San Francisco (Day 2)

Morning came, ate too much at the continental breakfast (eggs, bacon, some sort of hash brown that I didn't like and left behind, pancakes, porridge, bread and jam, fruit salad, corn flakes with milk from cows that did not contain any growth hormone).  A city and bay tour took up most of the morning and early afternoon - and the city tour included sights of China Town , Union Square, Golden Gate Park (walked in an entrance to the park right at the East Australian section!), Golden Gate Bridge, and many other streets.  The bay tour was fun but cold, switched to my winter jacket as we were getting closer and closer to the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, I still can't believe that I needed to wear my winter clothes in the middle of summer!

That morning I read in the paper about the new rules of now allowing liquids in carryon bags on the plane, even toothpaste was ruled out.  Lucky that I read that and was able to move all liquids (perfume, moisturises, toothpaste) from the hand luggage to the suitcase.  There were no issues at checking in the luggage that evening, with the exception that one of the suitcases was over 50 pounds, strange as they allowed that much weight at Sydney airport and it was the same airline.  Caught the more stringent rules when trying to go through the metal detector; at Sydney airport I had to take off my belt, at San Francisco airport I had to take off my sandals and jacket.  When they asked for my jacket I hoped that that was all because I was only left wearing my t-shirt and jeans!

Interesting items that reached my ears.  Fact or fiction, you decide:

• Fortune Cookies - creator of fortune cookies (people know that I am crazy about these) was a Japanese business man living in San Francisco.  He was fired by the mayor and was given small jobs by his friends until the next mayor re-hired him.  He then made cookies and added thank you notes and gave them to all his friends in thanks and that is how they came about.  There is even a fortune cookie factory there that I must visit next time.
• The Stinking Rose - a restaurant that serves garlic dishes including garlic ice cream.
• The Golden Gate Bridge - named before it was constructed, the actual colour is international orange, think that the toll you pay is based on the number of axles that a car has, it is a suicide spot and they have even installed counselling phones on the bridge (the next step would be to construct a fence to prevent people from jumping).
• Currency - US coins are made in Philadelphia or Denver (the coins that are made in Denver have a small D on the coin).