We walked out of the house, sans any map, and William navigated throughout the entire city. I figured: hey, it's a penninsula, so how lost can we possibly get?? There was but one extremely steep downhill where I was scared for the car and us in it. William took us where we wanted to go so we could see what we wanted to see and kept on suggesting MORE places.
I think that the next time I come back, I will stay for a few days and rent this young man for the entire time!
The sea lions own this part of the pier. They are so much fun to watch. Just like a bunch of fat and lazy kids!
Matt, on Pier 39, with Alcatraz Island behind him.
William's favorite store!
The Boudin sourdough bakery....yum. We were so impressed to see all the little critters that the Boudin bakers had formed from the sourdough bread. Alligators, crabs, bears. Way cool.
No trip to SF is complete without seeing the fresh crab on the street vendor's carts. YUM.
William, tourguide extraordinaire. It sure is a good thing to see what a nice, smart, polite, funny and well-balanced young person he is. I was so grateful to have had some time with him.....this photo was taken in the Ghiradelli chocolate ice cream parlor. It was too early for a round of sundaes, but who could blame us for splitting one, three ways? It's a tourist "Must Do" when in SF!
The cable cars are still turned around by human power on a turntable. 
Matt and William got to hold on to the railing on the outside of the car.
The cable cars are still turned around by human power on a turntable. Made standing in line more fun.
We were also bombarded with old folky tunes from a guy who was trying to make a living from the tourist donations. I will say a prayer for him. His melody lines needed a bit of help.
Matt and William got to hold on to the railing on the outside of the car. Matt had said that was something he wanted to do and he got his wish!
Lombard Street: it's pretty crooked at this point!
A nice view of Coit Tower and the Bay Bridge from the top of Lombard Street. Coit Tower was built as a monument to the firefighters of San Francisco after the Great Earthquake of 1906. The tower, only after it was built, was said to resemble a firehose nozzle!
The street performers add color to the tourist scene...in this case, it was an aluminum color!
We took advantage of having the roof down on the rental car. I handed Matt the camera as we drove through the financial district and he shot...he had a bunch of cool shots straight up into the buildings. Here are just a few of those. Concrete (and, glass!) jungle, indeed!
William took us past the entrance to San Francisco's Chinatown, the largest Chinatown outside of China itself. This is only one of MANY fun facts that William told us!
One of the things that I wanted to see at Golden Gate Park was The Conservatory of Flowers. 
Inside the Conservatory
For some reason, I've noticed an inordinate number of attractive grates on this trip.
Lombard Street: it's pretty crooked at this point!
A nice view of Coit Tower and the Bay Bridge from the top of Lombard Street. Coit Tower was built as a monument to the firefighters of San Francisco after the Great Earthquake of 1906. The tower, only after it was built, was said to resemble a firehose nozzle!
The street performers add color to the tourist scene...in this case, it was an aluminum color!
We took advantage of having the roof down on the rental car. I handed Matt the camera as we drove through the financial district and he shot...he had a bunch of cool shots straight up into the buildings. Here are just a few of those. Concrete (and, glass!) jungle, indeed!
William took us past the entrance to San Francisco's Chinatown, the largest Chinatown outside of China itself. This is only one of MANY fun facts that William told us!
One of the things that I wanted to see at Golden Gate Park was The Conservatory of Flowers. I think this is just a gorgeous building. It is REALLY gorgeous on a sunny day but we were there during FOG WEEK, so what can you expect? Keeping with our tradition of FREE stuff, begun with Free Mustache Day at the San Diego Zoo, we happened upon the Conservatory on a FREE day. I love that!
Inside the Conservatory
For some reason, I've noticed an inordinate number of attractive grates on this trip.This one was at the Consevatory of flowers at Golden Gate Park.
The boys dubbed this plant "the camo plant". Camo as in camoflage.
The boys dubbed this plant "the camo plant". Camo as in camoflage.I think they have something there!
Matt and William pose at the entrance to the tunnel by the Conservatory
We hiked "the road less traveled"...then we found a (?) homeless couple just off the trail and diverted back to more popular paths!
Matt wanted to see the Bison. Here is a Bison. This was the number one thing on my "underwhelmed" list for this trip, but we got a good laugh out of it. Bison in the City.
Matt and William pose at the entrance to the tunnel by the Conservatory
We hiked "the road less traveled"...then we found a (?) homeless couple just off the trail and diverted back to more popular paths!
Matt wanted to see the Bison. Here is a Bison. This was the number one thing on my "underwhelmed" list for this trip, but we got a good laugh out of it. Bison in the City.That is just not right.
Just outside of Golden Gate Park on the west side is the big windmill and then the Cliff House and the ruins of the Sutro Baths. This was a popular bath house around the turn of the LAST century. They are now in ruins and much memorabilia from that era is now housed in the Cliff House. We stopped there for hot cocoa for the boys and an Irish Coffee for me.
Just outside of Golden Gate Park on the west side is the big windmill and then the Cliff House and the ruins of the Sutro Baths. This was a popular bath house around the turn of the LAST century. They are now in ruins and much memorabilia from that era is now housed in the Cliff House. We stopped there for hot cocoa for the boys and an Irish Coffee for me.And yes, even though this area could be treacherous, I gave in to the boys' pleas to climb and explore. (What Kathleen doesn't know won't hurt TOO much, I thought...).
That is the Cliff House off in the distance. Appropriately named, methinks.
I love the pattern of the Monterey Cypress along a ridge line.
This lion looks to me like he's watching over the entire San Francisco Bay!
The Legion of Honor--an art museum in SF.
Closed by the time we got there, but still impressive.
William and Matt: climbing again. This time on outdoor sculpture at the Legions of Honor.
David, Kathleen's beau, never wonders why he has no reading glasses with him. It's not as if he has not been provided for in that department. William, he just smiles.
Thank you, David, for your wit and for a wonderful meal at Fresca in Noe Valley.
Kathleen introduced me to Pisco Sours. She first found them in Chile.
I found them at Fresca."Potent Piscos" I call them.
We actually were singing part of the way home! Songs from old movies, no less!
That is the Cliff House off in the distance. Appropriately named, methinks.
I love the pattern of the Monterey Cypress along a ridge line.
This lion looks to me like he's watching over the entire San Francisco Bay!
The Legion of Honor--an art museum in SF.Closed by the time we got there, but still impressive.
William and Matt: climbing again. This time on outdoor sculpture at the Legions of Honor.
David, Kathleen's beau, never wonders why he has no reading glasses with him. It's not as if he has not been provided for in that department. William, he just smiles.Thank you, David, for your wit and for a wonderful meal at Fresca in Noe Valley.
Kathleen introduced me to Pisco Sours. She first found them in Chile.I found them at Fresca."Potent Piscos" I call them.
We actually were singing part of the way home! Songs from old movies, no less!
Tomorrow, we leave Kathleen's and travel to Muir Woods in Marin County
No comments:
Post a Comment