Whirlwind Day in San Francisco

Jill's Journal: When you start out your day in the heart of San Francisco with a naked man, you know the day is going to be full of adventure. And yes, the very first thing we saw this morning as we drove into the city was a completely nude man (similar to Ugly Naked Guy from “Friends”). He was watering his flowers on a second-floor balcony while talking on the phone, apparently forgetting to clothe himself before stepping outside. It was definitely an abrupt reminder that this is San Francisco and anything goes! Sorry, no photos of that…this is a family blog. Honest truth is that I just didn’t have my camera at the ready because I would have snapped a picture. :)

The girls’ most favorite thing about San Francisco? It absolutely had to be the steep hills all over the city. I think Rob and I will always remember their peals of laughter every time we went down (and even up) a big hill.

One of our first destinations was Lombard Street, reputed to be the crookedest street in the world. This super steep quarter-mile section has eight hairpin turns to ease the 27% grade, which is too steep for most vehicles to handle. The girls cracked us up as we drove down it. We had told them it was like the letter “z” and as we crept down, Erika pointed out we should have said it was more like the letter “s” since the corners are more sloped than pointed. Clearly, she’s a technical child!

The 210-foot Coit Tower on top of Telegraph Hill, built in 1933. A statue of Christopher Columbus graces the front.

A great view of Alcatraz Island from the top of Coit Tower.

The famous Ghirardelli Square, former home of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory. The chocolate manufacturing company, which was founded in San Francisco in 1852 and moved into the former Pioneer Woolen Mills factory in the 1890s, eventually moved to nearby San Leandro in the 1960s. It was later that decade that the factory was transformed into a retail center with loads of character.

We’d hoped to get the girls an ice cream sundae or their first-ever milkshake at Ghirardelli’s ice cream shop, but they have a sign on the window stating none of their products are peanut safe. It was a disappointment, but we definitely appreciate the company being so forthcoming. Priority #1 is keeping our little peanut-allergic girl safe.

We enjoyed watching a cable car turnaround…

And cracked up at seeing tours via Segway PTs.

We spent quite a bit of time in the fascinating alleys of Chinatown, where it really feels like you’ve been transported thousands of miles across the ocean. This is the largest Chinatown in the world outside of Asia.

One of the highlights was a behind-the-scenes look at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. We were ushered inside (maybe because we stood out like sore thumbs?) and the girls got to watch the little pancake-shaped cookies come off the hot press, get a slip of paper with a fortune pressed inside, and then be hand-molded into the proper shape to cool and harden. It’s a very speedy process. The girls were fascinated. We were quickly ushered back outside when the fortune cookie folks realized we weren’t there to buy anything!

Madelyn was particularly excited about an afternoon snack of clementines from one of the street venders. Chinatown was quite the education for them (and us!).

Another highlight of our day was the free Wells Fargo Museum on the site where Wells Fargo opened for business in 1852. Wells Fargo also managed the western end of the Pony Express route, making this spot also the Pony Express station. Although we think of Wells Fargo as a banking company today, it actually has a fascinating history -- did you know Henry Wells and William Fargo also founded American Express? Their other contributions to society include Wells College in New York and the town of Fargo, North Dakota. An original Concord Stagecoach used by Wells Fargo in the 1860s to transport both gold and passengers across the country is on display here, as is this replica in the photo. Erika gained a new appreciation for how tough it would be to drive a six-horse team.

The girls got a kick out of operating real working telegraphs. They couldn’t translate the messages though – those puppies were complicated!

The old-time phones were much easier to use, although those things were challenging to hear each other through. Communication has come an amazingly long way. These tidbits were just some of the highlights at the Wells Fargo Museum, something all five of us enjoyed.

The Transamerica Pyramid is easily the most recognizable skyscraper in San Francisco. It is also the only spot we’ve seen (sort of) blue skies since we got to the bay area!

Hair flying, three little girls burned off a little energy just outside the Transamerica building. So many people always comment to me about how much blonder Victoria is than her sisters. They always say it in surprise. I was a towheaded child and so was Rob, so what actually surprises me is our older two aren’t blonder. It must be because Rob is half-Egyptian. :)

The Painted Ladies, also known as the Seven Sisters or Postcard Row. These 1890s-era mansions across the street from the Alamo Square park are one of the most enduring images of San Francisco. They’ve appeared in about 70 movies, plus the opening credits for the t.v. show Full House.

On our way home, we unexpectedly drove by the intersection of Haight-Ashbury…the most famous intersection of the 1960s and the center of the hippie movement. Oh, to be a fly on the wall during the Summer of Love! The things this intersection must have seen… A Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop now graces the corner.

We arrived home to find a bottle of wine on our doorstep! There was no note, but we suspect it was from a lovely family Rob got to know over the past few days and who left the campground today. If so, thanks Ken and all!