Honeymoon Recap, Part 3

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Hello again! I missed you! 🙂

 

Thursday

 

Thursday wins the award for most random honeymoon day yet.  We started off the day by driving to the Muir Woods to see the giant redwoods.  This is actually on my life’s "Bucket List," so I was MORE than a little excited!

 

The drive to Muir Woods was steep and scary!! Thank goodness Husband was driving Victor the Mercedes Benz.

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The trees were absolutely breathtaking.  It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it was definitely worth the side trip!

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We hiked about 2.5 – 3.0 miles in total.

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It’s hard to photograph the redwoods and convey their sheer size, but check out how big the base of this one was!  They are more than 1,000 years old.

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This quote was inscribe on a plaque and I found it really inspiring:  "Persons who love nature find a common basis for understanding people of other countries, since the love of nature is universal among men of all nations." (Doug Hammarskjold, Secretary General of the United States, 1955).

 

After Muir Woods, we drove back to San Francisco and dropped off Victor the Mercedes Benz.  I’m going to miss that car!! He is much more fun to drive than our shit Honda Civic.

 

We checked in our hotel room…. here is our view!

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Thursday evening ended up being kind of strange because we went to a dive bar to watch the College Football National Championships (ewww!!!) and I ended up getting highly intoxicated

 

I drank a lot of this:

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By the time we left the bar (midnight), we STILL hadn’t eaten dinner, and the nearest restaurant we could find was Morton’s Steakhouse.  It was the most expensive drunken food I’ve ever eaten!

 

I got a ridiculously expensive filot mignon (like $50!!!).

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Grilled asparagus….

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And cheesey bread.

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Our bill was GINORMOUS, but I left Morton’s stuffed and happy (and still drunk).

 

Friday

 

Unsurprisingly, I woke up this morning with a KILLER headache.  It was bad and reminded me why I do NOT drink like that anymore.   I forced Husband to order room service and ate scrambled eggs, toast, and a fruit bowl in bed.

 

After several hours, I felt normal again and we took off on our first day of sightseeing!

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AHHH Cable Car!!

 

We headed straight for Chinatown.  Husband (since he is studying to be a doctor of Oriental medicine) was as happy as a bug in a rug!

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We decided to get Dim Sum for lunch and choose this hyper-traditional Chinese restaurant (based on a guidebook recommendation). We were the only white people in the place and I could not understand anyone (seeing as I don’t speak Chinese!!). 

 

First of all, there were NO silverware.  I cannot use chopsticks for the life of me.

 

Secondly, I didn’t realize Dim Sum is passed around by the waiters and you don’t order off a menu.  So we just ended up blindly selecting three items.  First one was fried shrimp

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Next was a sweet sesame seed ball

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And last was some sort of BBQ noodles.

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Not to knock Dim Sum (or Chinese food in general), but this was really, highly disgusting.  I will eat almost anything, yet I could barely get down my portions (I stopped eating each one after a bite!!).  Even Husband, my little garbage disposal, couldn’t eat it.  It was a funny experience though!!

 

We paid for our half-eaten Dim Sum and went across the street to a deli sandwich shop, which we were happy to discover is modeled after the most famous Pittsburgh deli (Primanti Brothers).

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Just as I did in Pittsburgh, I ordered the roasted Turkey with swiss (and ate about 2/3).

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A Primanti sandwich comes with fries and coleslaw on it.  Yum!

 

After lunch, we walked to Fisherman’s Wharf.

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I broke down and got an ice cream. 🙂

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Whew!! LONG Update!  Now, I’m going to nap for a few hours and see where the evening takes me.  It’s been two days without a run, but we’ve done loads of walking.  I would LOVE to run tomorrow – San Fran is SO pretty.

 

Have a happy weekend!  See you soon!

{ 55 comments }

 

  • Danielle January 9, 2009, 5:44 pm

    It looks like you guys are having so much fun! Enjoy the rest of your honeymoon. I’m so glad you went to SF and are sharing the pictures. I was born there but moved back to the east coast when I was like 5 months old I have a soft spot for it. Although I clearly remember nothing about it

  • Neesha and Dustin January 9, 2009, 5:48 pm

    I used to live in Pitt and ppl always wanted to go to Primanti Bros! Looks like a fab honeymoon!

