14/10/2006 The Dakota day two

Hello, With the first day in the can. I thought I'd take a trip over to The Haight to check out Amoeba Music. I got up reasonably late because of the drinking the night before so I made a later than expected start which was OK. On the way, not far from here, I came across a place called Rasputin Music great 5 story record and DVD store. Tons of new and 2nd hand stuff. Could have spent hours in there but only stayed for about an hour. Picked up a couple of bargains so it was well worth the diversion. On to haight street, where the 60's are still clinging on for grim death. great area. Full of eclectic shops, tattoists, bars and great architecture. I'l go back there again to have a better look but for the moment, I was on a mission. Amoeba was probably not quite as big as the Hollywood store but their records selection was a little more complete. Had a grea couple of hours in there and again picked up some great stuff but came out of there a bit nervous as to the weight of bringing these back, combined with the other purchases, it's gonna be tight but I should be OK if I distribute the weight evenly. last night I went to a bar called the Gold Dust which was great. Busy polace with a three piece band playing covers ( the band were behind a "bar" in the back so they had no room, but they were three middle aged dudes who didn't really need to worry about stage presence. They did a great job and had the joint jumpin'. This is where I saw "Thumbs Nakimura". a drunk Japanese guy who showed his approval (every minute or so) of the band by leaning over to them with his arm outstretched and his thumb in the air. He would remain that way for about a minute before receding back to his seat. Mind you, he was only a couple of feet from the band in the first place so his thumb always ended up about six inches from the band-members face. Very funny. He kept yelling for MAKO JASSON... These guys were playing Willie Nelson, Lynrd Skynrd and other such artists and Thumbs wanted to hear Michael Jackson. Great stuff, he never did get his request though. I stayed there for a few hours. The bar staff were great. They rang a bell every now and again. I asked the barman what that was for. Every time someone tipped $5, they would ring the bell. he told me that they do it to encourage the english to ask, so they got an undestanding of tipping...something they never do apparently. As if to prove a point, this group of English tourists stood next to me (almost on top of me really) and I watched and they never tipped a cent. They took every bit of change off the bar and the other bartender looked at me and rolled his eyes. Very funny. (Sorry Paul) I think "whingeing pom" refers best to the English Tourist...they're all bloody miserable. They don't tip, everything takes too long, blah blah, blah. But then, a lot of toursists are like that, doesn't matter where they're from. I can never understand why tourists complain about things that aren't like they are at home....why friggin travel in the first place if you want everything like it is at home?? Idiots. Anyway, that's all I want to write so I'll update tomorrow my loves. M