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Wednesday afternoon, after Serendipity dropped us off at the station, we rode BART into the city. The train went under the bay, and I'm pretty sure that was the first time I'd ever been below sea level. I remarked to someone that I'd hate to be down there during an earthquake. They replied that it's one of the safest places to be. That may be, but I'd still hate to have to walk back to the surface. ;-)
Donald met us at the station in the city, and presented us with Muni passes (woo hoo!), and took us to the Muni trolley/bus, and then over to M's condo, where we stayed for the rest of the week. We freshened up a bit, and then walked over Buena Vista hill, just in time to see the sun set, and catch some views of the city, including our first look at the Golden Gate Bridge.
Then we went on to Ranunclus's home, where we had a delicious dinner with her, Donald and M. And their three cats.
The place we stayed was in the Haight Ashbury district, two blocks off Haight Street. Haight is... colorful. A lot of homeless people, smoke shops and tattoo parlors. Also some good restaurants (it's hard to find any other kind in the city) mixed in with hippie/touristy shops.
On thursday, we went to Golden Gate Park and the brand newly reopened Science Academy, where we saw coral reefs with Ranunculus and Donald. Then she drove us to the pier where we embarked for Alcatraz. I enjoyed seeing the restored trolleys on Embarcadero.
Afterwards, we had a bit of a dilemma with the buses. We couldn't find a stop, and never saw any buses go by, though we were on the route. Finally, we found a stop, but still no buses. I was trying to determine a new plan, when some other people came up, and shortly, a bus arrived. Relief. So we rode that downtown, changed buses, and rode the 1 west, then arrived at our doorstep after another transfer.
I must mention that we never saw a cable car the entire time we were there. Tonight, wondering where they were, I checked out a website. It said they run on California street, which was where our bus ride went. I checked a photograph taken from our bus stop, and sure enough there's a cable car in the distance. You can see the little blob right there in the middle, and it seems to be coming our way. I bet we drove right by one, in the bus. It was dark out, and I was probably more intent on finding our stop on the map. *shrug*
Oh, and we caught a glimpse of a corner in Chinatown.
So friday, we started out bright and early, meeting Ranunculus and M at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. Then we went to the nearby Japanese Tea Garden. From there, it was a short drive back to her place, to see her garden in the daylight.
Me, M, Ranunculus, Ogham and Cynnerth
From there, we got on the train and rode down to the ferry building, where we hopped the ferry to Larkspur. Ethora, tudgedelta and, um... Samantha took us to Muir Woods and the redwoods. It's a beautiful and relaxing place, and the trees, of course, are amazing. After the park, we went down to the shore in Tiburon.
After dinner, Ranunculus and M picked us up and took us to see the big bridge. Oooh!
First we drove to the overlooks north of the Golden Gate.
Then we went down to the bridge and walked to the first tower.
Ranunculus and friends were our saviours in San Francisco! Donald with the bus passes, M letting us use his condo for several days, Ranunc providing phone support, and all her help in transportation and scheduling. We had less than three days in the city, and we wanted to pack as much stuff in that time as we could. Seeing the bridge, for example, was the perfect event to finish an evening, and we were grateful that she offered this service.
Donald met us at the station in the city, and presented us with Muni passes (woo hoo!), and took us to the Muni trolley/bus, and then over to M's condo, where we stayed for the rest of the week. We freshened up a bit, and then walked over Buena Vista hill, just in time to see the sun set, and catch some views of the city, including our first look at the Golden Gate Bridge.
Then we went on to Ranunclus's home, where we had a delicious dinner with her, Donald and M. And their three cats.
The place we stayed was in the Haight Ashbury district, two blocks off Haight Street. Haight is... colorful. A lot of homeless people, smoke shops and tattoo parlors. Also some good restaurants (it's hard to find any other kind in the city) mixed in with hippie/touristy shops.
On thursday, we went to Golden Gate Park and the brand newly reopened Science Academy, where we saw coral reefs with Ranunculus and Donald. Then she drove us to the pier where we embarked for Alcatraz. I enjoyed seeing the restored trolleys on Embarcadero.
Afterwards, we had a bit of a dilemma with the buses. We couldn't find a stop, and never saw any buses go by, though we were on the route. Finally, we found a stop, but still no buses. I was trying to determine a new plan, when some other people came up, and shortly, a bus arrived. Relief. So we rode that downtown, changed buses, and rode the 1 west, then arrived at our doorstep after another transfer.
I must mention that we never saw a cable car the entire time we were there. Tonight, wondering where they were, I checked out a website. It said they run on California street, which was where our bus ride went. I checked a photograph taken from our bus stop, and sure enough there's a cable car in the distance. You can see the little blob right there in the middle, and it seems to be coming our way. I bet we drove right by one, in the bus. It was dark out, and I was probably more intent on finding our stop on the map. *shrug*
Oh, and we caught a glimpse of a corner in Chinatown.
So friday, we started out bright and early, meeting Ranunculus and M at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. Then we went to the nearby Japanese Tea Garden. From there, it was a short drive back to her place, to see her garden in the daylight.
Me, M, Ranunculus, Ogham and Cynnerth
From there, we got on the train and rode down to the ferry building, where we hopped the ferry to Larkspur. Ethora, tudgedelta and, um... Samantha took us to Muir Woods and the redwoods. It's a beautiful and relaxing place, and the trees, of course, are amazing. After the park, we went down to the shore in Tiburon.
After dinner, Ranunculus and M picked us up and took us to see the big bridge. Oooh!
First we drove to the overlooks north of the Golden Gate.
Then we went down to the bridge and walked to the first tower.
Ranunculus and friends were our saviours in San Francisco! Donald with the bus passes, M letting us use his condo for several days, Ranunc providing phone support, and all her help in transportation and scheduling. We had less than three days in the city, and we wanted to pack as much stuff in that time as we could. Seeing the bridge, for example, was the perfect event to finish an evening, and we were grateful that she offered this service.
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no subject
Date: 2008-10-30 05:01 am (UTC)From:;P
no subject
Date: 2008-10-30 05:06 am (UTC)From:I'll answer one of the unasked ones: Pictures of Alcatraz, the Science Academy, The Conservatory of Flowers, the Tea Garden, Muir Woods and the opera House will appear at some point. I don't know when, though.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-30 05:10 am (UTC)From:Funniest Picture = cable car blur
Most Invisible Picture = redwood tree
no subject
Date: 2008-10-30 01:03 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2008-10-30 01:52 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2008-10-30 05:23 pm (UTC)From:We didn't see any fog. It was warm and sunny the whole time we were there. I was a little disappointed we didn't get to laugh at any freezing tourists. I hear the fog rolled in the day after we left.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-31 05:36 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2008-10-30 06:22 am (UTC)From:Nice photos, and it looks like you had good weather, too!
no subject
Date: 2008-10-30 01:52 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2008-10-31 05:26 am (UTC)From:These days so many tourists take the cable cars that it is only worth riding them at certain hours (the earlier the better) or on certain lines. Getting a cable car from VanNess St. is easy, from Powell station at noon is a couple of hours.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-31 05:36 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2008-10-30 10:11 am (UTC)From::P
You guys did so much is a short time!
The kitties are really laid back. Love the pics!
:)
no subject
Date: 2008-10-30 12:18 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2008-10-30 05:16 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2008-10-31 01:07 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2008-10-30 04:54 pm (UTC)From:You saw more in a few days than I usually managed to pack in in a month of living there!
So that's M! cool.. never met him, or Donald. :)
no subject
Date: 2008-10-31 05:24 am (UTC)From:I'd love to introduce you to M, and have a nice dinner together!