American Diary Part 14 San Francisco

June 9th Arrived San Francisco around 10am after a brief photo stop to see the Golden Gate Bridge from the Marin County side. I've been to SF a few times with work so know it pretty well, but good to come back again. We got dropped at our Hostel on Ellis and Larkin streets in the dodgy area of Tenderloin! Said goodbye to Paul and Maraijke (glad to see the back of them!) and dan our leader, then it was just Me, Nicole, Chris and Nick. (Min the Korean also left us). I offered to be a tour guide for the day and took us on a fun packed day around the city: Union Square, Coit Tower, Lombard Street, Fishermans's wharf, Boat trip to the bridge and Alcatraz, then back to Union Square for Burger before bedtime! The major highlight was a surprise meeting with Dave Prowse (Darth Vadar in Star Wars) who was doing a signing at a store on Pier 39. I bought a poster which he signed for me and we talked about Bristol and the Green Cross Code Man! He was great! He's 73, walks with a stick, is over 6ft 8" and still quite an imposing chap. It's 30 years since Star Wars - how time flies! I slept in a dorm with 3 other girls, and had a brilliant night's sleep - first in many weeks. June 10th 8am we met the group for our next leg of the GO WEST tour. There are 13 of us, all girls except for Chris and Nick who look like they've gone to heaven... they are both 19 year old german boys, both really sweet and for the next 7 days will be in the company of 10 au pairs all under 23 and from diverse countries - lucky them! I get to be the token spinster over 35! So we head off to the South West and Arizona today. Will update the blog when I get chance! BFN