San Francisco

July 10-12, 2013

One of the reasons we drove out to California this summer was because Arthur had a NSREC conference for work in San Francisco.  So we took a little extra time and before and after to be with family.  And my mother was wonderful to keep our 6 children (even Bennett who still wasn't sleeping through the night yet) while I went to spent a couple of days with Arthur in SF.  Thanks so much, Mom!

And since that is the city where he proposed to me, we counted it as our anniversary celebration.  We celebrated 14 years of marriage this month!

When I see this bridge I think of the song, "California, Here I Come!"  

Anybody else know that song?

It goes like this:

California, here I come,

Right back where I started from

Where bowers of flowers bloom in the spring,

Each morning at dawning, birdies sing and everything, 

A sunkissed miss says, "Don't be late!"

That's why I can hardly wait.

Open up that Golden Gate!

California, here I come!

This trip was cool because even though we both grew up just 90 minutes from San Francisco, neither of us really spent any time there, because sadly, that's what happens when you live near something. You never see it as a tourist.  And I discovered that I like being a tourist.  I like seeing things with new eyes and being impressed by stuff.  :)

The Embarcadero Ferry Building

Just a walk down the pier, and a view of the Bay Bridge

The atrium in our hotel--the largest atrium in the world.

The night I arrived, we attended a fun social event thru the conference: a dinner cruise around the bay on the San Francisco Belle.  We left while it was still light, but here is a picture of the boat as we were leaving to walk back to our hotel.

The cruise was great because we had some beautiful and unique views of the city, Alcatraz, and the two famous bridges that connect the city to the rest of the state.   Also, I should mention that it is much colder when you're out in the bay with the wind blowing on you, then when you are walking around on the street.  I was wishing I'd brought a ski parka.

Coit Tower in the distance-center

Alcatraz--the front

Alcatraz--the back

A quick note about Alcatraz.  If you ever go to SF in the summer, you need to book your Alcatraz excursion MONTHS in advance.  I've never been to Alcatraz, and would have loved to check it out, but by the time we asked about it, the only boats available were ones that cost $90 a head and even though Alcatraz fascinates me, I didn't feel like shelling out $200 to see it.  So we'll have to save that for another trip to CA, I guess.  

GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE  

such a cool bridge.

A gorgeous view of the bay bridge with the city lights behind

It was also pretty fun to enjoy the dancing after dinner.  And by enjoy, I mean watch the conference attendees (read: nerds) who'd had a few drinks, dance.  It was pretty entertaining and made me smile from ear to ear!  I love dancing, though I am not very good at it.  However, I did convince Arthur who doesn't dance (AND who hadn't had anything to drink except diet Coke) to dance the Cupid Shuffle with me, so  we could tell our kids that we danced on the dinner cruise.  It's one of those songs that tells you what moves to do during the dance, which I figured was the safest way to get Arthur on the dance floor.  Thanks for dancing with me, babe.  

The next morning we took a bus over to Muir Woods (across the golden gate from SF) and spent a couple of hours hiking around this amazing redwood forest.  Note to self: the next time you go to SF BRING A SCARF!!!  You'll need it, no matter what season you go in.  I spent the first part of this hike running to get warm.  Once my blood was circulating, I could slow down and enjoy the amazing trees.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Pacific Coast Banana Slug!

Okay, check this picture out.  (above)  I had been looking all morning for these banana slugs without any luck.  And then we came across these three kids who had found a bunch and were letting them crawl all over their arms!  Check out how big and slimy they are!

I just liked this sign.  There was a specific spot along the trail that they named the cathedral and asked visitors to walk and speak quietly through that area.  It felt reverent.

After our chilly hike through the woods, they bussed us over to Sosulito, a little shopping town, which if you know anything about Arthur and I, held little interest for us.  But we ate some delicious sandwiches in a little cafe and I warmed up with this ginormous mug of hot cocoa.  Looking at it even now makes me feel warm and happy inside.  

Then we took the Ferry back to SF where we walked around the marketplace in the Ferry building. We saw some of the weirdest mushrooms ever, smelled fresh fish and salt water, and tried on big yellow hats.  And yes, we even bought a couple of things at a little shop called Sur la Table since they were having a sale.  

A big yellow hat

That night we walked along Embarcadero St., checked out Pier 39, and had dinner on Fisherman's Wharf at a little place where we ate clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl, of course, because that is what you do if you are a tourist in San Francisco!  Warm and delicious.

Pier 39 with Coit Tower way in the background

Friday morning it was time to leave, but before we left, we went for a walk to check out China Town and Union Square, where we made our biggest purchase, a whole BUNCH of Ghirardelli Chocolate.  (They have a new flavor out that I keep longing for called Toffee Truffle, I think.  Heavenly!)  I have no picture of that because I was so overwhelmed with its deliciousness that the thought to document didn't even enter my mind.

China Town

And this picture,  (below) I saved for last, because we took a picture by this very fountain the evening Arthur asked me to marry him.  (I would post the original but I had a bad haircut and I don't look very beautiful.  Luckily that didn't deter Arthur.  Also, I would have to dig it out of my closet-of-despair and scan it in and that's just more time than I can commit to.)  

Anyway, 14 years later, here we are, and I'm glad every day that I said yes.

Happy 14th Anniversary to us!

Love this guy.