SAN FRAN!!!

ok so as I just sat down to write this I realized that my camera is still in my locker in the ceramics lab at school =( So for now you just get a description of my trip but I will load pictures later (probably tomorrow). Waring- this is a LONG POST!! This is counting as my journal for the class.

Last Wednesday Jesse dropped me off at school at 5:45AM!!! Because we left school at 6am for SAN FRANCISCO!! For any of you who don't know, I am in a travel class this semester that takes the place of my internship credit for my major. We went to San Francisco to see museums and stuff. The Graphic Design class filled too fast but I was able to get a spot in the Painting one. I was a little worried at first because I wasn't familiar with the teachers or students going (other than my good friend Alyssa) but it turned out to be the best thing I ever did.

The drive to Reno was long and kind of boring but I got some good conversations in with my professors and made some friends in our van. We rolled into Reno at about 4pm- just in time to go through the Nevada Art Museum. It was pretty cool- Their exhibits they had were quite interesting and diverse, it was also good to get out and stretch my legs. After that we checked into our motel- which wasn't too shabby, other than the fact that out tub couldn't turn off. We all went to dinner at a buffet at one of the nicer hotels in town. We pigged out on everything from Chinese to roast beef and especially their dessert bar =) On the way back to the hotel my professor Bro. Griffin (who I will refer to from here on as "Griffin") needed to buy a belt.... I don't know why. I also need a toothbrush because i forgot mine at home so my other professor Sis. Jimison and I went into a grocery store next store where she bought a cute bunch of daffodils which stayed in the car in a water bottle for the rest of the trip.

The next morning we got up pretty early to head out to San Fran. We were going to stop in Sacramento on the way and see the Crocker Museum there but decided to drive straight though and catch it on the way back (which we never did). I got so giddy (can I use that word about myself) as we drove over the Bay Bridge and into the city- I forgot how long its been since I have been in a real big city and I have to admit I missed it dearly! There are just so many things to do and see and experience! I missed being the minority skin color, I missed having to keep my eye on my purse at all times, I missed not knowing what was around EVERY corner! That might sound weird to any of my Idaho friends reading this but maybe some of my Cali friends will understand =) I especially loved the tall buildings! San Fran is defiantly the West coast version of New York (another city that holds a special place in my heart). Anyway- after we drove into town the teachers dropped us off at Fisherman's Wharf, where I found an IN-N-OUT!!!! I just about fell over and died with happiness =) I talked some of my friends into eating there for lunch. I ignored all of their "it really isn't as good as they say it is" comments while I chowed down on my little piece of home. Afterwards my friends and I took a classic trolley (I try to take one at least once every time I visit- its super touristy but so fun!) down to Union Square where low and behold- and H&M!! My favorite store on the planet. Only one of my friends had been to one before other than me but it didn't take long to get the other girls drooling too. We honestly spent close to 3 hours there. It was one of those giant multi level ones- all of use walked out with something. After that we tried to navigate our way over to the Mission District (yes we crisscrossed the city this day) to find a cool European antique store Sis. Jimison told us about but we ended up walking over 16 blocks and getting lost. We finally gave up and headed over to Chinatown where we met the rest of the class for dinner. We ate at the "Clay Pot," a smaller hidden restaurant in the heart of Chinatown. I missed my REAL Chinese food! It was so far from that crap they sell at Fongs! After dinner we checked into our motel Capri- it was a way cute place that I totally recommend! We pretty much just dumped our stuff in our room and a few friends and I went out on a tour of the city with Griffin and Sis. Jimison (Griffin grew up in/near San Fran). We drove all over the place! Griffin enjoyed driving full speed up and down the STEEP STEEP roads in the city while half scaring the crap out of all of us in the van. We drove down Lombard St., hung out at Coit Tower for a bit, and checked out the ridiculously expensive/decked out mansions in the city.

The next morning Sis. Jimison took most (if not all) of us students to the cutest french Bakery around the corner from our motel for breakfast. It was SO delicious and has sparked my interest in french baking. We went to the Japanese gardens which was very pretty but would have been more enjoyable if it wasn't raining. We then went to the De Young Museum. I hadn't visited this one the first time I visited San Fran so it was fun to see. It was quite an eclectic museum- I think I enjoyed the historic furniture the most (my friend Alyssa and I kept wanting to open any drawers in the pieces had and kept imagining what might be in them- yes I know we are nerds...). After we made our way over to the Legion of Honor Museum. They had some pretty cool stuff- some paintings of some pretty famous people (I have pictures of them that you will see later). Then the teachers took us too a fancy supermarket for lunch- it was ok, I've seen better, not to sound snooty or anything. We had some free time in the afternoon and most of us tagged along with Griffin and some other Professors when they went to an Antique Mall in the South of San Fran. It was AWESOME! The Professors bought a chair and a chest of drawers, my friend Sam found an old Tux that was his EXACT SIZE! He doesn't even have to get it tailored! I almost bought some Beatle records but I resisted. We headed home and caught up with the rest of the group for dinner at Fisherman's Wharf in this really good Italian/Seafood place. After dinner, of course, we walked to Ghirardelli's for ice cream.

Saturday morning we packed up and checked-out of the motel. We drove over the Golden Gate Bridge and visited Muir Woods. Muir Woods is a BEAUTIFUL national park in the heart of a patch of Redwood trees. We strolled around the hiking trails for a while and then packed back in the vans and drove up the coast. We stopped at a beach not too far from Muir, got lunch at another supermarket and walked around the beach. I never say it but I really do miss living by and ocean. I didn't take much advantage of it when I did but there is just something refreshing and freeing when you do live by one. When we finished with that we drove up the coast again and slowly made our way east back home. I had never driven though that part of California before and it is just gorgeous! We ran out of time and drove straight through Sacramento again, but made it to Reno after dark.

We woke up pretty early in Sunday, and I don't think any of us on the trip were looking forward to that day! not only were we going to be in the car for about 10 hours, but we had the time change from Cali to Idaho to deal with AND it was day light savings so we already started out 2 hours behind schedule! But if someone in our van didn't know anything about anyone else yet they certainly learned about it on this trip home! We were so bored that the most personal and embarrassing topics of conversation came up! Even though there were boys and girls, married and single, no held much back which I found hilarious! Finally though we rolled into to Rexburg a little after 8pm.

There is my trip! Hope you like it! Pictures to come tomorrow. Holy CRAP!!! this is long!!