Back to Reality!
Trip Start
Aug 01, 2007
1
72
91
Trip End
Jan 11, 2009
San Francisco,
California,
United States
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Anyways, the good thing about being on Mexico time is that is got up "early" at 9am the whole trip, so I always got in a packed day of sightseeing. My my first day, after heading back to the mall for a new hoodie, I headed down towards the Piers. I passed through a craft market with loads of cool stuff, but resisted the urge. (I was saving it for more clothes later!) then hit upon a farmers market where I stocked up on some fruit. After a walk through the ferry building, I headed down Embarcadero St- destination, Pier 39. Along the way I attempted to get to Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower, but I came from the wrong angle and couldn't find the stairs and decided to save it for another day. Pier 39 was really cool, I saw some Sea Lions and went to Musee de Mechanique which is a collection of 200 old arcade style machines, most of them aren't actually games but things like watching some slides through a viewer, or making someone get executed etc. Old school but good fun for a handful of quarters! Then I splurged big and bought a new, awesome digital camera. On the way home I went through the Italian district and stopped for some tortelli for dinner. Yum! I also passed through Chinatown, and popped into a cool parking garage listed in the Lonely Planet- each parking space has its own "fortune", such as, "You are not a has-been" and, "You could use a new hairstyle" etc.
Day two was Golden Gate bridge day- I wanted to see it ASAP! I started out by walking, and right off the bat (like, just turning right on the street out of the hostel) I tackled a gigantic hill. Once at the top, I stopped for brekkie in a bagel shop while I got my bearings. I decided to go through Japantown, but before I got there I realized I had paused across the street from a church just after a mass had started, so I decided to go to church for my first time in a few years. Its strange how it's always the same, so I didn't really feel like it had been so long. I did a ton of window shopping in Japantown (I absolutely LOVE Asian style housewares and decorations... can't wait to get a house!) and came across a Saturday market on Fillmore with some Jazz. Nice! I then had lunch in Japantown, complete with Japanese beer... made in Guelph! Go figure.
Anyways, after that I was making my way down Presidio streets, still attempting to get to GG, when I cam across a fire department museum type place which was free, with cool old pumpers etc. The docent was a really sweet old man, he let me ring the old bell, and "make a call" using one of the old style (which are still everywhere, mind you) callboxes that are on street corners for use in emergencies. Tres cool. He then set me up with a walking tour brochure to come in handy for later, and a map, and instructed me how to get the bus to the bridge since in his opinion, the space in between really wasn't worth seeing. SO I took his advice, and made my way to Golden Gate.
When I got there, it was really foggy and you couldn't even see the top of the bridge at all! I walked most of the way across before turning around, and realizing a great view of the city has been behind me the entire time. When I returned to land, the fog had mostly cleared and I got some really amazing views. I headed down to Fort Point, and then through Chrissy Park before finally finding a bus stop. After about 15 minutes, an older man sits down and starts chatting, albeit pretty normally. When I stood up when the bus approached, he started asking where I was staying. When I objected, he explained, "not for me, for my 30 year old friend who is looking for marriage". As I was busy putting him off, the bus drove right past! So I quickly ran "After the bus", also away from him. Well I got to the next stop, which seemed to tell me on the sign I had just missed the last bus of that line. So, so exhausted I could barely move, I started walking back to the city. I did come across some lovely views I would have otherwise missed, but it was an hour before I finally found a bus stop that was helpful to me. I was never so glad to get back to the hostel- I can't even imagine how far I walked that day! I was out for 11 hours!
On day 3, I caught one of the old streetcars to Castro where I had a quick wander around. Sightseeing-wise, there isn't much there, it is more just the culture. (very gay-friendly- rainbow flags everywhere!) I then headed into the Mission neighbourhood, where I went to Mission Delores which is one of the first churches of SF, and now a Basilica. I then checked out a ton of the murals and the Women's Building (covered in Murals). I then hopped on a bus/streetcar back to the Piers, for head on my Alcatraz trip! I really enjoyed it. We first watched an intro video (by Discovery Channel) before heading up to the cellhouse for an audio tour, which was narrated by old guards and inmates. I was impressed with it actually. Once that was done I decided to wander down a few paths- but it was really creepy, since it was nearing the end of the day no one was on them, and I kept feeling like I was going to get left behind on the island! I even got to step right into the recreation yard (but I didn't go any further since I promptly turned around and pretty well ran back up the path to "civilization").
Once back on land, and stopped for dinner and found how to get to the steps to Coit Tower, so that was successful. It was an early bedtime for me!
On Tuesday, I first headed to Rincon Tower for a free guided walk (tips accepted, of course) covering the historic murals of the building. I didn't know being above 50 was a requirement ;P It was really good though, the guide really took his time, and I think I learned more than I ever expected to know about American (specifically Californian) history. Very interesting! I then headed to SFMOMA, which was pretty good. Tons of really cool pieces, although was a bit disappointed to find a few exhibits opening just 2 days later! Then I went shopping (again! Oops! No wonder I'm looking at my clean laundry "take" pile and wondering how the heck it's going to fit!) and then just chilled out for a while in a park, a nice change from walking my poor feet off. I also have a knack for trying to go to galleries etc on days they are closed- I always miss that byline in the guidebooks!
Wednesday was the last day. I had to check out in the morning and store my stuff before setting out for the day. First stop: Filbert Steps and Coit Tower. For some reason the guidebook made a big deal of how pretty it is walking up the steps- right. Maybe to try and distract you from the huge physical activity you are undertaking! Definitely a workout. I was glad to get to the Tower, and fork over the $4 to ride the lift to the top and get some amazing views of SF and surrounding. Once back at the bottom, I took the time to appreciate the murals inside. Then I set out for Market St to catch a bus to GG Park. First I went to the Sutra baths, built some time in the 1800s and now a pile of rubble basically, but cool to see. There was a tunnel/cave type thing, and the waves sounded so intense inside! Then I had a picnic lunch at Ocean Beach before setting off through the park.
The park was a big disappointment! As one of my roommates aptly described it, "It's a lot of roads with trees on all sides". There is the odd pond or grassy space but it was not how I envisioned a park. Finally, success. Thank goodness since I had a headache by this point. I found the Japanese tea Gardens I had been looking for. I had a wander before sitting down to some Jasmin tea (and an advil). I then wrote in my new journal (courtesy of the SFMOMA giftshop- its so cool!) and another wander, it was smaller than expected. I has planned to check out the Haight neighbourhood, but to ensure I would get dinner before taking off for the airport I had to forego that. Definitely not done with San Francisco!
And then, on the flights home, I lost my brand new camera (with all the SF photos!)
x
