggenheim and "The Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway.

3 June 2014

Day 5 was quieter, we went to The Guggenheim Museum which was impressive. I was more intrigued by the unusual architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright than the Italian Futurism art exhibition inside but that was very interesting too! By the time we had finished there it was time for lunch. We wandered for a while, not seeming to come across anywhere at all to eat in the area, then a nice man stopped us (we obviously looked like confused tourists) and he told us about a lovely place just down the street. We were thankful and so very very hungry. After lunch we went to Times Square to buy tickets for a Broadway show. We got them for Phantom of the Opera that night. We didn't have enough time before the show to go far so we went to Madame Tussauds in Times Square as it was included in our NYPass. It wasn't very good but it filled the time.

The Guggenheim Museum

Inside the Guggenheim

When we got to the theatre we were surprised at how good our seats were, we were in the stalls, pretty close to the front and the show was great!

Waiting for The Phantom of the Opera to begin

The Phantom of the Opera

Once we got back to our apartment we went to the roof of our building. There was a really great view of Manhattan from there which was a nice surprise!

One more to go!

New York, New York! Day 4: The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Wall Street, The Brooklyn Bridge and The Empire State Building.

2 June 2014

Day 4 in NYC was one of the busiest. We left our apartment early to get the subway to lower Manhattan to catch a ferry to The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We didn't have to wait long until we were on our way to the famous statue which was completed in 1886. It was great to not only see the iconic landmark up close but also to see the Manhattan skyline!

Sailing to the Statue of Liberty

Me with the Statue of Liberty!

The Statue of Liberty

Sara, Sonnee and I with the Statue of Liberty

View of Manhattan from Liberty Island

From the Statue of Liberty the boat took us to Ellis Island which was really interesting to see given its history. Unfortunately many artefacts were not on show after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. However, it was still great to read about the place where millions of immigrants have passed through, and the island also had amazing views of the city!

On the boat to Ellis Island

Ellis Island

Inside

View of Manhattan from Ellis Island

When we arrived back to Manhattan we walked to see the "Charging Bull," Trinity Church and Wall Street. The church was very impressive, even the doors were decorated in fine detail and the coloured materials that hung from end to end of the building brought out the colours of the stained glass windows, making it even more striking. The church is at the Wall Street and Broadway intersection and so can be seen down the street. Wall Street itself is narrow, and it seemed small for a place which is known for its finances and power.

Charging Bull

Trinity Church

Inside Trinity Church

Wall Street

New York Stock Exchange

Wall Street, with Trinity Church at the far end

We then walked alongside the East River to the Brooklyn Bridge. We were tired but I was determined to walk to the middle of the bridge so I quickly went to take a photo!

Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge

We then decided to go to the Empire State Building and along the way we saw the Flatiron building while the sun was setting. After getting dinner, and a few too many queues on the way up, we were at the top of the Empire State which was really cool. It was amazing to be in such an iconic building, however I actually preferred the Top of the Rock for its views as you could see both Central Park and the Empire State and we didn't have to wait as long, but it did have a good view of Times Square and the Chrysler Building!

The Flatiron Building

The Empire State Building Lobby

View of the Chrysler Building from the Empire State

View of Times Square

Thanks for reading, two more shorter ones to go!