"If you're going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you're going to San Francisco
You're going to meet some gentle people there..."
**This song was on repeat in my head the whole time in SF :)**
Ivan and I flew in early on a Saturday morning knowing that H & K wouldn't arrive until late that night. Once we landed and checked into the hotel we went off on foot to find some lunch and then to locate the Full House house--the house they use as the outside shot. Happy to report that we found it! We were trying to find another park where you can see the Painted Ladies, or the houses/park you see in the opening credits, but our phones had died, our feet were spent, and we stumbled into a random park for a rest, hah! Although it wasn't the park we were looking for it had an amazing view of the city. From there we made the trek back to the hotel, crashed for a few hours, then prepared for H&K to arrive! The original plan was to meet up at a bar for drinks and I tried, but my head was about to pound right out of my skull so we decided we'd just surprise K right there at the hotel. Excitement #1 is receiving a knock at the door from H, who I haven't seen in person for 5 years but speak to through voice messages and emails several times a week. So surreal! K was waiting for H outside the hotel so we came down and met her there. I wish we had taken a picture or video! I can only imagine how it would feel to first and foremost have a trip planned for you with no knowledge, to your favorite city, only to find out you're going to your favorite city when you have a connection in the U.S, and then have two people you've only heard about (although heard about plenty and with lovely info only...ha) meet you on the street after traveling for hours and hours... I can't speak for K but it was great to finally meet someone I've been hearing about for a couple years and felt like I'd known awhile myself!
The following morning we all met up to for K's next surprise, which was a champagne brunch cruise through the bay. This was so awesome. We were seated at a table by the window, with a birthday card waiting for K and the champagne started flowing. They had several buffet tables with breakfast goodies, sweets, and lunch options too. We cruised around the bay to get incredible views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, and AT&T Park. I love being on the water anyway, but to be there with great friends, celebrating a birthday, as a surprise, it was my favorite part of the trip, hands down :) After the cruise was over we ventured around Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf, had some ice cream and made the short trek back to the hotel through Chinatown. After a little rest we met up for dinner at Burger Bar, which happens to be a place we frequent in Vegas too.
Side note, our hotel was this quirky little place in a great location--just across the street from the gates to Chinatown, and about a 10 minute walk to everything else we needed. The hotel has every room designed by a different local artist. Our room was the Madonna room which had a huge painting of Madonna above the bed and the other walls with Louis Vuitton patterns. The bathroom had a claw foot bathtub, and the elevator was so old school you pulled the metal doors open and shut yourself. A little loud and creaky since it was an old building but overall great price and location and very funky.
The next day we headed downtown to take a ride on San Fran's famous cable cars. It was quite a line but moved fairly quickly. Ivan & K took the spots standing and hanging off the side of the car while H & I sat down. These things were pretty cool and so iconic ya know? We rode the cable car to the top of Lombard Street, also known as "the crookedest street in America." This street has 8 turns in one block! It's so steep and curvy, but also very beautiful! From here we headed to Ghiradelli Square where you can find the very first Ghiradelli chocolate shop. After stuffing ourselves with some ice cream and buying lots of chocolate we headed to a little Irish pub where Ivan had his first Irish Coffee-- which is whiskey and coffee! After drinks we needed to find a corn dog to witness K's first time ever having one. Not like a corn dog is a delicacy by any means but you should have at least one in your life...especially if you're in America, right? Finally it was time for K's next surprise..... An evening tour of Alcatraz! I was first and foremost happy to be on a boat again...I just love the water! The view of Alcatraz is very pretty too. Once we arrived we head inside the old shower room where they give you a headset for the audio tour. The audio tour is given by former inmates so that adds a lot to it. You're guided through this whole prison by the inmate's voice leading you from Al Capone's cell, describing every room, telling about escape attempts and murders that happened, and tons of other little details. Each tour has some extra spaces open to view and for us it was the hospital. It was really neat, informative, and always cool when you're surrounded by history as well as something as well known as it is, ya know? Once we arrived back from the tour we headed for some Thai food.
Our final day in San Francisco we headed to Golden Gate Park, which is bigger than Central Park. First we went to the Japanese Tea Garden which was beautiful and very zen, which you would expect. We grabbed some lunch next door before heading to the beach. I can't go to California without hitting the beach! From there we headed back near the hotel for some final goodbye drinks.
It was a great trip with some of my favorite people!
