Day 25: San Francisco
4 hour flight from O’Hare to San Francisco was a breeze after some of the journeys in the last few weeks, on time and passed pretty quickly. The flight itself was pretty funny, I’m not sure if all internal US flights are like this or what, but it seemed so casual. The captain came out and give his pre-flight announcement from in the cabin, and treated it like a bit of a stand up routine. I would prefer that the captain was a bit more serious, he should be more focused on the job!
Got to the hostel about 6pm. We were knackered as usual after traveling – its crazy how tired you get just sitting moving from one place to another! So we got a Burrito, and our first Anchor Steam, (local lager, on the advice of Uncle Neil) then back to the hostel. Had a bottle of wine and watched a film (how civilised!) then headed to bed.
The next morning we went on a walking tour with the hostel, went through Union Square, China Town, Little Italy, to Coit Tower (a monument on top of a hill, really good views) then down to Fisherman’s Wharf. Coit Tower was really good for views over the city – Lombard street (the really bendy road), the Golden Gate Bridge and first ever view of the Pacific. Had Clam Chowder in a bread bowl at Pier 39 for lunch, as everyone says you should when you’re in San Fran. Walked back via Lombard Street and took a cable car home. Went on a pub crawl at night, it went to some fairly expensive places which wasn’t so good, but the banter was good, so can’t complain.
Lazy morning the next day (pub crawl must have been good) , then headed over to Alcatraz. Really good tour and things, great views of the bridge and the whole of San Francisco Bay, we spent most of afternoon wandering about the Island. At night we went for some drinks with some guys in our room, but didn’t last too long and called it a night.
Got a big breakfast in the next morning at a proper American Diner style place, jukebox on the table and everything. Then we headed to Fisherman’s wharf and hired bikes for the day. Spent the day cycling along the beach to the Goldent Gate then across it and on to a place called Sausalito on the other side before getting a ferry back to San Francisco. It was a really good day and a fun thing to do, but I expected the Golden Gate to be bigger or a bit more impressive. It could do with a lick of paint, maybe the could get the guys from the Forth Bridge, I think they’ve finished now?
It had been really good weather that day, as was only too evident by our red faces and necks that night! Went on another pub crawl with the hostel with some guys from the room, but we didn’t stay long as we were up first thing to catch yet another bus.
Really enjoyed San Francisco, lots to do and see! People say it’s a city you can walk everywhere in, which is true, but the don’t tell you it’s all over hills and that you’ll be knackered if you do. Need some lazy days on the beach in Santa Monica to recover!
