as a lily

as a lily

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2007/03/03		復活
2006/11/07		無題
2006/09/02		へたれぷー
2006/08/16		ぷーたろー夏休み
2006/08/06		２ヶ月も経ってたなんて

直接移動： 2007年 3 月 2006年 11 9 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 月 2005年 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 月 2004年 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 月

	2004/10/12(火) S.F ③

One week left. And today was my last day in San Francisco. The first, I went to Coit tower to see a great view of downtown or the ocean. It was a little hard to get there, such steep slopes! But the view from the top of tower was great, no fog.

Next, I went to Alcatraz island, an old prison on the island. I got on a ship to get there. I had a self tour with a tape guide, which was not bad, but not good, because I couldn't move around in the prison flexibly. Anyway, I sympathised with prisoners in the past, such a bad enviroment to live for more than 10 years! It would make them crazy.

And then, I went to watch a movie, "The forgetten", a kind of scary movie. I didn't like it, especially the ending was very easy making, and unreasonable. But I could understand their English well.

After that, I drank a cup of Mocca at Starbucks coffee, and I was talked by a guy, who has been finding a job in San Francisco. I told him I was going to Las Vegas, and he recommended me some good pubs, and talked about something else. I had a good conversation with him.

	2004/10/11(月) S.F ②

I got up at 8 on this morning. My condition was not bad in the morning, but as time passed, I felt very tired and had headache, so I wasn't active like before. I visited Grace Cathedral near China town, which was a very beautiful church. I stayed in it for a while. And then, I went to the visitor information center again to receive a suggestion how to go to Las Vegas, but they didn't give me any information. So, I decided to extend one more day in San Francisco.

After that, I walked around Union Square without any purpose, and I visited Fisherman's whalf to have lunch because my father has suggested me to eat crab in there. I went to a seafood restaurant in Pier 39, but it's not delicious as I expected. I felt I wasted money.

After that, I just went back to the hostel and slept...oh, tired. I even didn't eat supper, but I went to Starbucks coffee and drank a cup of iced mocha, and walked around. The night in San Francisco ends very early except some pubs or dance clubs.

	2004/10/10(日) Yosemite national park

I got up at 5:30 to join the tour for Yosemite National Park. And in front of the lobby, I met a person who would join the same tour, she was Japanese. Fortunately, I could get a partner to go with because people join a tour are usually couple or group.

The members who went with me were 8, and a guide. We got in a shuttle bus, and drove for 3 and a half hours. The guide lady was a very talkative person, rather a little bit noisy but kind. We stopped by several places, and we had chances to take pictures. Every places we went was fantastically beautiful and great! such a big scale! Trees were very tall(the highest in the world), rocks were wild and dynamic(the highest in the world), rivers were very clear and beautiful...and nice weather and tasty(?) air!! I felt how small I am. This tour was just 85$, I thought it's quite reasonable price. I took over 40 pictures just today. It was worth to go there, otherwise I would have regretted.

Today, my room has no other person, it's great!

↓it's just a tree(not the biggest). How small I am

	2004/10/09(土) S.F ①

Today, I got up 7:15, and I ate free breakfast of the hostel, just bagles, and apple juice, not bad.

First of all, I took a bus to the visitor information center, I didn't pay the bus fee, a driver didn't check. The information center hadn't opened yet, so I tried to buy a day pass, but a ticket counter was also closed...I think it's very slow to start the morning in San Francisco.

Through the introduction of the information center, I booked a tour for Yosemite park. And I checked E-mail, like everyday...am I friend sick?

Then I started travel, first of all I went to Fort Mason, a kind of port. There were a lot of ships on the ocean, and the beach was also beautiful and clean! And such a nice day! Maybe it's usual in California. I walked around the beach, and ate a hotdog and drank lemonade, a bit expensive.

