Nevada - last week (San Francisco, CA)

 

Monday 25 November 2019

We arrive at San Francisco airport at 2pm and catch the shuttle service to our apartment in Beale St close to the Oakland Bay Bridge. We don't waste any time and after we've unpacked our suitcases we walk to the Ferry Building and Woodlands Market.  It's dark all too soon, so then it's back to our apartment.

Driving in the shuttle bus

The Oakland Bay Bridge

Walking along the Embarcadero

Almost as impressive as the Golden Gate Bridge

Our hosts must have a sense of humour: toilet roll! ;-)

Tuesday 26 November 2019

Today is my (not Kevin's, as he's been to San Francisco before) first full exploration of San Francisco.  With Kevin as my guide I couldn't wish for more. 

This time we catch the bus for a drive along the Embarcadero to the famous Pier 39 where we see the sea lions who have been a tourist attraction in their own right for years.  

Alcatraz, famous, but I don't need to visit

Fisherman's Wharf

From Fisherman's Wharf it's a short walk to Starbucks where we have a rest and a cup of coffee.  After that the weather deteriorates, not unusual for San Francisco, and by the time we catch the famous streetcar it's raining.  We go for a ride via Nob Hill to Tenderloin and back.  Having read a lot of books with stories that take place in San Francisco it's great to recognise all those names and actually be there!

Alcatraz in the distance

The way back home is partially by bus and the last bit we walk. The rain isn't too bad.

Wednesday 27 November 2019

Today we catch the hop-on-hop-off bus for a longer trip which includes the Golden Gate Bridge.

Seeing all these sights and the trip with the streetcar really is a dream come true for me.  I also get to see the Painted Ladies, a row of old San Francisco houses painted in different colours.  For me well-known as they often feature as a dollshouse, my hobby, although I'm not very active at the moment.

The Civic Centre

The Painted Ladies

Presidio of San Francisco

The Golden Gate Bridge

At the end of the tour with the hop-on-hop-off bus we finish up near Madam Tussaud's and decide to have a looksie inside.  It's all about movie stars and the Hippies and Flower Power era.  A most interesting display.

Kevin as the driver of a streetcar

Character from the Godfather

Al Capone

Kevin with his mate Barack Obama ;-)

Abraham Lincoln

"I have a dream...."

Marion with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak (if I remember well)

Mohammed Ali

The Beatles

Elvis Presley

Jimi Hendrix (?)

Alfred Hithcock

Whoopi Goldberg

Steven Spielberg

The famous legs of the Piedmont Boutique

Mark Zuckerberg

After Madam Tussaud's and a quick bite to eat we take a last tour on the hop-on-hop-off bus, which takes us across the Oakland Bay Bridge to view the Central Embarcadero Piers Historic Dirstrict from across the water.

Thursday 28 November 2019

Thursday was a bit of an epic day with lots of walking.  We started off walking to the nearest bus stop from where a bus would take us to the bottom of Hyde Street.  From there we didn't walk, but almost 'climbed' up the hill to Lombard Street, aka the famous Zig Zag street in San Francisco. 

It was a strenuous climb which we did mostly backwards as it wasn't so tiring that way. We also got to enjoy the views. 😉

We had passed Lombard Street in the streetcar, but didn't get out as it was raining at the time.  Today the weather is beautiful though and as it is also a public holiday it's very busy.  We get to see enough though and tourist places are nowadays busy at any given time anyway. 

We start with views and pictures from the top and make our way down, where we take a few more pictures.

View from Hyde Street down Lombard Street

We keep walking for another good two hours, exploring the city and stopping for a coffee at Starbuck's.

Close to 'home' we discover an enormous park, two floors up from streetlevel, at the nearby transit centre.  Good for a walk and more exploring.  The park contains flora, mostly trees and bushes, from around the world, including Australian natives and a cork oak tree from Portugal. 

If you can enlarge the picture read the interesting story about this park

Moving text which I should have filmed for the effect.

Friday 29 November 2019

It's now more than a year since we've been to San Francisco and occasionally I have to refresh my memory by using my timeline on Google.  According to that timeline we have been on a second bus tour across the Golden Gate Bridge, but I honestly cannot remember this trip, nor do I have more photos.  Well, so be it. 😊  

What I do remember is, that we had arranged with friends to meet at the Boudin Bakery near Pier 39 for lunch. These friends were Diane and Dave Donnelly, who we (Frank and I) originally did a home exchange with in Hamburg, NY in 2012.  Diane and Dave have since moved to San Jose, south of San Francisco and wanted to make the trip to meet Kevin and me.  We had a great time walking through huge the bakery (in action) and finishing off with lunch together.  Just as well we could meet, because Dave has since passed away. 

Market St

Dave, Diane and Marion

Fancy bread figures

The dough being prepared

The dough being dropped down to the lower floor

In the bus on the way 'home'

From the bakery we take the bus to Embarcadero Station and walk home from there. And then we have to start packing, because we're flying home the next day. 

Saturday 30 November 2019

When we are packed we have time for one more little walk and we drop in at Philz Coffee at Folsom Street.  A coffee shop with a difference.  Every cup of coffee is made separately to your taste.  You choose the blend.  

And here is an aerial picture of the apartment where we stayed.  We are almost litterally where you see the blue dot and can look out onto the round area in the park below. 

At 5 pm we're picked up by the airport transfer which we've booked earlier and then it's bye bye San Francisco.  What a wonderful time we have spent in Nevada and California!