Kite Flying near the Marina

More San Fran

1. Tommy dips his toes in the freezing water
2. Chocolate!
3. The Golden Gate Bridge
4. Redrams in the shade
5. Haight and Ashbury and the clock that remains at 4:20 at all times

(Dad, I tried to get a picture of the Fillmore, but the bus went too fast!)

Redrams in Love

More San Francisco

Pictures: Fisherman's Wharf

1. Tommy loves some crabs and carbs
2. Redrams love these
3. Tommy was excited for chowder and sourbread
4. Cool sign
5. The marina

Day 20: San Francisco Tour!

Today our tourguide Anna took us on an "urban hike" through San Francisco. Fortunately, it was "Spare the Air Day" so all public transportation was FREE! We took the BART train under the bay, then took cable cars, buses, and the Muni (kind of like a train) all in one day.

Pictures:
1. Anna and Tommy on the cable car
2. Chinatown
3. Looking down at the Bay Bridge
4. View from Union Square
5. The Redrams on the cable car

More Muir Woods

Pictures:
1. Maggie pops a squat
2. Ladybug explosion!
3. Picture of the Day Award
4. Anna Forges Ahead
5. Tommy with the Mt. Tam Sign

Day 19: Muir Woods

Today Anna took us for a hike in Mount Tamalpais State Park, and within it, Muir Woods National Park. It was a 4.7 mile hike through redwood forests, and stunningly beautiful. The weather was perfect--just slightly warm with a cool breeze. The redwoods grow in circles in such a way that they create what look like little families, and when you stand within that circle it truly feels like hallowed ground.

The hike was ranked as "moderately easy" by the guides, however after we scaled what one author called the "grand staircase" we disagreed with this ranking. Now I know how Anna got her fabulous legs! This woman can work it!

After our hike we had Mexican food--empanadas, fish tacos, burritos, and mohitos to share. We definately "burned it to earn it", to steal one of Tommy's lines.

Pictures:
1. Anna and Maggie start off the hike
2. Anna and Maggie on the initial bridge
3. Height comparison
4. Maggie and Tommy
5. Fallen trees

Day 18: San Francisco, California

Today we drove roughly 5 1/2 hours from LA to San Francisco. As we are nearing the end of the trip, we are tiring of all the driving and thus did not take the scenic route along the Pacific Coast Highway. This was against all "road trip" advice, but in the end, we decided that since we may end up living here, we could do that route later on. We were eager to get to San Fran and Maggie's dear friend Anna--a real treat for the closing portion of our trip. Interstate 5 was not very exciting, but we enjoyed the windmill fields in northern CA.

After we arrived, we were treated to a rooftop BBQ by Anna and Jonathan in Berkeley. Our hosts also have a remarkable 125 gallon aquarium in their apartment, which we ooohed and ahhhed over for much of the evening. Pictures to come...

Day 17: Job Update

Just wanted to let you guys know that Tommy found out today that he got an interview for a job that would be really great, and actually similar in some ways to what Maggie will be doing in Hawaii. This is really great news, and means he has two leads for when we arrive. Send your thoughts and prayers next Tuesday--it is Tommy's interview day and Maggie's first day at work!

Day 17: UCLA

After a late brunch at The Griddle (including pancakes stuffed with butterscotch and walnuts--yum), we headed out for a tour of Westwood and UCLA (Where Maggie may eventually end up for work). Here are some pictures of us with the Bruin....

Day 16: Reunion with Jamie and Ashley

Later that afternoon, we said goodbye to the Rohde Clan and headed south into the Hollywood Hills to meet up with Maggie's childhood friend Jamie and his girlfriend Ashley. (Note view below of Hollywood sign from their house.) After relaxing on the back patio, we went out for pizza at Cheebo and then frozen yogurt at the popular Pinkberry. It has been so wonderful to catch up with so many different friends and relatives during this trip!

Day 16: Venice Beach

Later this afternoon, we drove down to Venice Beach with Kathy & Fred and enjoyed the utter freakshow on display. This was much fun and we shared many laughs, as well as some ice cream!

Day 16: Malibu--Gladstone's

At lunchtime, we drove down to Malibu and had lunch at a place called Gladstone's, which boasts beautiful views and huge martini glasses full of calamari (see pictures). Thanks, Fred and Kathy for a very memorable and delicious lunch!

Tommy also enjoyed putting his feet in the Pacific for the very first time....

Day 15: Los Angeles, California

We arrived in LA today and were warmly welcomed by Tommy's Uncle Fred and Aunt Kathy, who live in Grenada Hills. We also met perhaps the most awesome (literally, awesome)pet in the world--HANK THE TANK! Hank is some kind of African Tortoise (Kathy & Fred, remind me of the exact name if I got it wrong) who resides in the back yard of the Rohde's house. He is currently about 5 years old, and will live to be over 100. He is already enormous, but will grow to be many times this size. Maggie fell in love with Hank, and could not stop taking pictures of him. We fed him corn (as you can see) which he devoured with such passion that he made a huge mess all over his face. He was SO AWESOME.

We spent time at the Rohde household, catching up and in many ways, getting to know one another. Soon, Alex (Tommy's cousin) got home from work (Michael, Alex's brother was sadly out of town so we did not see him). We all went together to a great Mexican restaurant. After many laughs and much good conversation, we retired to bed.

Day 14: Las Vegas, Nevada

We started out the day by eating at the Statosphere Breakfast Buffet. Afterward, we headed up to the Stratosphere Tower, where we took in the 360 views of the city and surrounding desert. Afterward, we spent a couple of hours at the pool relaxing.

Later that evening, we ate dinner at Ah Sine in the Paris Hotel and Casino. We proceeded next door to the Planet Hollywood show "The Beauty of Magic" starring Hans Klok (the illusionist) and Pamela Anderson as the magician assistant. The show was absolutely hysterical--totally Vegas in terms of the random, over-the-top dancers, the extreme expressions on the face of the illusionist, and of course...Pamela Anderson and everything about her. The show was nearly two hours long, so by the time it was over it was midnight. We walked back through the Strip, which provided lots of people watching....the best we have have ever experienced. We got back to the hotel and played Blackjack for about 2 hours and made 125 dollars! Woo hoo! Go Team Marder!

Day 13: Las Vegas, Nevada

We arrived in Las Vegas in late afternoon and drove down "The Strip", taking in the mind-blowing amount of crazy....well, stuff. It's pretty overstimulating, even from inside the car.

We checked into the Stratosphere Hotel & Casino, and were pleased with our upgrade to a "Players Room" which had a side sitting room (that ended up holding all of our many bags. It was HOT outside--about 115. We walked down to Treasure Island and ate dinner at their buffet. We were pretty tired, so ended up going back to our hotel and going to sleep. We are pretty lame.....asleep in Vegas at 9pm! What is happening to us?