more than a fan of san fran

Laura and I discovered San Francisco during some of the better days of spring (we're told)....60-degree temperatures and sun!

Most days and nights were filled with checking out the attractions (Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 and the sea lions, Chinatown, Coit Tower, Alcatraz, Angel Island, Ghiradelli Square, Union Square, the bridge, Sausalito, etc.) with the exception of special time with friends on Sunday. All a pleasure!

And here's a decent night picture...something that heretofore has eluded me...the Bay Bridge!









We utilized every form of transportation: cable car, trolley, bus, ferry, taxi, bicycle, feet, muni, and BART. I was interested to learn that cable cars are propelled by a 1 1/4 inch cable running at 9 1/2 miles per hour....with some variation due to pulley systems. Stops and starts are dependent on the car's grip on the cable and a braking system. There it is...a mechanical process explained in rudimentary terms by an accountant! Oh dear.

And then there were the fresh fortune cookies in Chinatown...mmmMMMmmmm!



Watching the lights come on and the moon come up over the city during our full-moon kayak tour was certainly a highlight! So, here is my hearty recommendation for anything that includes City Kayak, full moons, or paddling.















We biked from Fisherman's Wharf across the bridge to Sausalito and returned via ferry (a few others did too). The quest for Mill Woods was easily replaced by hours of lounging like lizards in the sun with gelato.
















Heidi, Laura and myself shivered through the Vampire Tour of Nob Hill! Mina was a curiosity in herself, yet I have to admire someone who has taken the leap to make a decent living outside of a traditional work environment.


This was the view looking back from the ferry on the way to Angel Island....who knew there was an Ellis Island of the West? A bit of darker history there.

This was the sole morning there was fog. If you can see the small cylinder-like tower on the top of the hill in the skyline, you have found Coit Tower...known for it's 360-degree views and paintings by artists who studied under Diego Rivera. The climb to get up to the tower was substantial enough....was this one of the mornings that Laura fueled us with coffee?!




Do you ever feel like you know someone (at least a little) after being with them for a very short time or even contemplating their picture? Checking out these former inmates pictures on Alcatraz Island made me wonder how much of this skill (???) is real and how much is imagined. Yet either way...the audio tour made the cellhouse alive with voices and sounds that nearly transport one to the time it was utilized.

On the positive side: the square footage of a cell makes my abode seem quite spacious. Perhaps it is all about managing expectations!? Big smile.

All in all...a very nice break from reality with good company!