~California Dreamin - Photographic Report~Index on post #1~Completed 8/17/07~

[tiggerwannabe]

Cast of Characters:

Me-Tiggerwannabe (Colleen), forever 18yo Mother of two.

DD-Fletchermem0rial (Brittany) here on the DIS, actually 18yo,
skateboarder wannabe.

Rose-My best friend (by default-our sons and daughters grew up together
and are each best friends with each other.) Traveler extraordinaire,
facilitator of said journey.

Stefanie-18yo DD to Rose, Best Friend to my DD. College student,
bartender wannabe. (She recently took classes on how to be one and is totally into it for the money.)

Day 0, D-Day, where it all begins...
Day 1, San Francisco - Page 1 post #10, 11 and 13...
Day 2, Alcatraz - Page 2 post #23...
Day 2.5, Do you know the way to San Jose - Page 3 post #31...
Day 3, San Jose to Anaheim via the Pacific Coast Highway - Page 3 post #44 and 45
Day 4, Disneyland! Finally! - Page 4 post #59
Day 4.25, more Disneyland - Page 5 post #68 and 70
Day 4.5, Buzz Lightyear and beyond! - Page 6 post #86
Day 4.75, A Parade and sneak peak at DCA - Page 7 post #95 and 96
Day 5, Disney's California Adventure - Page 7 post #105 and Page 8 post #106
Day 5.5, more California Adventure and back to Disneyland - Page 8 post #108
Day 5.75, Disneyland and my pal Mickey - Page 9 post #121
Day 6, Hollywood - Page 10 post #136
Day 6.5, Santa Monica Pier - Page 10 post #140
Day 7, Universal Studios Hollywood - Page 10 post #148
More touring in Universal Studios - Page 11 post #164 & 165
We finally finish the Backlot Tour - Page 12 post #166 & 168
Day 7.5 Universal Horrors & the Lower Lot - Page 12 post #169 & 170
Day 7.75 The end of our day at Universal - Page 14 post #198, 199 & 202
Day 8 Last stop, San Diego - Page 14 post 210
Day 9 Sea World, show by show - Page 15 post 211
Day 9.1 Sea Lions and Sharks - Page 15 post 213
Day 9.9 All of Sea World - Page 15 post 221, 222, 223, 224 and 225
Day 10 San Diego Zoo - Page 16 post 234, 235, 240
Cont'd on Page 17 post 242, 244, 245, 246, 247 and 248
Day 11 The Trip Home and Wrap up Page 17 post 249~

Chapter 1~

Penny Lane watching me pack…

My new camera backpack…

My carry ons…

My checked bags…

Brittany relaxing, we were at the airport by 4:30 in the am…

Watching the sun rise, waiting to board…

Nan picked us up at San Jose's airport. When we got to her house, we picked this up and went to lunch in style…

Lunch was just for us Ladies, Nan took us to El Gato to eat. After lunch, we went back to Nan's got the van to pick up the kids from school. We surprised Wilson first…

And then we found and surprised Molly…

The kids got to set the table…

Nan and Paul cooked us a BBQ dinner before the movie…

Nan, the Happy Homemaker…

Brittany likes to make faces at the camera…

Dinner’s just about ready…

Molly and Wilson dressed and ready to go…

Next up…we finally see some Pirates!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Molly and Wilson met a few of their friends at the theatre for the premier of pirates...

Here's the pegleg pirate...

and a scarrrrred pirate...

The kids all gathered for a group shot...

Captain Jack arrives!

He made nice with Miss Molly...

and asked Wil if he be dead...

Nan came prepared...

We keep calling it the dessert tart thing...

Someone down front looked really interested in what Nan was serving...

Our Jack did juggling tricks...

He was actually pretty good...

Wilson scared the bejeezus out of Jack...

We all watched at World's end and rather enjoyed it tho it was loooong~

After the movie, Paul took DD and me from San Jose to San Francisco and picked Rose and Stefanie up at the San Francisco airport on the way.

Next chapter...Gray Days in San Francisco...

 

[blondeheroine]

HEY! I forgot about your California trip!

I went to see PotC in a lame theatre with NO pirates. I'm jealous!

And I have that same Pirate Princess shirt!

 

[bstsuda]

hey i have that Pirate Princess shirt too.....but i have a better one with the BEST photo of Capt Jack....people have tried to 'rip' it off me - they like it soooo much!!!!

GREAT photos so far Colleen - patiently awaiting the rest....but it's 3:30 here & i needed a break from 'work' so thought i'd check out the newest posts! Glad i did!!!!

 

[Dalpal]

GREAT PICS Colleen!

MORE... MORE!

 

[PrincessaC]

Great pics

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Thanx Guys! I am very happy you like them so far...

I am in the process of resizing my San Francisco shots before I can post them. I realized after uploading about 200 that they were gonna be too big for the DISboards.

