San Francisco: over the GGB

John had two back to back work trips to San Francisco so I decided to join him for a long weekend. Thanks to Liam for minding the piggies back in Chicago! I arrived Thursday evening and we went to dinner with friends Matthew and Patricia – readers will remember them from John’s lovely visit to Milan last summer. Great seeing them!

Friday morning we had breakfast a a place near where we stayed in The Fillmore neighborhood called Jane. Right next to Jane is a goop store! Did not know that lifestyle concept by gwyneth Paltrow was a bricks and mortar store! Sadly I did not do a great job photographing street scapes in San Francisco but I think most of you have been there. Many buildings resemble Victorian homes like in wicker park, and also the whole place reminds us of Sydney 😀

Above – we didn’t get to try Bun Mee (take on the Vietnamese sandwich type bahn mi) but appreciated the witty name. Also above are wallpapers from our very nice hotel. Anyone watching the HBO show The Watchmen? The top wallpaper reminded us of the Rorsarch masks!

After breakfast on Friday we went to the fisherman’s wharf area to rent bikes and go on a ride that Matthew introduced John to a few years ago. First, we cycled past fort mason, where there was an exhibit by sculptor Giuseppe Penone. His ideas of stone tree cast in bronze is like the one at the business school at university of Chicago. The other big tree on its side was cast by him too.

We cycled on to the Golden Gate Bridge.

And over it – where we continued up up up… after this viewing point we went up to the very top of the ridge. We walked some but also rode more than I thought I’d be able to! Good bikes with a lot of gears was the key.

Then on the other side of the ridge it was all downhill, sunny and facing the pacific rather than the bay. I nearly got cramps in my arms from hugging the brakes all the way down!

We cycled around that side some and through a tunnel and back across the Golden Gate Bridge. Then back down the Embarcadero to return our bikes.

We walked along the piers and stopped in to look at this model of Alcatraz. Then on to Philz coffee, where they only do pour over coffee, and I ordered one that came with fresh mint and cardamon. It was delicious but I get it if some coffee purists out there are shaking their heads.