Lucky Frisco

The boys joined me in California, after a rather exhilarating technology conference, and proceeded to entertain me endlessly on one of funniest and most memorable shopping trips of my life in Chinatown.

I had the sweetest welcome as Hunie just clung to my leg after a week away and Tingu danced around me.

After untangling Hunie, which gratefully took a while, B went up to the room to sleep off a cold, a delayed flight and a long week as a single parent, as the boys and I headed for Chinatown. This seemed to be a natural first stop given their penchant for all things Ninja.

Tings mapped out our course for the day.

Their excitement was magical as they explored the city. They would carelessly run the down city blocks finding the next great treasure whether it be a kite store or Lego advertisement. They were exuberant.

Tings displays his prowess against the defenders of Chinatown

Huns has a sudden and immediate fascination with every iron statue (we hadn't even made it to the first store yet). He posed and urged I take pictures much to my requests to carry on!

They went completely mad after seeing the glittering merchandise in Chinatown. Dragging me through the stores, with sweeping gestures, their words fell on top of each other as they exclaimed over the wares. 

Everything, and I mean, everything, everywhere was to be placed on their wishlists! They couldn't get enough.

We ate fresh, hot fortune cookies. Mine came true!

At one point, Tings erupted into a sneezing fit. Embracing his new found pedestrian-induced independence, he ventured into a bakery and tried to communicate that he needed a tissue, to which, the employee offered him a stickybun. Slightly disheartened, Tings look a left out of the store and came upon this view:

Uh, The Golden Gate! Kids: "Why is it not golden?"  Me,"Must be between paintings...it's golden in the sunlight!!"

Ok, so slightly embarrassed to admit it but, in truth, we all believed we found the Golden Gate and exclaiming over our good luck, literally ran down the hill towards the bay, stopping only for a well deserved ice cream and romp at the play ground with a newly acquired, well-heeled and well-intentioned friend!

Alas, we realized it was the Bay Bridge but were still very impressed with our find and the spontaneous, wonderful journey there.

Unfortunately, there were one too many inebriated inhabitants to linger long but we enjoyed the views and then flagged down an Extreme Australian to rescue us!

This healthy guy cycled us up miles of massive hills to reach our Hotel. 

As we awoke for day two of the trip at 5am (time-changes are rough!), the boys had one singular mission : Take their Dad to Chinatown!

Without the crowds, Chinatown was serene in the morning light.

The boys searched for their favorite kite shop and Hunie found more statues to befriend:

As we stood on the intersection, pondering our next destination, a little preparation met opportunity as a rarely empty cable car pulled up on Thanksgiving weekend and we hopped on!

The cable car dropped us, via a decidedly optimistic taxi driver who offered to be compensated with cash or good conversation, at an old Irish restaurant. The boys lucked out here as they sat barside and had dotting waitresses squirt insane amounts of whipped cream onto their spoons and in their mouths. And thus commenced Lucky Frisco Day 2!