"Bawdy San Francisco at it's ... well, bawdiest! OK, here's the skinny - I have lived in San Francisco - on and off - since 1969. I've seen a lot and done a lot and I know the City by heart - at least how to get around. But there was sort of a running mystery for me about the down and dirty of San Francisco's history. Sure, over the years I had heard or read bits and pieces about the City's 'tarnished' past, but my two hour tour today with Lola Montez filled in gaping holes and made the past become real. With her charm, wit, and knowledge - this was one of the best tours of San Francisco I have ever taken. Come on - how many places can you go and get to know a town with a Drag Queen as your guide? It was glorious. Do it and live the moment. One tour that I'll do again and recommend to others too!"
- Stephen M.
"Lola is a true professional. Decked out in full historical 49ers drag as the actual historical figure, the Countess Lola Montez took my wife and me, 2 cousins, and 2 "blokes from Chicago" (as she called them) on a 2-hour narrated tour of the old Barbary Coast.
We saw Chinatown, North Beach, and the Financial District in a totally new/old light with Lola's whimsical and adept guidance. I'll never forget standing in a muralled alley, noting the Banksy art, and listening to the scintillating tale of a rich city founder with a weird dove's blood fetish while the super-regional music of an er-hu quartet played 3 yards away. Walking through Chinatown, Lola greeted the rude stares of Chinese grandmothers in perfect Cantonese. When jaywalking became necessary, Lola stood courageously with her palm outstretched like a Boy Scout crossing guard to protect us from bustling traffic.
She told some of her stories in song and had access to unique hidden treasures like the 100-year-old underground tunnel beneath the old Hippodrome and a hidden 7th-story Buddhist temple. She shared bawdy stories and heartbreaking tales of the sex trade. Lola was friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and polished, and her performance was a vision to behold. Her website doesn't do her justice."
- Kristy L.
"My best friend and I went on this tour this weekend. We had one of the best tours we have ever been on in San Francisco. The Countess Lola Montez was the most informative, funny and amazing tour guide. History teachers should take a lesson from the Countess on how to teach history. We learned things about San Francisco that I never knew and loved learning about the history of Chinatown, soiled doves, French madames and gamblers. Great great fun, you need to go on this tour if you have never done a tour of San Francisco. Her outfit and her spider dance was outstanding and added so much to the tour. She stopped traffic and spoke Chinese with everyone we met in Chinatown. I think everyone in SF knows her and if they don't they should. Run don't walk to take this tour!"
- Betsy I.
"I have taken quite a few tours over the years that I have lived in this fair City...but by and far this is my favorite! The Countess is an amazing lady to walk the Financial District and Chinatown with. I learned so much about the history (the best parts, if you ask me) and she added a lot of old timey flair in, including singing us a sailor's song that served as a warning against being 'shanghai'd' and leading us through part of the tunnel network that lurks beneath the district. Funny, interesting beyond measure, and with a perspective on the past that you don't usually get. The tour really transformed how I see San Francisco (not to mention the area I work in every day). Go on this tour! It will be the best 2 hours you have had in a long time, and it will leave you wishing you could spend the entire day with Countess Lola Montez!"
- Rylan S.
"The Barbary Coast Drag Me Along Tour is one that will leave you with an understanding of today's San Francisco by learning about Yerba Buena's colorful history. The Countess is very talented and gives the tour a theatric element that is completely entertaining. It is an adults only tour because it tells the tales that many want to keep covered up. The tour takes you through Chinatown's alleys and even a tunnel. The Countess is a complete doll while giving away the city's most close kept secrets. Don't miss this tour. I loved it!"
- Mary E.
- Stephen M.
"Lola is a true professional. Decked out in full historical 49ers drag as the actual historical figure, the Countess Lola Montez took my wife and me, 2 cousins, and 2 "blokes from Chicago" (as she called them) on a 2-hour narrated tour of the old Barbary Coast.
We saw Chinatown, North Beach, and the Financial District in a totally new/old light with Lola's whimsical and adept guidance. I'll never forget standing in a muralled alley, noting the Banksy art, and listening to the scintillating tale of a rich city founder with a weird dove's blood fetish while the super-regional music of an er-hu quartet played 3 yards away. Walking through Chinatown, Lola greeted the rude stares of Chinese grandmothers in perfect Cantonese. When jaywalking became necessary, Lola stood courageously with her palm outstretched like a Boy Scout crossing guard to protect us from bustling traffic.
She told some of her stories in song and had access to unique hidden treasures like the 100-year-old underground tunnel beneath the old Hippodrome and a hidden 7th-story Buddhist temple. She shared bawdy stories and heartbreaking tales of the sex trade. Lola was friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and polished, and her performance was a vision to behold. Her website doesn't do her justice."
- Kristy L.
"My best friend and I went on this tour this weekend. We had one of the best tours we have ever been on in San Francisco. The Countess Lola Montez was the most informative, funny and amazing tour guide. History teachers should take a lesson from the Countess on how to teach history. We learned things about San Francisco that I never knew and loved learning about the history of Chinatown, soiled doves, French madames and gamblers. Great great fun, you need to go on this tour if you have never done a tour of San Francisco. Her outfit and her spider dance was outstanding and added so much to the tour. She stopped traffic and spoke Chinese with everyone we met in Chinatown. I think everyone in SF knows her and if they don't they should. Run don't walk to take this tour!"
- Betsy I.
"I have taken quite a few tours over the years that I have lived in this fair City...but by and far this is my favorite! The Countess is an amazing lady to walk the Financial District and Chinatown with. I learned so much about the history (the best parts, if you ask me) and she added a lot of old timey flair in, including singing us a sailor's song that served as a warning against being 'shanghai'd' and leading us through part of the tunnel network that lurks beneath the district. Funny, interesting beyond measure, and with a perspective on the past that you don't usually get. The tour really transformed how I see San Francisco (not to mention the area I work in every day). Go on this tour! It will be the best 2 hours you have had in a long time, and it will leave you wishing you could spend the entire day with Countess Lola Montez!"
- Rylan S.
"The Barbary Coast Drag Me Along Tour is one that will leave you with an understanding of today's San Francisco by learning about Yerba Buena's colorful history. The Countess is very talented and gives the tour a theatric element that is completely entertaining. It is an adults only tour because it tells the tales that many want to keep covered up. The tour takes you through Chinatown's alleys and even a tunnel. The Countess is a complete doll while giving away the city's most close kept secrets. Don't miss this tour. I loved it!"
- Mary E.