Caffé Central

Located right next to the place that we parked at in downtown San Francisco, Caffé Central is arguably the worst cafe I have been to. Yes. The worst. Admittedly, it is well decorated in the inside, and had it not been opening out into a parking lot, the view would have been very nice. However, the quality of the drinks, were spectacularly... bad.

 

The shop was clean, and the bubble tea not extremely expensive. To a passerby, it would be seen as a nice, quaint shop-- clean and polished. Even the bubble tea was huge! Any passerby would be set to go to the place. Believe me-- I was too. However, don't let looks fool you. 

The bubble tea was extremely overly sweet, with only a tiny amount of bubbles compared to the amount of juice. Also, according to my dad, the coffee was undrinkable. 

"I've never had any hand-dripped coffee that tasted that bad," he recalls.

On no account do I recommend this Cafe to anyone, other than someone wanting to drink some really bad coffee, or sickly sweet 'bubble' tea. If you want a good coffee to go with after a good dinner, let Starbucks lead you the way. 

**I won't attempt to rate this, for obvious reasons, but I can't say that I could give this place a rating higher than say... 5. Believe me, if I go back to San Fran, I know at least one place I'm definitely not going to!***

Double Tree Hotel (by Hilton)

Indeed, I really do make a habit of going to really nice hotels. I really just can't stand really cheap hotels. Yea yea sounds like a spoiled brat, but really. I can't. And I was glad to say that DoubleTree hotel (by Hilton), met up to my standards. There were even cookies! <3 p="">

No, seriously. They were some seriously good cookies. And the hotel was nice and clean, and the hotel was gorgeously huge. The washrooms were pretty clean too! Impressive. I enjoyed my stay there, even if it was only for one day. Well, I stayed at the DoubleTree in Seattle for one day, and stayed at the DoubleTree in San Francisco for three. Both were really well-kept hotels that served free cookies. Yum~!!

The lobby is massive, by the way. If you're thinking about going to Seattle and need a hotel to book in, I strongly recommend this hotel. However, during the time that I was booked there, there were a lot of people there, and getting into the parking lot was no easy feat. The hotel's nice, though, and the front desk people are pretty friendly. I enjoyed my stay there! 

I recommend this place to anyone who likes a little bit of a fancy hotel, and cookies! :D

***I give this hotel a 9.5 out of 10!***

California Academy of Sciences (and my 200th post!!!)

Well, this is my 200th post, so I decided to make it something special-- my favourite tourist place in San Francisco. The California Academy of Sciences. This may be slightly confusing, as I was just in Seattle a post ago, but... 200th post. Something special. I didn't want to waste my 200th post talking about my hotel (which was pretty swell), and Panera Breads (I still think Tim Horton's is better). Anyways, moving on to the California Academy of Sciences. This tourist place was in the middle of my trip. I went on Monday, which did me well. There are reviews of it being extremely busy and the parking expensive, but the parking is free for 4 hours if you manage to park on the road, and don't mind walking a little. Also, save the few school groups there, it was relatively calm.

The size of the Academy of Sciences took me by surprise. I didn't expect it to be so small. That being said, it's the perfect size to just whisk around. The aquarium exhibit is really downright impressive. I really loved that the displays were nice, and the fish seemed to be well-kept. As a big animal person, I knew that part of me was against looking at the exhibits of animals, but then I decided that I really needed to see them. So I went.

Just look at that adorable turtle!! The Academy of Sciences is really amazing, and somewhere you have got to visit. It's an absolute must visit tourist spot!! And I haven't even got to the rainforest yet!

This certain exhibition was definitely something. it had a ramp leading through all the levels of the Rainforest, and in each level, the temperature changed. It was full of life-- flora, and insects and macaws. Absolutely beautiful, it was that touch of nature within a man-made place! I loved it. Absolutely loved it.

Two things left to talk about, including Dark Universe, and the penguins...

Seriously, I can't say that the screen for Dark Universe wasn't impressive. It was really impressive. Huge, while we're at it. However, if you're really no comsology person, just don't watch it... It nearly put me to sleep. That's not saying that it wasn't good. The film was extremely educational. It's just saying that it went in one ear and out the other for me....