I leave work soon and hope to have the next set up before the end of tonight...stay tuned~

 

[Aisling]

I'm so happy to see your pictures! Not to put pressure on you, but OMG I can hardly wait for more. I have so many comments, I don't even know where to begin. Let's just say I'm lovin it.

 

[nebo]

Hey coleen, Wow, what a cool, different approach to a trip story. Kind of in reverse. The whole story is told by pictures. To me , this is kinda like Seinfeld episode, but then again, my whole life feels that way. Keep um comin.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

We wake up to a bit of a grey day...the fog lifts above the cityscape...

This guy totally freaked Stef out last night when she saw him out of our window...til she realized he was a statue

This is Rose...she was happy to finally be in California...

She said after I took this one it felt like old times...

First on the agenda...to Ride a Cable Car...
The operators had to turn it around first...they really do do this by hand...

The ride was pretty cool...Stef's extreme close up first...

The girls really haven't been anywhere together in a long time...

Thank goodness the cable car got us up *this* hill...

We got off the ride in Chinatown...Britt's turn for the extreme close up...

I was told by a coworker that the Coit tower (pictured below) had the best view of the city...

He didn't tell me we'd have to walk up *this* to get there...

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Here's a view of the same street from high above in the tower...

Here is Alcatraz, the Golden Gate couldn't be seen at all because of the fog...

This is the Bay Bridge, just opposite of the Golden Gate...

We left the tower from the opposite side and found this really awesome fountain/sculpture...

The fountain seems to take up an entire city block...

One picture of Stefanie...

One of the girls....

and one picture of Brittany later, it was time to head to the Pier...

One last look back at the tower...

This one's for all you Star Wars Fans~

We found it on our way to Pier 39...

The pier has lotsa cool shops and an aquarium and plenty of places to eat~

Brittany wanted me to buy this poster, I took a picture of it instead...
(it's from A Clockwork Orange-the Movie for those who do not know)

We already get to see some sea lions...

They were loud and stinky but totally cute...

Here's a little mini lighthouse and a navy ship in the background...

This area of Pier 39 is actually a mammal rescue center...

This little guy was chillaxin in the water...time to get us some lunch

Brittany really liked the six pack condiment holders...and again she makes a face...

Stefanie had a headache...she only looks slightly grumpy here...

I couldn't take my cup with me, so I had to get this shot...

Lunch was pretty good today...but I think we've had enough...

We have a date to go to a Giants game. We meet Nan and family around six.

Next up...they really like Barry here, Barry Bonds of course that is...

 

[nsalz]

Excellent idea..TR by pictures. Lovin' it!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

We sat quite close to Mr Bonds...could even see his bling...

Backside...

Frontside....

Some pictures...

and some stats...

It was really really cold that night...

So cold Nan and Paul bought Molly a jacket...

Can you find me under all my hair...

How about these three under their coats...

The family looked adorable too, I really love this shot~

Next up: Tomorrow, we go to Alcatraz

 

[Cruisin]

 

[Aisling]

Tig, I hope YOU'RE in more pictures!!
It really makes me wish I was there.

 

[oh_sachi]

Subscribing!
I miss living in Cali and being able to go to San Fran over long weekends...

 

[DISUNC]

The pics!


1) I WANT THAT CAR!
2) WHAT WAS NAN EATING???? Did she buy it in the movie theatre? Did she bring it from home? Is this a "california thing"
3) I forgot all about the seals ....(did you see Seal Island in SF?) Pier 39 had a great Magnet store....use to get lots of cool Fridge magnets there...Is it still there?

 

[CustardTart]

We went to lunch in style…

Absolutely beeootiful car...

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Tig, I hope YOU'RE in more pictures!!
It really makes me wish I was there.

I am in all these pictures Aisling...

Ansel Adams once said, "There are at least two people in every photograph; the one who took the picture and the person looking at it."

I wish you were there too~

 

[tiggerwannabe]

The pics!


1) I WANT THAT CAR!
2) WHAT WAS NAN EATING???? Did she buy it in the movie theatre? Did she bring it from home? Is this a "california thing"
3) I forgot all about the seals ....(did you see Seal Island in SF?) Pier 39 had a great Magnet store....use to get lots of cool Fridge magnets there...Is it still there?

1) That car is their baby, she only comes out about once a year.
2) We went to the grocery store before dinner and the movie and bought that in the bakery. It's a fruit tart. I don't think it's a "california thing."
3) We only saw the seals at the pier and as you will see later, along the pacific coast highway. Yes, the magnet store is still there, it's alot like the one in downtown Disney.

Welcome ohsachi!

It is a beautiful area, I am very glad to have had the opportunity to visit.

Yes, Karen...

She is beautiful. It's a 1955 Porche.

It's nice to see so many of you joining me on my journey...
I will be back later today with more for you all