  • Erica January 9, 2009, 5:50 pm

    My family use to live near San Fran so this post brought back huge memories for me. I use to love to see the sea lions (and feed them!!) and giant redwoods are truly amazing! Love your super expensive drunk dinner!! Enjoy the rest of your trip

  • VeggieGirl January 9, 2009, 5:54 pm

    Love it all!!!

  • aron January 9, 2009, 5:54 pm

    i LOVE seeing all your SF pics 🙂 its so fun to see them from a new visitors point of view! its sooo fun to run there too 🙂

    your honeymoon is going great!!! hope the rest of it continues to be awesome!

    i am just 30 minutes east of you!

  • Serena January 9, 2009, 5:56 pm

    You HAVE to go to the farmer’s market at the Ferry Building tomorrow – you will love it! And you can run along the Embarcadero -so fun!

  • Beth January 9, 2009, 6:01 pm

    I totally agree with going to the ferry bldg and running on the embarcadero…sorry you hated the dim sum. There ARE good, tasty and even cheap eats to be found here!

  • Andrea of Care to Eat January 9, 2009, 6:02 pm

    Ok, I’ve had Morton’s $50 filet mingnon and it was really freaking fantastic, so I hope you thought so too!
    Thanks for sharing your honeymoon with us. It looks like you’re having a blast!

  • Marathon Maritza January 9, 2009, 6:09 pm

    I am so happy to hear you are having a fabulous honeymoon!

    I’m also happy that we are providing you with some good weather…I’m always glad when people come to visit my city, and we bust out some sunshine. 🙂 It makes me feel like it’s putting it’s best foot forward just for you! (I live near Aron, so 30 minutes east too!)

    Have a blast!!! Glad you are loving it so far!

  • Chic Runner January 9, 2009, 6:25 pm

    so glad you are enjoying my state! 🙂 Have fun and enjoy!

  • Anonymous January 9, 2009, 6:36 pm

    We were the only “white” people there?
    Really? I think you should be a little more PC about things like this since you have such a public blog.

    What is “white ” anyways? North American, USA? Are Latino’s of light skin not allowed to be “white”..How about Asians or those of mixed descents? Are British people “white”? Who decides what or who is “white”?

    Cataloging people based on skin color? I love your blog but in this point I think you should have been more cautious and wise.

  • just me January 9, 2009, 6:47 pm

    i’m so glad to hear you liking norcal! ti’s def gorgeous up there!

  • Janet January 9, 2009, 6:52 pm

    I recommend a run near Chrissy Field if you can get down there! Gorgeous views of the bridge. I usually start around Fort Mason and run down to the runner’s hands near the base of the bridge – just follow everyone else ;). It’s also really cute running down Jefferson near Fisherman’s Wharf! The weather is gorgeous right now! Glad you are loving SF. 🙂

  • jOHN January 9, 2009, 6:52 pm

    Hey !! GO GATORS !! If you see Dungenus crab on a menue get it!!!

  • Erin January 9, 2009, 6:54 pm

    I love these honeymoon posts, they are great! Everything looks fun. If you stumble across a restaurant called The Waterfront, I highly recommend it! It was some of the best food of my life!

  • ttfn300 January 9, 2009, 7:16 pm

    what a great place you picked to visit!!! enjoy the wonderful weather 🙂

  • K January 9, 2009, 7:22 pm

    I can’t get over how cute you two are AND how much fun your honeymoon looks!! CONGRATS AGAIN!

  • Annie Shin January 9, 2009, 7:33 pm

    yay im glad you enjoyed san francisco! i gotta go to that deli, i didn’t know they had something like that here!

  • Heather McD (Heather Eats Almond Butter) January 9, 2009, 7:44 pm

    Looks like you’re still having a blast. Muir woods is breathtaking, no? Your expensive drunk food made me laugh. I thought people always went for the nearest greasy drive-thru when in need of late night drunk eats. Morton’s…not your typical White Castle, huh?

    Love San Fran – hope you get in a good run before you leave!

  • Jamie and Craig January 9, 2009, 8:13 pm

    How fun! I love Frisco and it’s only about 2 hours from me! I LOVE watching the sea lions at fisherman’s warf… especially w/ ice cream! Have fun!!!!

  • Justine January 9, 2009, 8:14 pm

    I’ve never been to San Francisco, but I really want to go! And this post just makes me want to go even more! I want to run across the Golden Gate Bridge…it just seems like it’d be so fun!

