Back Home - 8/30/11

Howdy ladies & gents,

I returned home last night.  Since NJ Transit wasn't running my Dad had to pick me up from Newark Airport.  Got home around 9pm.  I thought I would fill you in on the rest of my trip.

The day after my excursion to San Fran I visited Downtown Berkley.  Decided to check out the UC Berkeley campus which was beautiful and very active with regular classes about to start again.  Afterwards I made my way over to Telegraph Ave. 

I met up with Dave and Lynn for dinner in the early evening.  We went to a pizza place run as a collective with no regular employees.  A single type of pizza is made each day and everyone pays the same no matter how much you get.  It was probably the best I had in a long time.

Later that night we went to a local bar called The Mallard where we met up with some of Lynn's co-workers.

I woke up around 1 or 2pm the next day.  We had intended to visit Napa Valley or go into San Francisco but my laziness and the cold I picked up were causing problems.  I finally got ready and we made our way to San Fran.  Unfortunately by this time we hit major traffic and the fog rolled in.  We went over to see The Golden Gate Bridge which was barely visible through the fog.  

Everyone was hungry at this point and after being lost for a little while we finally started making our way into downtown.  We drove down Lombard Street which is supposedly one of the most crooked streets in the world. 

We then made our way to The Stinking Rose, a restaurant which puts garlic on EVERYTHING.  There tagline is "We serve our garlic with food" or something like that.  The meal was delicious but later on we started to feel the effects of consuming so much garlic.  A word of caution if you ever decide to eat there.

It was getting late and the weather was cold so we decided to head back towards home.  Later that night we went out to a karaoke bar where I performed a stirring rendition of Madonna's "Like A Prayer".  

I woke up late again of course but we decided to take a trip over to Napa Valley anyway.  We only encountered heavy traffic once because one of those single engine planes had crashed on the side of the rode.  It was a very odd sight to see.  For what I could gather there were no fatalities.  After visiting two wineries we made our way home and had dinner at a nice Mexican place.  

I got up early in the morning and Dave dropped me off at the train to Oakland Airport.  The trip back went smoothly with nothing out of the ordinary happening.

Despite this trip being shorter and not as far as I've gone in the past I enjoyed it a great deal.  Got to meet up with old friends and make a few new ones.  Hope you enjoyed my updates.

Fahad

I believe this was the chap who designed The Golden Gate Bridge.

Dave & me at GGB...in the fog...

Lombard Street

Enjoying some garlic+food at The Stinking Rose.

Chinatown band

Chinatown

Unusually named street

Dave, Lynn, & me at a winery in Napa Valley

The Bay Area - Day 2 - 8/26/11

Hey chowder heads,

Hope this email finds you all well.  I reached the Bay Area from Seattle safely last night.  I figured now would be a good time to give you a holler.

The day before I left Seattle I decided to get in a few last things.  The tour guide from the other day reminded me there was a Nirvana exhibit at the EMP (Experience MusicProject) Museum.  Being a huge fan since way back in the day I didn't want to miss it.  After that, I took the Monorail into downtown and walked up a hilly street to the Capitol Hill area.

Got to San Fran in about 2 hours and then took the train to North Berkeley where my friends Dave and Lynn picked me up.  I hadn't seen them in over 3 years.  We went to a local microbrewery in town and had some dinner.  

I finally gathered enough strength to get out the door and grab a bite to eat before making my way out to San Francisco.  Saw Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf.  

I made my way back to catch the train.  Before that I took a ride on an old-fashioned streetcar. 

Finally back at Dave and Lynn's writing you this letter.  I think I'll check out Downtown Berkeley tomorrow and see where the day takes me.  

Fahad

EMP Museum

One of Kurt Cobain's guitars

Alcatraz

Pier 39

Seattle - Day 3 - 8/22/11

Hello all you little chickadees,

My friend Claudia took the ferry over from Port Townsend, WA and met me at Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle.  We had lunch and a little later went on a tour of Underground Seattle.  I forget everything except there were these seamstresses who were actually prostitutes and one of them was a man.  Apparently they funded a large portion of the rebuilding of Seattle through their taxes after the city burned down.  I bid Claudia farewell as she took the ferry back and returned to my hostel for some much needed sleep. 

Today I got up and my way over to the Space Needle.  I took the Monorail back to downtown and went on the Sub Seattle Tour.  I did see the house where Kurt Cobain spent his final days which was kind of weird but interesting.

I had some dinner and went to Can Can before returning to my hostel. 

I have one more full day in Seattle and then will be heading out to San Fran Wednesday afternoon.

Fahad

In front of the first Starbucks

Pike Place Market

Claudia & me

Catching Claudia off guard and looking cute!

Ray, our tour guide for Underground Seattle, showing us a crapper

"Seamstresses" - notice the one to the right in the black dress

Ecstatic at the Space Needle

House where Kurt Cobain died

"Black Sun" - inspiration for the Soundgarden song "Black Hole Sun"

Hendrix sculpture in Capitol Hill

Seattle - Day 2 - 8/21/11

Hello all my lovelies,

It's Day 2 of my time in Seattle.  Last night was a bit of a wash.  I was going to work myself up for an exciting Saturday night but being on East Coast time unfortunately deemed me exhausted.  I had a burrito for dinner, returned to my hostel, and went to bed.

Going to meet up with my friend Claudia over at Pike Place Market and hopefully get some grub.  

Talk to you soon.

Fahad

Buddha at my hostel

The Needle

Disease covered Puget Sound

Bus from Hempfest

Seattle & The Bay Area Trip 2011

Hey folks,

Well, it's that time again.  Your old pal Fahad is doing a little travelin'.  I'll be staying in the US this time around and will only be making two stops, Seattle first and then San Francisco.  There is a possibility I will venture into Vancouver but I hear the Wendigo has been menacing Canada these days so it is unlikely.  Will be seeing some friends this time around as well.  I'll try to keep you posted on all my exploits and misadventures. 

I leave tomorrow and will be in Seattle around noon.  I reach San Francisco on the August 24th and will head back to Jersey on the 29th.

See or talk to you soon.

Fahad

Back home - 9/24/10

Hey everyone,

Back from my travels.  Got in the door just a little while ago.  Hope you enjoyed my stories.

Talk soon.

Fahad

St. Stephen's Basilica

Heroes' Square

Homebound

Town in Hungary as seen from train

Budapest - Day 3 - 9/20/10

Went on a walking tour my first morning here which was excellent.  Afterwards I went to the Labyrinth of Buda Castle, one of the seven "Underground Wonders of the World”.  Ran into a pleasant fellow American from California.  We crossed the Chain Bridge to the Pest side of the city a little while later.

Afterwards, we moseyed over to a club called Godor which plays electronic music.  Unfortunately it was a slow night since it was Sunday and most people around here stay home apparently.  

Today I went to the Great Market Hall which was excellent.  Best place in Budapest to buy authentic Hungarian food and decently priced souvenirs. 

Afterwards I saw the Great Synagogue and Holocaust Memorial in the Jewish Quarter.

Going to check out the WestEnd City Center.  Tour guide said they had a great food court there.  Only had 1 meal today so I'm sure I'll be hungry.

Fahad

Walking tour

Carving from labyrinth resembling Paul Newman