1. Taking off for Paris: LAX to SFO to Paris

Eli and LT do their own version of “Midnight in Paris”

Thursday.  Hillary dropped us off for our 6:30AM Virgin Air flight to San Francisco.   We took the noisy BART to Civic Center, climbed onboard a crowded bus to Union, then caught another bus down Union to Fillmore, and then walked downhill to Cow Hollow Inn., where we would eventually get a great room with view of city.  Since our room wasn’t quite ready, yet, we walked around the corner and had lunch at Pacific Catch.  LT went for grilled salmon salad, while Eli chose wasabi/ahi sandwich on a croissant.  Washed down with a flavorful Poppy Chardonnay.  LT was impressed with the high quality and variety of the lettuce in his salad.  LT took a siesta after lunch, while Eli prowled the shops on Union St.  

At six that evening, we met Eileen for lunch at 6:00PM at Bistro Aix—a fine French restaurant—LT had lamb, Eli had duck and white beans swimming in a rich wine reduction sauce that was so flavorful that she didn’t even offer to share it with LT, Eileen had a salmon risotto.  

LT and Eileen at Bistro Aix

We talked over old times in Culver City with all the celebrations at Grandma Phyllis’ house.  Eileen and Phyllis Ann had some great times together when Eileen would stay there.  When the owner heard we were flying to Paris the next day, he suggested we visit Les Pipos ["pipos" are first year students in the nearby Ecole Polytechnique] in the 5^th arrondissement—a restaurant he’d loved when he went to Paris a few weeks previously.

Friday morning to Saturday, Before our afternoon Air France flight, we took a walk through the Marina and Fort Mason

Eli walking through Fort Mason.  Note LT's shadow

to the waterfront, and ate breakfast at McDonalds, where LT was not impressed with the egg white McMuffin he was served.  
Eli purchased a par of black slacks at a nearby Ross.  Then we walked back to Cow Hollow, and took the slowest taxi ride either of us has ever experienced to Civic Center,  where we caught the BART back to the airport.  In the International terminal, we had lunch at Firewood--Caesar salad with salmon.  Since our suitcases were too heavy, we had to check our luggage, but the very helpful Air France attendant at the desk, speaking in a wonderful, lilting French accent got us seats in the very last row (#53 A & B) of the flight #83 Air France jet.