  • Meg January 9, 2009, 8:22 pm

    Glad you are continuing to enjoy yourselves! I hope to make it to San Francisco some day!

  • Oh She Glows January 9, 2009, 8:25 pm

    Oh my gosh what a great honeymoon!!
    I would kill to be able to run in San Fran right about now 😀

    That sandwich is craaazy!

    Glad you are feeling better after your drunken night! tee hee!

    Angela
    http://www.ohsheglows.com

  • Halie January 9, 2009, 8:41 pm

    Amazing! I love the redwoods. Sometimes I feel I take for granted the beautiful trails that surround my area! If you like hiking trails, come to Oregon!!!

    And I’ve never been to Chinatown! I grew up right outside of San Francisco and I never went to that part of the city. I love San Francisco too! I miss it so much! Thank you for sharing your photos!

  • sarah January 9, 2009, 8:46 pm

    we went to san fran and napa a few years ago for vacation and loved it! you've been to a lot of the same places we went which brought back so many fun memories for me.

    Mmmmmm I LOOOVVEEE Primantis but haven't had one in ages. Now I'm craving it! Yay Pittsburgh love <3

  • Marissa January 9, 2009, 8:50 pm

    San Francisco looks beautiful! Thank you for posting

  • losangelesdaze January 9, 2009, 9:03 pm

    Too bad you didn’t like the dim sum! I love dim sum – but only certain kinds. The stuff you ordered I wouldn’t touch either! Except maybe those sesame balls, but I can only stomach one bite of those too. Next time get hak kau or har gow (i’ve seen it spelled many different ways). It has shrimp in it and it’s steamed. Very yummy!

  • Meghann January 9, 2009, 9:14 pm

    I Miss you!!!

    I saw Bride Wars tonight! You would have loved it! I’m going to the running expo at disney tomorrow, another thing I know you would love to do. Its sad because I can’t find anyoen to go with me. No one else cares about running 🙁 Come back!!!!!! Or you know enjoy your honeymoon and married life.

  • Carolyn January 9, 2009, 9:34 pm

    Ok, I live in SF…where is that sandwich from? Is it the Primanti name or they are just saying they are like it!!! Let me know the name if you get a chance.

    Enjoy your time here in
    the CIty.

  • fitforfree January 9, 2009, 9:44 pm

    love the dim sum story 🙂 glad you guys are having such fun!

  • Caitlin January 9, 2009, 9:45 pm

    beth – hahah dim sum scared me pretty badly today, but maybe i would give it another go with an experienced dim sum-er!! 🙂

    anon – i’m sorry that reference offended you; i certainly didn’t mean to. i don’t think referring to myself and husband as ‘white’ is “catalouging” us or other people. i take it as a good sign of a restaurant when the majority of the people inside are from the specific restaurant’s ethnicity.

    carolyn – its called giordano brothers and its off of grant (i think!)

  • eatingbender January 9, 2009, 10:39 pm

    I haven’t been to San Fran since I was 3 – I don’t remember much! Your trip recap is inspiring me to find a way to go back! I love the picture of you with the tree, too :o)

  • Mica January 9, 2009, 11:09 pm

    I love that you two are doing a lot of different, active things on your honeymoon. I bet it’ll be so much more memorable than lying on a beach somewhere. LOVE the pics!

    (Also, I hate dimsum too. It’s so greasy and icky.)

  • Becca January 9, 2009, 11:56 pm

    Congrats on the wedding!

    I have just recently started following your blog and I really enjoy it, you do a great job. When I saw you were in San Fran I had to recommend you to go to Greens restaurant, you will love it. I went to this restaurant years ago with my family and I still remember the meal. It is vegetarian and run by the San Fran. zen center. I just googled it and it still looks the same, situated on a wharf overlooking the water. I am sure you have lots of recommendations, but this place seems right up your ally!http://www.greensrestaurant.com/

    Also the Fog City Diner is great too! Enjoy the rest of your trip!

  • seeleelive (for the love of peanut butter) January 10, 2009, 1:47 am

    absolutely wonderful:-) i love you Caitlin!! your posts are so great!

  • Robin January 10, 2009, 1:47 am

    Ah that’s my hometown! And agree with you about dim sum – never liked it.