Last and least, the penguins. I refused to take a photo at those poor souls. You would think that a place that took such a hefty admission fee would find the time and money to offer them a much better home! I demand their release- they looked miserable and terribly groomed!!!

However, that being said, minus the penguins, this is a great place and I did really enjoy it! Everyone should visit there at least once, in my opinion! I recommend this place to people who love nature, wildlife, and science in general!

***I give this place a 8 out of 10. Because of the penguins,***

Seattle Premium Outlets (and Costco)

No, Seattle Premium Outlets was and still is not in San Francisco, but I thought it was a good place to start, seeing that that's where my vacation started.

To get this clear, yes, my destination was San Francisco, but my trip looked somewhat like this: staying one night at Seattle, taking the plane to San Fran, staying in San Fran for 3 days, and then coming back to Seattle, and back to home on the 25th. Busy? Heck yea.

But I get too far ahead of myself. Let's back track to the beginning. Seattle Premium Outlets. Seriously, this place is kind of amazing. I don't normally enjoy shopping vivaciously, but Seattle Premium Outlets has everything from leather jackets and boots to dresses and makeup. I'd really rather go with the leather jackets and boots, but really, this place is fit for pretty much everyone! As for shopholics? Really, safer to stay out... Home of cheaper prices and everything you could want to buy (except groceries... Seriously, this is turning into a Macy's commercial...), I suggest everyone should at least drop by if they are off to Seattle!

The other shopping part that I wanted to get over with does cover your groceries. Costco is amazing. Really. Buy everything from fruit to books. What's not to love? Talking about books, you can get tons of amazing books from Costco at seriously cheap prices!! (Compared to Chapters, anyhow). Of course, there's not as much variation as there would be at Chapters, but occasionally, you can swing in a few really interesting ones. I came back from the U.S. with 4 new books just from Costco, anyways~! Looking forward to giving them reviews!

That seems to be a sufficient start off to my vacation for now! After all, all I really did at Seattle on the first day was eat and shop. And check into my hotel. But I'll ramble about eating and hotels later!

Ciao for now,

Ivy

San Francisco!

Hi everyone!

I have just come back from San Francisco! It was an overall really great trip especially with this time of year, seeing the great weather! Really, nothing like Vancouver.... I think spring is an ideal time to visit San Fran, with all the blooming flowers, and the beautiful sun that blessed me my whole entire trip!

For the time being, I will probably be posting tourism posts on San Fran, so please stick with me, as the book reviews will take some time!

Thank you!
Ivy

Immortal City by Scott Speer

Quite recently, I finished reading a book called Immortal City. At first, I was hesitant to start reading because this seemed like another one of those cliched romance stories. However, I was pleasantly surprised. For a romance story with angels, this book ranks pretty high on my good-reads list. The ending was probably the only thing I mildly disliked. Yet I get too ahead of myself. Immortal City is set in Angel City, where two races live alongside one another-- the Guardian Angels, and the humans. The humans look up to the Guardian Angels like celebrities, and well... angels. Meanwhile, to the Guardian Angels, humans are just another assignment, another fan to deal with. It's always been this way-- Angels collecting payments to save the humans, huge sums of money. Life insurance. However, what happens when one of them falls for one of the humans? In the City of Angels, the rules are about to be broken, and hidden secrets unveiled.

If you could buy life insurance with a ton of money, would you do it? On the other hand, if you had the power to save the ones you loved but only if they had an incredibly sum of money for you, how would you feel? Would you save your loved one no matter what the consequences? Or would your dignity and status get the better of you? In this society, it's unheard of for the Guardian Angels to save someone out of goodwill, even love. However, things may just change when Jackson Godspeed, also known as Jacks, meets Maddy and they spark an electric connection. When Guardian Angels protect for money, what happens when one protects for love?

