So after a short ride to China Town we entered a small chinese restaurant and got english menus. After all of us ordered something to eat and to drink the long waiting began. Some guys tried to practice how to eat with chopsticks. As one of us lives in Japan, he could teach the others. After the dinner which was more or less what everyone expected we entered the van and Zach started a tour through San Francisco at night. As I thought we will just go for dinner and do a little barhopping maybe I didn't bring my camera. But unfortunately we did a complete sight seeing tour. We passed even the golden gate bridge and reached a perfect view spot for golden gate bridge pictures. I enjoyed the view anyway, some of the girls did a fast picture and hopped back into the van as in their opinion it was a little cold.

The next day we went to a very good breakfast restaurant. After getting enough power for the day we again went to the Golden Gate Bridge. Fort Point at the bottom of the bridge was unfortunately closed - so we admired the bridge from the lower side. As well we could look to Alcatraz, the famous prison island. After that we went to cliff house where one usually can see lots of seals and birds. As it was July also the seals had their well deserved vacation and could not be seen. Nevertheless we enjoyed a museum for antique slot machines and the view on the sea.

The early afternoon we spent in the Golden Gate Park where some of us enjoyed gardening arts from the far east in the japanese tea garden while the others enjoyed a common park. After having tea and enjoying the nice arrangements we went back to the hotel as the scheduled program was self exploration of the city. So we decided to go to Fisherman's wharf to see the atmosphere of that famous place. As we were very near to the cable car station we decided to use that inventive example of public transport. It was very funny to watch the team of the car together with a third guy turning the cars on a turning facility. All they had was their manual power. When going up the driver is connecting the car with a cable (that is ehy they call it cable car) which pulls the car on the hill. By going down driver as well as conductor's main task is to break the vehicle. As our driver was a little tired from turning the car and braking all day he asked Karo to support him. She had much fun in driving - and fortunately all of us arrived safely anyway.

After we arrived at our stop which was one before the final station we took some fotos from our colleauges who went to the final station and as well we took fotos from the area as we were at a marvellous view spot. Then we went down to the harbour as well and enjoyed sightseeing. I admired some innovative beggars. One guy had a sign - no fooling around, it is for beer! - and his hat was very full. Even in that profession honesty is counting. Some minutes later three girls of our group were attacked by a bush who was actually a beggar as well. A guy hid behind two big branches and waited for some victims. Lots of other people who already knew what is going on were gathering around and waiting tensly. This time Karo, Bianca and Mona were the victims. I was lucky as I just took a picture of the port while I just heard a roaring noise and then a loud scream of the three girls.

For dinner we met all the other guys again in the rainforest cafe. I didn't know that such a thing is existing - however - it was a good feeling to have dinner among artificial elefants, leopards, butterflies etc. etc. The chicken on my plate was not artificial but delicious. After dinner we went back to the hotel by cable car. We got the same car and the same crew again. As we were first in the row we could chose our seats - Mona was a little to fast and so the conducter tought her how to enter the seat the right way. They do not like it if someone is climbing on the bench from behind - one has to go round the car and to enter the seat orderly. As someone woas already old enough to buy alcohol we could have a small wellcome party for Gaelles brother Sylvain in the hotel.

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