Petaluma and urban hikes

We are spending Memorial Day weekend in Petaluma, California just north of San Francisco. Yesterday, we took a ferry in to see the sights. Nate became an expert at deciphering the crosswalk signs. "STOP!!!" he would scream as soon as the red hand appeared. "Now GO! GO! GO!" he would belt out as the white walking man would flash up. Joe and Louisa dutifully held hands and looked both ways as we explored the city. Highlights were, of course, the sea lions at pier 39 and the double decker merry-go-round, Boudins Sourdough Bread Museum and Resturant, cable cars (both new and old) and Chinatown. As we walked down the streets and gazed in windows at various hanging poultry, pigs, other meat and fish our kids were far from grossed out. "Cleaner than Nyhuka market and it smells better too!" they thought outloud. As we walked up a street full of stores with piles of fresh fruit and vegetables Joe said, "Mom, do you realize that if you took away all of the Chinese people, this looks like the markets in Greece." Finally we got to Mee Mee's Bakery, a wonderful little hole in the wall type place that the guidebooks had suggested. We bought a whole bag of fortune cookies, and other delightful crispy treats and then the older guy behind the counter took us to the back, amongst the machines and supplies and showed us how he makes fortune cookies. Each kid got a small piping hot sample. So cool. Since I have just finished reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (I think) I followed her example and asked Mee Mee, "Where is the best chinese food in Chinatown?" He directed us down the street and around the corner to Hunan Home. Indeed the best chinese food either of us had ever had and according to the numerous awards posted everywhere it seems many others thought so too. Of course, we gulped when we saw how small and nicely tabled it was, as I am sure they gulped when they saw our four children. Somehow we made it through the meal with everyone trying and loving different helpings of familiar and unfamiliar chinese food. After dashing in several crowded touristy shops we had the required souvienors... a doll, a fan, some chopsticks, and some Pokemon or Pocket Monsters (As they are called, I guess in China and Japan).
Back at the campground Joe and Louisa are jumping into all of the games the campground is hosting, playing at the heated pool, getting their faces painted and taking hayrides around the campground. Meanwhile, I am taking advantage of being connected yet again and checking e-mail, reading blogs and doing piles of laundry!