Meet Jackson Godspeed, the most famous celebrity currently in Angel City. Flawless and the personification of perfect, he's supposedly everything a girl could want. Anything a fan could want. He's rich, famous, and extremely handsome. Meanwhile, there's normal, sweet Maddy, who grew up in a normal environment, who takes people for how they act instead of what is portrayed on the networks. Sweet Maddy who wants nothing but the safety of the people around her and who would take a knife for the ones who loves. Together and apart, they discover secrets and attractions that could change and ruin their future.

Scott Speer writes an interesting book on insurance, love, and revenge. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance and adventure!

***I give this book a 8.7 out of 10***

Ads!

Hi everyone!

You may have noticed the advertisements up around my blog! I'm sorry if they are a hindrance to your reading and enjoyment of the blog, but I just wanted to test this whole advertising out. Please bear with me!

Sincerely,
Ivy

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Seriously-- I really really enjoyed reading this book. When I first opened this book and started reading, I was utterly... confused. That's not to say that it was a bad book-- it was a great read, but it kind of puzzled me at the beginning. After a while, you start piecing together bits and pieces about the setting, the characters, and whole situation.

"I have two weeks.

You'll shoot me at the end

No matter what I do."

How much more cryptic can you get? I think it was nice that I started reading Code Name Verity without very much background knowledge on the characters and the plot line in general- it left things for the author to decide (like how much I know on British warfare (aka nothing)). I really loved this book because of the fact that you can read it even if you have no knowledge what so ever upon the topic of discussion-- Elizabeth Wein just does that well of a job describing the characters, and setting up the world for the reader to enter!

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys spy novels, friendship novels, and adventure novels. Code Name Verity will open your eyes to the tough bonds of loyalty to your country and to the ones you love. This slightly puzzling book will keep your mind reeling right to the finish!

***I give this book a 9.3 out of 10!***

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies by Scott Westerfield is a very intriguing book. Set in the future, it's the struggle between being ugly and being turned into a pretty. In this society, anyone normal is Ugly. At the age of 16, you have a life-changing operation to be turned pretty. Tally is on the border of being turned pretty-- she's a few weeks off from the operation that will turn her stunningly pretty and change her world to being immersed in a paradise where her only job is to have fun and enjoy life. Yet, Tally's friend Shay is not as hyped as she is... Shay doesn't want to become a pretty. She's convinced that the operation that changes you to a pretty not only changes your looks but also your way of thinking. When Shay runs away, Tally has to make a few decisions that will change her and Shay's world forever, along side of the others who she comes to love and care for.

Scott Westerfeld is an amazing writer, hands down. He does an excellent job of taking a reader and sticking them in a beautifully crafted world, where you ask questions about yourself constantly. Slightly a cliche story, but you can't argue that it isn't well written. Also, this is a series of four books, so you'll have three more books to look forward to when you finish Uglies! I really enjoyed reading this book, although it did lack a bit of originality (or perhaps it's because I read so many books like this before... *ahem* Divergent...  *ahem*) Tally is also a pretty well-developed character. However, I have to say that my favourite part of this book was all the plot twists! You would think that you know what going to happen next until... nope! Scott Westerfeld really keeps you on your toes and reading!

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the Divergent series, or anyone who enjoys reading books where characters realize that their life really wasn't what they imagined it would be.

*** I give this book a 9.1 out of 10!***

Spring Break!

To everyone who comes and read this blog,

Thank you so much for visiting my blog! Time sure goes by fast-- it seems like just yesterday I just opened this blog! Can you believe it's spring already? Soon the flowers will be in bloom and the trees will regain their green leaves. And in Vancouver, it will keep raining... And raining... And raining....

Which brings me to a conversation I had with my friend yesterday- we were commenting on how in Vancouver, "Lovely weather we're having today," doesn't really work... After all, the conversation would go something along the lines of:
"Lovely weather we're having!"
"No, not really-- it's raining, dark, and cloudy."
---Conversation dwindles. *cricket* *cricket*---

Weather? That small talk doesn't really work...

However, spring does mean more book reviews, and also some travel journals on San Francisco! (hopefully). Also, I say this every time, but please do leave comments-- I love reading feedback from my readers!

Ciao for now!
Ivy