San Francisco - Mother / Daughter Trip

July 5 - 9, 2018

Thursday: 

Every once in a while I get a great idea, and I must say that this was one of them - Jen and I taking a trip to San Francisco in honour of her 40th birthday.  We flew from Bellingham the morning of the 5th, stopping briefly in Seattle and then arriving in San Francisco mid-afternoon.  We took the Bart train to the Powell St station and from there it was a two minute walk to our hotel, the Parc 55 Hilton.  After checking in we headed over to the Powell-Hyde  cable car turnabout which was nearby and got in the long line-up to get on for a trip up  Powell Street.

Little did we know that if we'd walked a block or so up the street we wouldn't have had to wait.

There's lots of rules about riding the cable car, and it is kinda scary how close people come to hitting the mirrors of parked cars while they're riding on the outside ledge of the street car!  The cable car brakeman have nerves of steel I'm sure, there's lots going on...

We got off at Fisherman's Wharf, walked around the whole area just watching the vendors and buskers, then found a place to take a break and have something to eat.  

View of the skyline from Pier 39

Alcatraz

Friday:

We slept so good, then got up and figured we'd get a little shopping in since the Westfield Shopping Centre was close by, as well as Nordstrom, Macy's, Ross's etc, who could resist?
Jen was looking for shoes and we definitely had a good look at what was available and she eventually found some.  We also saw some pretty amazing specialty shops, including sweet treats.

I love this signpost with the distances of famous world cities from where we are staying here.  (There was a similar one in Paris showing distances from there to other Grand Slam and famous tennis tournament venues)


Saturday:

Our destination was the Golden Gate Bridge, so we eventually figured out where to catch the local bus which would take us to the other side of the bridge and drop us off.  From there we walked across the bridge - cyclists mainly on one side of the bridge, walkers/runners on the other.  It was bright and clear, blue skies, and on the bridge it was windy but refreshing.

Research on TripAdvisor suggested to take the bus across the bridge, getting off at the stop right at the end of it and then walk back across it - it was the perfect plan for us.

And we're off!

Half way mark

We made it across

The Round House Cafe at the end of the bridge was a great spot to stop and have a coffee and a croissant, and then wander through the gift shop at the Welcome Centre nearby.

Blue sky, sailboats on the water, the Golden Gate in the background - perfect.


Sunday:

We started out the day with a bit of shopping, then went on a long walkabout - the sights included classical row houses, beautiful flowers, a crooked street (Lombard St), Ghiradelli Square, and lots of interesting sights and people along the way.

Cable Car Museum

Cable car system

It was kind of interesting to see how the under-workings of what makes a cable car go so we popped in there on our way by.

Lots of up and down....

 We made it over to Lombard Street, with it's eight switchbacks people that drive down take it very slowly...Jen and I walked it along with many others, stopping to take pictures of the thousands of hydrangeas that border the roadway and gardens.

View from halfway down

'Go Car' - available to rent

View from the bottom of the street up - you can barely see the roadway with the 8 switchbacks, it just looks like a beautiful garden from here.

Ghiradelli Square

This was a happening place, lots of people sitting in the square by the fountain, locals walking their dogs, wandering in and out of the shops, and of course eating delicious Ghiradelli chocolate and ice cream treats.  We had a mid-afternoon lunch in the sun there, a great resting spot before we carried on up to the Fishermans Wharf / Piers area.

All along the main promenade there's lots to see and do, from the street buskers to the shops, the marina, and just people watching.  

Interesting way to see the sights...

Double decker carousel

There's something for everyone in San Francisco; even a staircase that plays musical notes when you walk up it!


Tonga Hurricane Bar in the Fairmont Hotel

We had heard that Tonga' was a tiki themed restaurant in the upscale Fairmont Hotel so for our last evening in SF we thought that would be a great place to go.

Jen was riding the cable car up there hanging onto the outside

Tonga Room - the band was on it's own little island in the 'lagoon'

Mai Tais for two

We had an amazing trip, with memories and laughs at situations we will never forget;
A naked man trying clothes on in Ross, our naive server/bartender/manager/dishwasher at Alioto's, a guy on the street telling Jen how lucky her husband is, an amazing topknot, an entertaining bus driver, free beer, the dozens of shoes that were tried on, and the fun we had at the Tonga Room (Steve Martin dancing will not be forgotten!)  I'm looking forward to our next adventure already......