San Francisco Weekend
Larry and I can’t say we left our hearts in San Francisco, but we certainly had a memorable visit.
Larry and I can’t say we left our hearts in San Francisco, but we certainly had a memorable weekend there.
So glad I rose early for our San Fran sail-in because it was nothing short of magical. Just before sunrise, our ship glided beneath the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. The stars and moon still shimmered above as I snapped a photo—such a picturesque welcome.
On our first day, we met up with fellow cemetery author Loren Rhoads, who graciously took us on a tour of Cypress Lawn, one of the area’s most famous historic cemeteries.
With 16 historic cemeteries in the city of Colma, you could easily spend a week exploring them all—but that will have to wait for another trip. (And I’ll share more about meeting Loren in another post.)
Getting off the ship that first morning, however, took ages. Since this was our first U.S. port, and we were on a British ship, we had to go through face-to-face immigration. We waited from 7am until 12:30pm to disembark.
In retrospect, I think we could have walked straight off, as there was a separate line for U.S. citizens.
Ah, well—live and learn!
On our second day, we took a hop-on, hop-off bus tour of San Francisco. I always enjoy getting an overview of cities on “hoho” bus tours.
After hopping off in Haight-Ashbury, Larry and I spent much of the afternoon browsing all the eclectic shops. The neighborhood still carries echoes of its 1960s counterculture roots, with vibrant murals, vintage record stores, and psychedelic-themed storefronts. It’s easy to imagine the Summer of Love unfolding there.
During our Haight Ashbury stroll, Larry and I stopped for espresso at a lively café, where we enjoyed some people-watching and chatted with the friendly staff. (As you can see, I picked up some cute new sunglasses along the way!)
I also found it cute how shopkeepers there hand out dog treats to customers' pooches—kind of like trick-or-treating for dogs, year-round.
One of the city’s biggest tourist attractions right now seems to be the Waymo driverless taxis. We didn’t try one ourselves, but we saw them everywhere.
A couple of times, I found myself in a crosswalk as an empty Waymo car rolled up to pick up passengers—a strange sight, watching a car stop for me with no driver inside!
Larry and I also took a stroll along Fisherman’s Wharf, which was bustling with tourists and people gearing up for the Chinese New Year celebrations. We spotted the sea lions at Pier 39, and in the distance, Alcatraz loomed.
Although we didn’t stop for a meal, the air was filled with the delicious smell of fresh seafood, mingling with the irresistible scent of hotdog vendors grilling up sausages topped with caramelized onions.
I hadn’t visited San Francisco since I was a kid, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Like other famous cities, my perception was shaped by movies, books, and songs, leaving me wondering how reality would compare. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by the clean streets, friendly locals, and the city’s overall mellow vibe.
San Francisco is definitely on my radar now for a return visit!