It started as a lovely day! EasyTraveler (ET) picked me up, and we made it to the Asian Art museum on time for a docent tour. As ET is a member, she brought me in as a free guest. The docent tours are advertised for museum members only, but if you are there for only one day, nobody will say anything if you join a tour. There are at least 2 tours starting at 12.30 on Saturday, one was for the Indian exhibit, another for baskets.

Japanese baskets are amazing, all made out of non-lacquered bamboo which looks amazing so many years later! And a great docent was so eager to share her knowledge in baskets and basket-making. Very interesting exhibit, who knew men�s fingers can create such delicate things! You can even buy some in the museum store if you can afford.

Also, in the store, they had what looked like elephant bone carvings, but it was actually camel bone carving � book knives, hair clips, boxes and other items, relatively inexpensive (a hair clip is $5) but looking great. The store employee explained, no camels were harmed. They are working animals, and when their life is naturally over, the bones are used for carving.

Off to the Legion of Honor to the French jewelry exhibit. All pieces are signed, the maker and the owner, some notes. Necklaces, brooches, rings, bracelets, buckles � most sparkle with diamonds. Most of them are so big, how were they worn with the delicate evening gowns?

Although ET had a membership card, I�ve noticed there is no additional fee for this exhibit, and if you have a MUNI fast pass or a transfer, the discount is $2.

By this time we were SO hungry� but made it to the Cliff House Bistro. After what seems a 3-hour waiting (25� as they were closed in preparation for dinner) we got our lamb and ravioli. Well, not ravioli, but I forgot the Italian word for it. Ravioli-looking dough filled with squash with mushrooms and sauce. Very tasty!

And we had drinks from the bar � ordered while waiting. If you are there, the bar and the bistro are different entities, and while you�re allowed to bring the drink to your table, you must pay the bar bill first.

The views are amazing, even the fog and starting drizzle didn�t seal it off. Sure, on a clear day it�s even better, still we loved it! Like being on a ship!

It was raining already. That weather forecast didn�t mention rain till Monday! We stopped by a Russian food store where I pointed out several interesting things to buy. Like chocolate butter, chocolate-glazed cheese, soft candy �bird milk�, buckwheat (brown grain like rice), inexpensive red caviar, fish.

There was another store on the way, Bargain Bank, with amazing selection of foreign wines, out-of-business prices, but they close at 6. How dare they!

So, this was our mini-GTG day out. We didn�t sing in the rain. We enjoyed the art!

Thanks Faina. There's nothing better than spending a day in the city with friend!

-Bill

HI, Faina!

You certainly write wonderful reports! You make me want to go back and do everything again!

Faina liked the basket exhibit better, whereas, I liked the French jewelry exhibit (Legion of Honor) better. The jewelry was by Cartier, Lalique, etc. and showed amazing workmanship. Yes, the sparkling diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, etc. etc. are beyond the ordinary purse, but nonetheless the workmanship was much to be admired.

Both exhibits showed what man can make with the materials that the earth provides. Both were beautiful.

Thanks to Faina for suggesting a museum outing! Let's do it again sometime- was fun!

Now that I'm armed with Halva and chocolate butter and beautiful cookies written in Cyrillic - time to try some of the goodies!

ET
(Faina, sorry, I was in the yard working all yesterday and today, until the rain came, so didn't see your post until just now)

Faina, what a fun day out!! Thanks for this report.

Hello, Bill, P_M, yes, it was a nice day despite the rain!

ET, we should always plan an even amount of events (2, 4, 6...) so we can disagree which is better

Thanks for e-mailing me this thread Faina. Sounds like you two had a wonderful time. Those baskets look amazing!

Sounded like a great time Faina and EasyT.

Thanks all for your kind comments! Yes, we had a good time!

Faina: I just had to tell you that YES! Of course! I've had halva before - but never knew it by that name.

I had lots and lots of halva when I was a kid - only can't remember what we called it!

The halva you showed me in that store tastes delicious!

the only difference I know of is the spelling: halva and halvah.

maybe you called it by the name of the producer? there can be a variety!