I Left My Heart in San Francisco

 

My mid-November tour of California started in San Francisco. What was supposed to be a two-day stay doubled into four when I realized just how much there was to take in in this beautiful city. As it turns out, I was staying just around the corner from the Painted Ladies: a picturesque line of row houses made famous in pop culture by the opening credits in the family sitcom Full House.

 

 

The painted ladies aren't the only architectural appeal in San Francisco. Not by a long shot. Every single street I ventured onto boasted Victorian-style details, stained glass windows, and lively colours that breathed life from every direction.

 

 

 

Another thing I learned about San Francisco: everyone owns a dog.
And they're all out walking their dogs.
And every dog is cuter or cooler-looking than the one before.

Every one.

 

I love this city.

 

 

I spent a full day on Ocean Beach, which borders the western edge of the city. Though it was November, the surfers abounded in their full glory and I walked for hours in order to try to take it all in.

 

 

 

 

I spent another full day on oceanfront walkways, making my way from the northern tip of Ocean Beach around toward the western shore of the city.

 

 

 

Mmhmm... there's the Golden Gate Bridge.
You just know that's going to be it's own whole adventure....

 

...and what a day that turned out to be!

 

We started out on the western side of the bridge, looking back toward the city.

 

Then drove back across to the eastern side so we could take it in from that end and walk as far as we dared, which turned out to be about the middle.

 

That is, wa-a-a-a-a-ay over there. *points*

 

 

After a pit stop for some coffee and lunch, we started to make our way toward Fisherman's Wharf and the waterfront area. We didn't make it there, though, before we stumbled on this:

 

San Francisco National Cemetery.

Coincidentally, our visit was on November 11: Veterans Day. It was my privilege to stop and pay my respects the best way I know how.

 

Our next port-of-call, so to speak, was the Hyde Street Pier. Prior to the building of the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, the pier and its ferries were historically part of US Route 101. On this day, they were open to the public and we were there to take it all in.

 

 

 

 

 

That night we walked the piers and absorbed the beauty of the downtown area in all its finery. I was floored by the number of people all out walking, jogging, running, holding hands, and generally enjoying life, seemingly without a care in the world. I can't even describe how strange it was for me to feel so safe and content in such a big city.

My last few hours in San Francisco found me back on the waterfront, in the morning this time, camera in hand yet again.

 

I love the morning light on this angle of the Bay Bridge:

The downtown waterfront isn't too hard on the eyes during the day either.

 

And finally this right-place, right-time shot that I captured with my phone, sending me on my next adventure and solidifying my conviction and my promise to return.