Next, I went to The Golden Gate Bridge, but the color was orange because the name means the bride of Golden Gate. I walked on the bridge for a while, and took some pictures,which were not only for the bridge but also for the view of the ocean. I think San Francisco has very good combination of nature and artificial thing. And I encountered a kind of luck, it's my secret...

Now, I easily can read a map, I've found. It's a big progress for me. I hope it'll be the same in Japan.

Then, I went to Palace of the Legion of Honor, the place my room mate of the first stay recommended me to visit. It's an art musium, and it's said "the most beautiful musium in America" It was certainly beautiful, but I prefer Metropolitan Musium in N.Y. There were a lot of pictures, and the arts of Maya as the special exhibition, which were fairly nice. There was a wedding ceremony outside of the musium, how's that possible?

Finally, I went to Cliff house and Seal Rocks. I ate supper there, also bit too expensive. But the scenery was great, sunset. I'm addicted to the beach, anyway.

	2004/10/08(金) L.A　→S.F

I got up at 6:30 in the morning, it too early to get Union station but I thought it's better for me to go there early because a bus should be too crowded to bring my suitcase. As I expected, the bus was not crowded, so I could bring my suitcase easily.

After arriving Union station, I was waiting for the train with a cup of coffee. But the train was delayed, so I thought I was suppose to wait more. I suddenly hit an idea to check in my luggage earlier, and it would be easy for me to watch my luggage, so I went to a baggage counter. However, my offer wasn't accepted! why? it was too late. I had to check in at former time. Oh, no, but I didn't think I could carry all my luggage inside a car, otherwise I would bother other customers. So, I changed my ride to later one, and I checked in luggage. But, some minutes later, I saw a lot of people were bringing their big suitcases to a train! My worry was meaningless. And my new ride was a bus! No, I paid a lot of money to ride a train, see a nice ocean view! Oh, no, shoot.

Ironically, the bus drove on highway, no ocean, just mountains and land. But they were also nice, no, interesting for me because like every 5 minutes, different kinds of mountains appeared, different colors, shapes, and heights. And land, almost horizen. I wondered why I can't see any mountain or high thing which seemed to exist over the land. Because of the shape of the earth? or fog? Scientifically, it may be obvious, but I still wonder about it for a while. Finally, the bus arrived the next stop, and I transfered to a train, it's still not ocean view though, rather worse!

After transfering a bus, I finally arrived in San Francisco. I guessed the best point to get off, and tried to walk to the hostel. But, I'd forgot an important thing of this place, slope! So~~~~steep, I'd almost given up and would have taken a taxi, but I didn't do because of my stupid pride, ah, stupid. I got sweat, and sore muscle.

After missing the way many times, I finally found out the hostel. A receptionist was kind, but a room...narrow. I expected larger because the room was for 2 people, must be comfortable! but it was rather worse than the hostel in Santa Monica. In addition, the hostel was at the middle of a busy street, so very noisy. Oh, annoying. But they served free breakfast and internet, it's good.

↓grave on the road

	2004/10/07(木) L.A ③

I got up at 7, and went out of the hostel at 8. L.A. is very warm, just T-shirt is enough except at night, and always sunny, and strong sun shine.

Today's my destination was Holleywood. On the way to there, I suddenly noticed I forgot to bring my digital camera, oh no! so first of all, I visited the information center to buy a instant camera, and asked about a good location to take a picture of Holleywood sign. He recommended me to join a tour, 12$. I signed up. He liked Japan, and Japanese girl. He asked me about Japanese devorce rate because the devorce late in U.S.A is about 50%!, he said. He looked he felt relief when I answered it. 5 members joined this tour at this time. 2 couples and me, one couple was from Cicago, and the other one was from Scotland. The guide was very talkative, and I could get a lot of information about Holleywood. He drove us to a hill, whose scenery was quite nice.

