San Francisco Japantown; Cable Car/ Lombard St/RainForest Cafe; Leaving

23-25 May 2004

    This photo album covers the last 3 days we had friends from Norway visiting California.  On May 15th the Slooper Monument bautastein was dedicated in Napa with the support and assistance of a large group of visiting Norwegians.  This was followed by a few days touring around northern California.  On May 20th the majority of our guests flew home to Norway.  Only the three Slogvik sisters, Jorunn, Helga and Norfrid, along with Norfrid's husband Håkon and Håkon's friend Ivar remained with us in San Francisco.  We would say our "Goodbyes" and see them off at the San Francisco Airport (SFO) on May 25th.
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DAY 1, May 23rd - The main event for this day was a visit to San Francisco's Japantown.
2

Jorunn gets some lessons on her new camera outside the Kintetsu Mall in the Peace Plaza.
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Next we find a fascinating exhibit of polished large stones in a gallery in the Miyako Mall.
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Those of us with cameras took many photos of these beautiful stones with their varied colors and patterns.
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Then it was time for a Japanese lunch at the Benihana restaurant inside the Kintetsu Mall. A start with unfamiliar chopsticks ...
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... soon leads to a return to the familiar and functional forks.
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Ivar & Peg dig in - while Håkon seems totally bewildered by this unfamiliar presentation of food.
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After lunch & some shopping in the mall, it is time for relaxing outside in the Peace Plaza.
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DAY 2, May 24th - To start this day, we take a bus in to the city to catch a ride on one of San Francisco's famous cable cars.
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After waiting for our car, we board, find our seats & start to take pictures.
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Jorunn & Norfrid find seats in the crowed car & enjoy the ride.
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Nearing the end of the Powell & Mason Sts. line, it is time to get off of this historic form of transportation.
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Hakon & Jorunn are next to get off this fun ride.
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Time to regroup with our empty cable car in the background.
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We will then walk a few blocks to get this bottom view of the famous "Crookedest Steet."
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We had given our Norwegian guests a surprise ride down this section of Lombard St. on our way to the May 17th celebration.
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Now it was time for many photo ops with new & old cameras at the base of this often photographed & colorful street.
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After a 6 block, down-hill walk to Fisherman's Wharf, our next destination was the unique Rainforest Cafe.
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We almost forget the menu with the overwhelming interior decor with its jungle feeling & animated creatures.
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Many photos take while we wait for our lunch to arrive.
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Is that a real gorilla ready to pounce on Jorunn from behind?
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DAY 3, May 25th - Time to pack up & leave the Drechsler house for our Norwegian guests.
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After the drive south to SFO, it was time to rearrange luggage and get ready for the flight home
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With cowboy hat & neck pillow, Håkon is ready for the long flight ahead.
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Ivar endures a "California hug" of farewell from appreciative Keith.
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How could we forget the significance of Håkon's pet frog traveling companion -- but we did! 
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Last photo before our good friends leave us in preparation for boarding. What a wonderful time having all our Norwegian friends visit us & help us dedicate the Slooper bauta..!!

From your California friends, old and new, a "Mange tusen takk!"

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