North America

San Francisco – California – Part II

As you saw in part I of the San Francisco series, we managed to stroll through several sights of the city on Sunday. The city is relatively small and selecting the places well, you can have a good walk. We also managed to go to outlets and spent almost all day there on Monday (strategy not to spend too much – take little luggage with little space for extra things lol).

I also commented in the previous post that we had some negative things on this trip and in addition to the accommodations episode (described in the previous post), we had another nasty little incident. Our rental car was robbed!

We went to a Target store on the last day (without Diego) and left the car in one of the parking lots around the store. The parking lot was quiet, without so much movement and I think that was the problem. Some thief of life there saw that we left a backpack on the floor of the back seats, broke the back window and took it. Among personal objects of lesser value, we had alice's tablet inside and the key to our car that was waiting for us at the airport here in Ottawa. Aff, needless to say, the surprise was super unpleasant when we got back to the car, about 45 minutes in the store. We talked to the guard (who had not seen anything obviously) and I had to call the police to make a case by phone, to be able to justify the damage to the company where we rented the car. Super boring experience, feeling helpless, which I do not intend to repeat!
Less badly that the rental company did not complicate anything and we exchanged the car for another that night and that we were not present at the time (we do not even have photos of what happened, I was a little tense and completely forgot).
Golden Gate Bridge
Detail on golden gate bridge
Still on our busy Sunday, we visited Lombard Street which is really super friendly (and what is the low court? So steep, i was afraid to walk, and end up rolling down the hill! rsrsrs).
Lombard Street, New
Lombard Street, New
Lombard Street, New
Another one from Lombard Street
Lombard Street, New
Always full of tourists – we went down by car too and the wait was not that long…
Lombard Street, New
Detail of Lombard Street
San Francisco City Hall, California
Quick pass to register San Francisco City Hall
We couldn't help but take a dip in the most famous Victorian houses in San Francisco, next to Alamo Square, called Painted Ladies (referring to the architectural style "Victorian" and "Edwardian"). We didn't get any closer, for lack of time (and a tired little girl…) – who knows next!?
Painted ladies at Alamo Square
Painted ladies in Alamo Square – downtown in the background
Painted and pregnant ladies… 🙂
From Monday to Wednesday, we took small walks without Diego's presence. One of the places we visited was the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. The Japanese-style garden is the oldest Japanese garden in the United States and was originally built as part of a World Fair, the California Mid-Winter International Expo in 1894. I found it very friendly and careful, but much smaller than I thought it would be.
Japanese Tea Garden
Access to Japanese Tea Garden
Japanese Tea Garden
Japanese Tea Garden
Japanese Tea Garden
Alice and budda
Maple leaf
I always remember Canada when I see one of these… 🙂
Japanese Tea Garden
Japanese Tea Garden
Japanese Tea Garden
One more detail from the Japanese Tea Garden
Japanese Tea Garden
Alice and the Moon Bridge at the Japanese Tea Garden
Golden Gate Bridge, New
Ride along the coast to view the Golden Gate Bridge!
Oh beautiful California at dusk…
Golden Gate Bridge, New
Really beautiful!
We also visited the Exploratorium, located at Pier 15, which is basically a science museum, full of interactive experiments, including for children. Alice had fun, but I find the museum more appropriate for children a little older and with a little salty entrance value ($29/adult).
Exploratorium
Sculpture/art with toothpicks at exploratorium
Exploratorium
Alice testing the experiments…
Exploratorium
Exploratorium
Exploratorium
Exploratorium – does not look in the photo, but this space was not parallel to the ground to the naked eye!
Pier 7
Quick pass at Pier 7 to admire city views
Pier 7
Pier 7
Pier 7
View of Pier 7's Coit Tower
Pier 7
We girls at Pier 7.
Ferry Building Marketplace
Ferry Building Marketplace – Public Market
Cupid's Span
Cupid's Span and the Bay Bridge – on embarcadero
Cupid's Span
Cupid's Span and the Bay Bridge – on embarcadero
Soma Sculpture
Soma Sculpture at Pier 14
Bay Bridge, New
Little Alice near the Bay Bridge in the background…
Cupid's Span
Cupid's Span and baby 🙂
Bay Bridge, New
One more, just because I liked the colors and the contrast… 🙂

On the morning of our return, Thursday, a quick jump at Fort Point, at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is worth to enjoy the bridge and have beautiful angles for photos…

Fort Point, New
Family at Fort Point – enjoying the Golden Gate
Fort Point, New
Golden Gate – Fort Point
Golden Gate Bridge, New
Golden Gate, New Year
Golden Gate Bridge, New
This husband of mine is strong! 🙂

Until the next San Francisco, i'm sure we'll see each other again! 🙂