Where are the Werner's?: San Fransisco

Thank you everyone for your patience, these last few weeks we have been visiting family and having such a packed schedule that I have decided to just post pictures with some explanation.

We made it!

Uncle Hans took Nate and I on the most amazing city tour of San Fransisco but unfortunately it was raining cats and dogs that day. The city is huge, I could visit for a month and not even fully investigating everything Hans showed us in one day.

I wish I could say this one was moving.

I've been schooled on how to tour this building: Go to all the stores as there are free chocolate samples in each store and make sure you use both entrances of the retail location closest to the water as there are different tastings depending on how you enter the store.... yum. I had to try the salted hot chocolate, it's good, but not as good as the one I make for myself at work! :)

Nate is always the thinker, I'm the wild animal. Notice how wet my pant legs are, I loved the hot rain forest cafe, such a fun theme!

This sea lion had a collar and we think that was the reason he was here, all the other sea lions were rained out of pier 39.

Chinese New Year Celebration and Parade, a view from the 5th floor of a very comfortable furniture department of Macy's.

Breakfast with Sam, Nate's fellow Architectural undergrad student, this bakery made it so hard to choice just one thing, I'll have to come back, the best part was their condiment bar full of savory and sweet jams and jellies.

I thought Seattle had a large china town, doesn't even compare.

It is my pleasure to introduce Andrew and Emily Otero, Nate's cousins on his mother's side. They came up to Grandpa and Grandma's house for mid winter break, so we got to play with them for six days. By the time they went back home, I was acting like a kid again. Six and three are such fun ages, we really enjoyed them!

Nate is sketching, Grandma, always an honest critic.

Nate with his Uncle Paul. Uncle Paul and Aunt Julie took us out for a lovely evening at the Cheesecake Factory, ("Thai lettuce wraps, oh how I've missed you!") and later took Nate out for a Manly (Nate, Paul and Hans presiding) buffet at the hotel where they stayed. It was awesome to meet more family and hear some great stories.

Nate and Paul went to Visit Grandpa Werner and his aunt Pilar.

Grandpa and Grandma Otero took us to Stanford.

You cannot get around campus without a bike here.

We liked the newer architecture on campus, a good modern flare of the mission style.

Nate's fellow Architectural student and Switzerland buddy, Jake, took us to this amazing Catholic church in Oakland.

The best that money can buy.... I loved all the symbolical layers, my favorite modern building to date, maybe because I could understand some of the architectural choices as I have some experience with religious theology.

The crypt!

Pick a sunny day for pier 39.

I love sour dough bread, and was so grateful Grandma and Grandpa Otero took us to the bread factory.

Nate said this church has a nick name: Our Lady of Maytag, get it?

Mavericks near Half Moon Bay, where men live and die by the surf board.

Grandpa and Grandma Otero

Grandparents took all the kids to the Science Museum in Golden Gate Park.

You can tell Emily comes for a family of educators, she is so smart.

Emily could have spent the whole day in the Rain-forest exhibit alone.

Andrew loves fish.... Grandma and Andrew spent most of their time in the Aquarium. I wonder if Uncle Mark also influenced Nate's interest in marine life...