San Francisco Trip

Last week (Oct 18 and 19) we spent the night in the City trying our best to act like tourists.

Although we live but 45 minutes from San Francisco (30, if the traffic is cooperating and I feel particularly zealous) we rarely visit it as a family and we less so masquerading as tourists. As a matter of fact, until last week, none of us have ever ridden a cable car. Now, I'm not saying that cable cars are only for tourists - many SF residents rely on cable cars as their regular method of public transportation up and down the hills of San Francisco - but if you don't live in the City, you will most likely not find the need to ride one.

Anyway, we finally rode one and I must say it is actually quite an efficient, if not technologically antiquated, way to traverse the city. The view through the 'port hole' to the moving asphalt below and the burning smell of the wooden brakes all but makes me long for the days when such a ride would have cost no more than a nickel. But, of course there are other amenities of the modern era that make living in these less-innocent, more complex times worth while.

For example, our hotel stay was pretty awesome. We stayed at the Worldmark Trendwest San Francisco Timeshare that we own located no more than 10-walking-minutes from Union Square. It featured two TVs (one a flat-panel LCD), two full baths, a mini fridge, a sink, microwave, wireless internet access and, unlike other Trendwests that we've stayed at, full hotel-style room and bell services.

On our 'whirlwind' tour of San Francisco, we also managed to stop by Fort Point. It was a bummer that my childhood memories of exploring the aged bricked hallways of the fort could not be duplicated or shared with my own kids. The fort, alas, was closed do to 'security reasons'. The irony of the symbollic stronghold of security being closed for security reasons isn't lost on me. It's yet another sign of our times, I guess.

Of course, Pier 39 and the Blue and Gold Ferry were among our stops. We also managed to swing by Chinatown, Old Saint Mary's Cathedral and other SF landmarks like Lombard Street, etc.

Hopefully the kids will grow up with fond memories of one of the greatest cities in the world and one day be able to take their kids their too.