And here I thought "hilly" was an exaggeration

[fredericks]

Our first full day in San Francisco was spent walking around taking in the closest sites. We headed down The Embarcadero and poked our head into the shops along the way to Fisherman's Wharf, along with signing up for a nighttime tour of Alcatraz (very much stoked about that one). Fisherman's Wharf struck me as an upscale version of Coney Island, what with all the shopping and seafood and ambiance and the like. Next was Ghiradelli Square, which ended up being a bit of a let down with the construction and half the complex being out of commission. From there we made our way up the damn near vertical Hyde Street to "Crookedest Street", which was neat (how *do* the people who live along that street back out of their garages? I'm still contemplating, and all I've come up with is "very very slowly") and then sauntered over to Chinatown. We really didn't get to look into all the nooks and crannies of Chinatown, but it did remind me of all the best parts of Queen's Main Street area instead of Manhattan's Chinatown, a big plus. I think we'll head back there tomorrow before we go over to the Golden Gate. After that it was just to come back to the hotel, where I'm sitting on the upper floor taking in a view of the bay and some random well-lit suspension bridge. My internal clock's still operating on EST so I'm inclined to shower and hunker down in a little bit, but it's just wrong to contemplate sleep when the bedside clock says 6PM (unless you're a Flanders, of course).

Comments

[desolate03.livejournal.com]

WHAT?! You are in town really? Darn, I would've loved to see you. How are you doing? I'm sure the weather was fantastic today up in SF as it was down here in East Bay. When are you heading back to the east coast?

Call me if you have time, I'd love to catch up.

[enigmaticjess.livejournal.com]

Ha, am 45 minutes south of you, LOL. Can't wait to hear about your Alcatraz tour! In the 2+ years I've been living here we've not made it to Alcatraz - though we have been through the Winchester House twice, once at Midnight on All Hallow's!

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

I'll be here until Saturday. I'll be on my own Thursday and Friday, so if you want to do something one of those evenings I'm game. I have no idea where you are relative to where I am, to be honest. I believe I still have your number but I have a new phone and don't think all my numbers transferred over. I'll drop you an e-mail in a day or two.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

WInchester House? Where is that? Sounds intriguing.
I keep (stupidly) wondering how y'all West Coasters stand the time thing. I blame fatigue on my not being able to get the whole "relative time zone" thing.

[orpheus78.livejournal.com]

I used to live close to the Winchester house. It's in San Jose, which is nobody's idea of a fun city. Lol! Such a creepy house. :)

[the-lighthouse.livejournal.com]

The "hillyness" there really is out of control...I don't know how people deal! I didn't get to see Alcatraz when I was out there so that kinda sucked, but I had fun at Fisherman's Wharf. I was there during the summer and it was amazing how much colder it was right on the water than just a little ways inland.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

If it isn't in cable car/walking distance it isn't being visited. So, hmm.
And what's wrong with San Jose?

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

There are a couple of streets we've looked at from a distance and they seriously appear to be straight verticals. Like, climbing handholds should be attached to them, ropes and hooks should be provided, maybe a Sherpa to lend a body a hand halfway up. And yet there are houses and cars casually flung everywhere. Surreal.