After the tour, I started walking. There were a lot of stores, especially T-shirts stores. They sold 5 T-shirts for 10$, very cheap. I bought just one, and just 3$, as cheap as China town. I looked around the walk of fame, some theaters, and the wax museum, everywhere was interesting. And finally, I watched a movie in Hollywood! The title was "Ladder 49", the main actors were Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta. I think it was my first time to see John Travolta as a good person(roll), also good. The movie was so impressive, so I almost cried. Even the theater itself was huge, luxuary, anyway good. I enjoyed Hollywood fully.

Tomorrow, I'll be in San Francisco. I've got to prepare!

↓Yoshinoya in L.A. the system is the same as McDonalds. We're line-up in front of counter, and order, and have a seat! I think "drive thru" service is good.

	2004/10/06(水) L.A　②

I got up at 6, and had a light breakfast. First of all, I tried to get on a bus to go downtown, but it was not easy because there're lots kinds of buses and courses. Finally, I could get on the bus that was suppose to go downtown, but it took such a long time. While driving, I was very anxious whether I got a correct one or not.

After arriving downtown, I went to the information center to ask for a tour to Grand Canyon, but it was still not good. I decided to go San Francisco first. A staff recommended me to take a train to there because the landscape of this ride is very beautiful, full of ocean. After that, I went to a station to buy a ticket. I cost 78$! a kind of expensive.

In L.A. I've seen a lot of black people, or people who speak Spanish, much more than N.Y. or Toronto. I wonder why? And in my opinion, black people are less friendly than white people...prejudice?

There were a lot of transit systems in L.A. not only public, such as shuttle bus or even regular bus. The cheapest transit cost is just 25 cents, incredible! But today, I walked most time because it's more interesting, and to get on a bus goes to a place where I wanna go is very difficult. L.A is so huge!

I went to China town, Little Tokyo, Japanese American musium, the cathedral church, mexican park(?), and so on. They were fairly good, I mean, it's not so desireble to go there.

In these two days, I met 2 foreigners. One is Mexican, and the other one is English. Mexican man, who was old, always talked about Christianitie, I was tired from his talking. And I couldn't hear English guy's English, I think it's not only because of my poor listening skill.

	2004/10/05(火) L.A　①

his morning, at 9:35, I left Toronto to Los Angeles. Before I left homestay, my host father and mother saw off me even though they didn't have to get up so early, I am glad. To depart from Toronto was not easy because of heavy security. I had to write down several documents, and let them collect my finger print and picture. I got so tired, so I slept very well on airplane. And I read a book whose title was "Angel's ashes", a kind of sad story. At first, its English was too difficult for me to read and understand, I've read just 40 pages as a total, not only today.

At 2:15, the plane arrived at the air port. I got on a shuttle bus, which was like a taxi because a drive drove all customers' destination, and the cost was cheap. I arrived at hostel international Santa Monica, and walked around the beach. It was so beautiful that I took a lot of pictures, especially sun set was fabulous. And I asked the information centre about a tour for Grand Canyon, but I didn't get a good information, I mean, not the ideal one for me.

In my image, L.A. looks like "the oasis in desert" because almost of all colors are white, brown, and green. Even houses have white or some earth color the most.

At 8, I came back to hostel, and I met a Japanese man at a room. He's traveled for 28days, and today is the last day for him. We talked about his travel or my study in Canada, quite interesting.

Now, I'm going to make a plan for these 2 weeks. I'm interested in natinal parks, so I think I'll go some parks if I find a good tour.

	2004/10/03(日) Finish!

Hey, I don't think anybody checks my diary still now. But anyway I hadn't had any chance to use internet for long time because of the ESL programme I've took up to now. I was in Fredericton, and I'm in Toronto now. I'm a little bit tired, but very good mentally because I could complete that hard programme.

And on this 5th, I'm going to L.A. for travel. I'm going to visit around there(L.A. Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, etc) for 2 weeks. I haven't decided any plan yet. I've just booked a youth hostel. It's my first time to travel abroad by myself, so I'm nervous a bit. But I think I'll have a good time, and I'll evaluate my English skill by talking to American people.

I'm going back to Japan on 20th of October! See you soon!