    I’m moving back to the Bay Area after six years living in the UK and I can’t wait! Your pictures made me all the more excited 😉

  • Lara January 10, 2009, 2:53 am

    Aww, I’m so sorry you had a bad dim sum experience! I’m half Chinese and grew up with it, there are some delicious choices and some of them are pretty healthy (i.e. steamed shrimp dumplings). I can see why your dishes were disappointing to you though. That sucks 🙁 If there is ever a next time I’m available for recommendations 😉
    Love the SF pics!! Glad you guys are having such a wonderful time.

  • haya (living and learning) January 10, 2009, 5:59 am

    fantastic pictures and stories! i was dying to see redwoods when we went to the SF area last year. we saw a few but i didn’t even find out about john muir until a month after we got back. at least now i know i should make it a priority for next visit.

    dim sum can be super tasty but having someone with you who knows what they are doing is absolutely necessary!! there are loads of potentially icky things on those carts.
    hope you get your run in!

  • Jen (Running with Food) January 10, 2009, 7:05 am

    Hey Caitlin! I’m so glad you are having such a wonderful honeymoon!! I’ve never been to SF and it looks like one place I need to add to my list.

    Enjoy the rest of your time in CA!

  • sweetandfit January 10, 2009, 7:15 am

    omg…morton’s steakhouse for drunken food ?!?!?! wow, that musta been niiiice, ya’ll deserve it though…when else besides ur honeymoon should you go to a steakhouse at midnight…

  • Julie January 10, 2009, 8:52 am

    Isn’t San Fran the most romantic city? beautiful views every time you turn around…I just love that place! Good choice for a honeymoon! And, yes, hilarious that Morton’s was your go-to choice for drunk food!! Funny! Can’t wait for the next post!

  • Julie January 10, 2009, 9:02 am

    You guys are too cute and funny! $50 drunken food, can’t beat it! You guys look like you’re having an absolute blast!

  • Anonymous January 10, 2009, 9:19 am

    Oh, the first (and only) time I went to dim sum without someone who knew what to order was quite scary! It can be really good though

    The trip looks amazing

  • ashley (sweetandnatural) January 10, 2009, 11:26 am

    Those redwoods are amazing! I really want to go to San Fran one day. I’ll just live vicariously through your pics for now!

  • Amy January 10, 2009, 11:51 am

    Wow, I want to go to San Francisco and northern California in general. Your honeymoon has been looking amazing!!

  • Erin of Care to Eat January 10, 2009, 1:28 pm

    I LOVE IT! That’s such a beautiful place to visit! I lived about 20 min away for 6 years and we used to always go downtown on wknds. SO FUN. You guys are gorgeous. Way to enjoy your honeymoon.

  • chasedaylight January 10, 2009, 2:35 pm

    San Francisco is such a fun city! And I love Pier 39! Have an amazing last few days!!!

  • jenny January 10, 2009, 4:51 pm

    awww i am sorry to hear about your dim sum experience. i am 100% chinese so i am fully experienced with dim sum ordering. some of the dim sum may be too “different” for newbies but there ARE delicious dim sums. Try ha gow like one of the commenters mentioned. Egg custard tarts are (dan ta) are famous chinese desserts served at dim sums. Other traditional chinese dim sum include: char siu bao (steamed bbq pork bun), fu pei goon (vegetables wrapped in tofu skin), spring rolls(!), chinese style meatballs or fishballs. and many more!

  • Aimee January 10, 2009, 6:25 pm

    I had to show my husband your post, because he worked at Primanti’s for a few years in high school and college.

  • Victoria January 10, 2009, 8:31 pm

    Thanks for updating!! Those redwoods are amazing!

  • An Apple a Day January 10, 2009, 10:55 pm

    So glad that you are enjoying your trip in my hood! I live just across the bridge from San Francisco and it looks like you are having a great time.

    Muir Woods is also really pretty- those trees are amazing! Enjoy the rest of your trip.

  • HangryPants January 10, 2009, 11:53 pm

    You are so funny with your drunken eating. Love it! Thanks for updating while you’re away. I’ve really looked forward to it.

  • Anne P January 11, 2009, 1:57 am

    so fun! i love san fran. when i was out there a couple years ago i went and hiked in muir woods, too! so awesome and pretty.

  • Betsy in Pittsburgh January 11, 2009, 8:23 am

    Hah, west coast Pittsburgh food. I love it. Primantis is somethin’ else.

  • Kath January 11, 2009, 3:47 pm

    I went running in Muir Woods!!!

    Glad you guys made the most of your time on the WC 🙂

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