So this is it. My last days in San Francisco. This will be my last blog post from this amazing city that has been my home for the last 6 months.  I have to say that the last 6 weeks have been the best time of my adventures in SF. It is just my luck to meet some of the most amazing people at the end of my trip. Although thanks to these beautiful people, I can truly say that I have accomplished all that I wanted to in San Francisco.

There were of course, a few things left on my to do list that I really wanted to see before leaving San Francisco and Northern California. One was of course the famous Alcatraz Prison. I had to book my tour in the end of September for early November! Its a very popular attraction and I am very glad that I had plenty of time to book it and see it, as I have met many a traveller who had no idea and missed out! It was a very eerie place and the stories behind the island and the prison were so interesting to hear. From escape attempts to famous prisoners, there was a lot of rich history to capture the imagination. The audio tour really takes the experience to another level, and you really feel as though you were there. The testimonials from guards and prisoners  guide you through the prison and you get their point of view on all the different areas, from the kitchen, cafeteria, the cells and the outside grounds. You can’t help but imagine how life was there, and some of the cells were set up to look like they used to be with prisoners belongings. Very cool. Solo touring proves difficult for pictures so I apologise for the selfies! But it couldn’t be helped, you have to take a few selfies at alcatraz! Haha.

Arriving to the Island!

Prison Showers

Library

Prisoners

Solitary Confinement

Guard Uniforms

Guards office

The kitchen

Sleeping inmate!

The Wardens House

My last hoorah before leaving Northern California would definitely have to be lake Tahoe! Again, another experience to rival Yellowstone and Yosemite national park! This was a different experience, as it was with a group of great, hilarious friends and we did so much! I don’t know if I have ever had so much fun. It was a place that I had been wanting to visit for ages and I am so glad that I fit it in before leaving. We did something awesome everyday and I really didn’t want it to end! I also drove on the right side of the road, in snow and in chains for the first time!! It was so weird but you get used to it very quickly. The first day, after a three and a half hour drive and so much singing to tunes my throat hurt, we arrived at Mellow Mountain Hostel! It was a great hostel with some great guys running it who were so helpful with what to do and where to stay. We definitely got our fair share of amazing views of the lake on the first afternoon in Lake Tahoe. It was breath taking and we arrived at sun set and captured the lake in all its glory with beautiful pink skies.

On the second day we all decided to drive 2 hours to some amazing natural hot springs where we all soaked for way too long! The Travertine Hot springs were scattered all over the place and it really seemed like a well kept secret that only a select few knew about. This was good as there was seven of us and plenty of pools for us to soak in!  We stayed in the pools until around 8pm, enthralled by the clear night sky where all the stars were shining their brightest. We headed back that night, and hit the casino, where I lost $20, so not my favourite experience! Lol.

It was our last full day in Tahoe that the weather definitely turned! We all got to experience a blizzard in Lake Tahoe! This meant that our last day was a day of frolicking in the snow and doing what little sledding we could! We also built a snowman. He was glorious! It was literally a winter wonderland and it looked like we had stepped into Narnia! After being snowed in at a party that we went to, on the last night and having to leave a lot later than expected (10am the next day!), we did eventually make it back to San Francisco. But not before having to drive in chains for the first time! What a way to bring my time in Northern Cali to a close!

I met my two main ladies of the last 6 weeks and lets just say I have now well and truly experienced San Francisco night life! ! So I feel like I should give a special mention to Aileen and Tanya for getting me out of my comfort zone and showing me the best time! Not to get too sappy but  I feel like I’ve made some amazing new friends for life and I will cherish every crazy moment I’ve had with you two ladies. It was great that in the last six weeks work died down and I was actually able to go a bit crazy, after working way too much! I really feel like I found my place here! The group of long term travellers in the Adelaide and Dakota Hostels have become great friends to me and I really feel like they are some of the most like minded humans I have met. It’s a unique thing to meet a group that are all in the same place in life and that all have the same obsession for new adventures, travel and meeting awesome people from all over the world. So to Aileen, Tanya, Mason, Cameron, Andrew, Andrew, Javon, Brett, Mary, Shaun, Keith, Dimitri, Niamh, Sabrina, Amy, Roxanne, Amanda, Ramtin, Paul, Rob, Tess, Alex, Kumi, Nariya, Grace, Emma, Anya, Scott, and all the other people I may have forgotten to mention (sorry if I missed anyone!), thanks for being the main faces that I will forever associate with the amazing times I’ve had in San Francisco and beyond. There is no way to explain how much you guys have impacted me as a person. I have so much love for you all.

Well I guess I’ll leave it there. I could go on and on, but I don’t think I need to! Reading back on my previous blogs, I have already done and seen so much and I am so greatful. I really cannot believe that I am going to be beginning the epic adventure that I have been talking about for so long now! It still doesn’t seem real! I’m sad to leave, but Im ready for the next adventure. So see you on the flip side San Francisco!

xx