Back from San Francisco!
And I'm in one piece still, although I had my doubts on the way over! We hit turbulence from Memphis to the California state line, so virtually no cabin service (such as it is these days) and most everyone looked (and felt) queasy. We were joking about changing our return flight to Greyhound bus tickets instead - fortunately, our red-eye home was peaceful and easy.
I loved San Francisco - what I got to see of it after trainings and on Saturday. I was really nervous about using the transit system, but I found that it was remarkably easy to navigate (if only MARTA was this easy). I got a multi-day pass and hopped on and off buses, trams, and trolleys with no problem. The F-line and Bus 30 became my best friends by the end of the 2nd day. Even Katie, who has never used our local MARTA and was terrified about doing the buses alone, was navigating with ease by the end of her first solo day. I found that the drivers were (generally) very tolerant of newbies/visitors, which helped. And the regulars were also helpful, particularly when I was trying to determine which corner was the NW one or where I needed to walk to for the transfer.
We arrived at our hotel late Tuesday night, too late for the hotel dining area (and unaware of the Denny's in the hotel next door) so we set out for food in the local pubs. Most had stopped serving (although Tiernan's had a nice draft selection and live music) but The Pub in Ghirardelli Square was still serving food and we had a really nice meal there.
Wednesday, we walked around Fisherman's Wharf and ate at Bubba Gumps, which was good and the waitstaff were very friendly. Katie and I loved the museum with the mechanical devices, and she is quite impressed with Julie Andrews as Katie was unable to win against the arm wrestler even on the lowest setting. There was a bitterly cold wind blowing every night we were there, so we didn't linger too long anywhere, but Katie had walked along the pier earlier (and loved the Aquarium on the Bay).
Thursday - Katie did Haight-Ashbury and Golden Gate Park (she adored the penguins) during the day, so she was exhausted and we just ate at the Dennys next door. I had gotten out of class early, so I walked up to Chinatown and walked the bit from the gates along Grant street to Jackson before I got cold and headed up to Stockton to catch the bus back to the hotel. I got a number of nice souvenirs, and Katie went back with me on Friday afternoon so she could get some shopping there.
Friday we met at Coit Tower (I didn't go up as it had closed by then), back to Chinatown for Katie to shop, and then into North Beach to eat Italian food, which was very delicious. We caught one of the trollies down to Fisherman's Wharf and had ice cream at Ghirardelli Square, which was very good and surprisingly quiet. Katie had spent the day in Japantown and then at Coit Tower.
Saturday, we did the Alcatraz tour in the morning, then returned to the dock at noon to find the place with jumping with people. Um, football game? Were people still playing football? Oh, the Green Bay Packers/49ers game, right! LOL! Needless to say, Pier 39 was packed and we couldn't get a tram or bus anywhere in the area, so we walked back to eat at Lou's Blues - who, unfortunately, pre-empted their live music for big screen telecasts of football. Sigh. So we caught the bus out to Golden Gate Bridge instead. We loved both Alcatraz and the Bridge, and spent quite a bit of time at both. And got more souvenirs although our suitcases were already buldging. Then we caught the long trolly outside Ghirardelli up to Powell street, watched it turn around, and took it back down - and lucked out in that we were first in line and got to sit at the very front. Wheee!
By then it was time to chill at the hotel, collect our bags, and head to the airport - especially before the game crowd let out!
Katie and I had a great time, so thanks for all the advice! We want to go back again, in the spring next time!
I loved San Francisco - what I got to see of it after trainings and on Saturday. I was really nervous about using the transit system, but I found that it was remarkably easy to navigate (if only MARTA was this easy). I got a multi-day pass and hopped on and off buses, trams, and trolleys with no problem. The F-line and Bus 30 became my best friends by the end of the 2nd day. Even Katie, who has never used our local MARTA and was terrified about doing the buses alone, was navigating with ease by the end of her first solo day. I found that the drivers were (generally) very tolerant of newbies/visitors, which helped. And the regulars were also helpful, particularly when I was trying to determine which corner was the NW one or where I needed to walk to for the transfer.
We arrived at our hotel late Tuesday night, too late for the hotel dining area (and unaware of the Denny's in the hotel next door) so we set out for food in the local pubs. Most had stopped serving (although Tiernan's had a nice draft selection and live music) but The Pub in Ghirardelli Square was still serving food and we had a really nice meal there.
Wednesday, we walked around Fisherman's Wharf and ate at Bubba Gumps, which was good and the waitstaff were very friendly. Katie and I loved the museum with the mechanical devices, and she is quite impressed with Julie Andrews as Katie was unable to win against the arm wrestler even on the lowest setting. There was a bitterly cold wind blowing every night we were there, so we didn't linger too long anywhere, but Katie had walked along the pier earlier (and loved the Aquarium on the Bay).
Thursday - Katie did Haight-Ashbury and Golden Gate Park (she adored the penguins) during the day, so she was exhausted and we just ate at the Dennys next door. I had gotten out of class early, so I walked up to Chinatown and walked the bit from the gates along Grant street to Jackson before I got cold and headed up to Stockton to catch the bus back to the hotel. I got a number of nice souvenirs, and Katie went back with me on Friday afternoon so she could get some shopping there.
Friday we met at Coit Tower (I didn't go up as it had closed by then), back to Chinatown for Katie to shop, and then into North Beach to eat Italian food, which was very delicious. We caught one of the trollies down to Fisherman's Wharf and had ice cream at Ghirardelli Square, which was very good and surprisingly quiet. Katie had spent the day in Japantown and then at Coit Tower.
Saturday, we did the Alcatraz tour in the morning, then returned to the dock at noon to find the place with jumping with people. Um, football game? Were people still playing football? Oh, the Green Bay Packers/49ers game, right! LOL! Needless to say, Pier 39 was packed and we couldn't get a tram or bus anywhere in the area, so we walked back to eat at Lou's Blues - who, unfortunately, pre-empted their live music for big screen telecasts of football. Sigh. So we caught the bus out to Golden Gate Bridge instead. We loved both Alcatraz and the Bridge, and spent quite a bit of time at both. And got more souvenirs although our suitcases were already buldging. Then we caught the long trolly outside Ghirardelli up to Powell street, watched it turn around, and took it back down - and lucked out in that we were first in line and got to sit at the very front. Wheee!
By then it was time to chill at the hotel, collect our bags, and head to the airport - especially before the game crowd let out!
Katie and I had a great time, so thanks for all the advice! We want to go back again, in the spring next time!