Day 2
Well. I’ve never been to Chicago so San Francisco will officially be my “windy city”. There are some pretty good gusts through here and it got really cool in the evening. We had our jackets with us all day because I heeded the warnings about layering, but unfortunately you can’t plan against the wind and Darrin lost his favourite hat… last seen drifting between cars at the intersection of Hyde and California!
Started the day at *ugh* 5:55am with a *gulp* $18 breakfast buffet. Even the Continental was $14. Unfortunately none of the five hot items -were great so tomorrow we’re going to try to find food when we go out. But just because the meal wasn’t great doesn’t mean this isn’t a great place. The free wireless internet means I can write this blog; and we are sooooo looking forward to a rest in the Japanese soaker tub tonight. The HILLS!
You just have no idea how out of shape you really are until you try to climb one steep hill and have to stop twice. We didn’t want to wait the hour to catch the cable car that runs by the Lombard switchback (the “crookedest street”) so we decided to walk over. After all, it was only a few blocks on the map. Never again. We went up this one block with a German couple; they didn’t speak English or us German but the laughs, and puffing and panting said everything - we were all suffering! But it really was kinda fun to watch the cars come single file down the street, with the tourists outnumbering them about 20 to 1.
Went to Alcatraz on the 9am tour and there was about 300 people in line! But once you’re on the island the crowds aren’t bad at all, and the audio tour through the cell block was excellent. They’re also in the process of restoring some of the outbuildings so it’ll just continue to get even better. The fog was interesting though. San Fran was clear, sunny and hot and The Rock was shrouded in fog the whole morning. And they weren’t kidding when they named it the Island of the Birds – wow what a lot of gulls!
Also checked out Pier 45 today with the USS Pampanito submarine and SS Jeremiah O’Brien Liberty class merchant ship. I suppose not for everyone, but come on, who wouldn’t think it’s cool to get inside a real submarine?! We also checked out the Musee Mechanique. To be honest I wasn’t expecting much but it turned out to be a lot of fun. It’s free to enter, but all machines are $0.25 or $0.50 to play. It’s basically a big antique arcade with a new selection in the back. There was Ms. Pacman, arm strength tests, psychic swamis, mechanical pianos, old “peep show” machines with the provocative lady in the bathing suit, and classic photo booths. The “British Execution” boxes and "Opium Den" give you an idea of what a different era some of these came from. It was a blast to plug in your own quarters or watch what happens on someone else’s game. Our favourite was a car race for a quarter where you each had to crank a wheel to make your car go. Darrin “let” me win (yeah right)!
Another fun thing is Boudin’s, “The” San Francisco sourdough bakers. They have a large window on the street beside the café and museum gift shop where you can watch, and even talk to, the bakers. They turn out some really neat breads, but the biggest hit was the 3 1/2 foot alligator. The baker was telling us that when they make the 6 footer it takes FORTY ponds of sourdough!!! Pick up a loaf, or even some small turtles and you’ve got breakfast for the next morning.
We found the BEST place for lunch. Just a block up from Jefferson (that runs along some of the piers) was a place called Beach Street Grill at Beach and Taylor. Wow. Big meals, great prices, lots of tables and not loud and ridiculously overcrowded like the places right along the wharf. All day breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, salads, seafood… so many choices. Service was great too. And the number of things they make right there in their kitchen is crazy; even their own mayo!
Took our cable car ride today too. We didn’t hang on the outside (way too nervous to try), but we still sat in the exposed seats in the back and had a few local monkeys in front of us. Conductor had to remind one guy not to hang out so far or an oncoming cable car might take him out! Yikes!
Hopefully we didn’t climb too many San Francisco mountains because we have the zoo tomorrow. Maybe they have trams and they can just drive us around and point out all the animals. :)
Well. I’ve never been to Chicago so San Francisco will officially be my “windy city”. There are some pretty good gusts through here and it got really cool in the evening. We had our jackets with us all day because I heeded the warnings about layering, but unfortunately you can’t plan against the wind and Darrin lost his favourite hat… last seen drifting between cars at the intersection of Hyde and California!
Started the day at *ugh* 5:55am with a *gulp* $18 breakfast buffet. Even the Continental was $14. Unfortunately none of the five hot items -were great so tomorrow we’re going to try to find food when we go out. But just because the meal wasn’t great doesn’t mean this isn’t a great place. The free wireless internet means I can write this blog; and we are sooooo looking forward to a rest in the Japanese soaker tub tonight. The HILLS!
You just have no idea how out of shape you really are until you try to climb one steep hill and have to stop twice. We didn’t want to wait the hour to catch the cable car that runs by the Lombard switchback (the “crookedest street”) so we decided to walk over. After all, it was only a few blocks on the map. Never again. We went up this one block with a German couple; they didn’t speak English or us German but the laughs, and puffing and panting said everything - we were all suffering! But it really was kinda fun to watch the cars come single file down the street, with the tourists outnumbering them about 20 to 1.
Went to Alcatraz on the 9am tour and there was about 300 people in line! But once you’re on the island the crowds aren’t bad at all, and the audio tour through the cell block was excellent. They’re also in the process of restoring some of the outbuildings so it’ll just continue to get even better. The fog was interesting though. San Fran was clear, sunny and hot and The Rock was shrouded in fog the whole morning. And they weren’t kidding when they named it the Island of the Birds – wow what a lot of gulls!
Also checked out Pier 45 today with the USS Pampanito submarine and SS Jeremiah O’Brien Liberty class merchant ship. I suppose not for everyone, but come on, who wouldn’t think it’s cool to get inside a real submarine?! We also checked out the Musee Mechanique. To be honest I wasn’t expecting much but it turned out to be a lot of fun. It’s free to enter, but all machines are $0.25 or $0.50 to play. It’s basically a big antique arcade with a new selection in the back. There was Ms. Pacman, arm strength tests, psychic swamis, mechanical pianos, old “peep show” machines with the provocative lady in the bathing suit, and classic photo booths. The “British Execution” boxes and "Opium Den" give you an idea of what a different era some of these came from. It was a blast to plug in your own quarters or watch what happens on someone else’s game. Our favourite was a car race for a quarter where you each had to crank a wheel to make your car go. Darrin “let” me win (yeah right)!
Another fun thing is Boudin’s, “The” San Francisco sourdough bakers. They have a large window on the street beside the café and museum gift shop where you can watch, and even talk to, the bakers. They turn out some really neat breads, but the biggest hit was the 3 1/2 foot alligator. The baker was telling us that when they make the 6 footer it takes FORTY ponds of sourdough!!! Pick up a loaf, or even some small turtles and you’ve got breakfast for the next morning.
We found the BEST place for lunch. Just a block up from Jefferson (that runs along some of the piers) was a place called Beach Street Grill at Beach and Taylor. Wow. Big meals, great prices, lots of tables and not loud and ridiculously overcrowded like the places right along the wharf. All day breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, salads, seafood… so many choices. Service was great too. And the number of things they make right there in their kitchen is crazy; even their own mayo!
Took our cable car ride today too. We didn’t hang on the outside (way too nervous to try), but we still sat in the exposed seats in the back and had a few local monkeys in front of us. Conductor had to remind one guy not to hang out so far or an oncoming cable car might take him out! Yikes!
Hopefully we didn’t climb too many San Francisco mountains because we have the zoo tomorrow. Maybe they have trams and they can just drive us around and point out all the animals. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment