The California Academy of Sciences is a big place. We didn't see the whole thing, but we made a good attempt. The bulk of the day was spent in the aquarium and the rain forest. The latter required a 25 minute wait in line, but this was considered pretty good, since the line when we got there was over 45 minutes. Though he's a member, elgecko had never seen the rain forest before, because line are usually over an hour. It was worth the wait, especially the butterflies. elgecko says if science could somehow produce a cross breed of a dolphin and a butterfly it would be my perfect animal. :D

Late in our visit we met up with juverna and mactavish for a trip up to the "living roof" of the museum, where native California species provide a habitat for local wildlife. The planetarium doesn't allow children under 3, so we had to skip that part, but it was just as well--we were pretty scienced out by that time. It was time for a trip to the Mission for a sushi break--yeah, I know you're supposed to get Latino food in the Mission, but what's the point of tradition if you don't break with it every once in a while?

After returning to the hotel, I met up with Aaron, who'd finished his conference panels for the day, and we met celticmoni for dinner at a local creperie. Have I mentioned I love this town?

Want to see what I found in the garden this morning?

Butterflies! And what I think may be the web's first lolpillar.

Here they are, flutterin' by.

Natural History Museum: giant whale, dinosaurs, fossils, planetarium show, Darwin exhibit (they're allowed to evolve up here in the north), and butterflies! Oh, the cheeful butterflies!

Dinner: lobster ravioli, ahhh....

Show: lots of thinky thoughts on Rent, which will get written up during tomorrow's long bus ride.

Dessert: Amaretto cheesecake. Dear god. (When you walk upwards of 7 miles in a day, you're entitled.)

Oh, but I love this city.