Saturday, December 31, 2005

Quick Takes on Our San Francisco Getaway

My wife and I recently returned from a trip to San Francisco, my first trip there. We had a fantastic time!

Rather than composing a long post on the details, I thought that I'd write a rapid-fire review of some of what we experienced. You might find it helpful if you're considering a first-time visit:

Cable cars and trolleys: Charming and practical. The trolleys SF has now come from all over the world. We rode some from Italy and saw one from Cincinnati's former fleet.

Sea Lions on Pier 39 off of Embarcadero: Funny.

Chocolate at Recchiuti Confections: Exquisite.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art: The permanent collection is outstanding, including pieces from such disparate artists as Calder and Picasso. The current exhibitions are boring and unexceptional.

Union Square: A really fun place, even though the band's cover version of Who Can It Be Now? (an old Men at Work tune) was sort of annoying.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART): Wow!

Tadich Grill: Great food, great service, great atmosphere, fun place!

The View from Twin Peaks: Breathtaking!

Ghiradelli's: Tasty, as always.

A Big Regret: Not going into the National Maritime Museum.

Most Enjoyable Shopping Venue: The recently-refurbished (2003) Ferry Building, on Embarcadero where Market Street ends.

People: Incredibly friendly and helpful!

Unexpected pleasure: Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, close to the Museum of Modern Art. Its doors were open and people were praying there. The creche was stunning as was a life-sized depiction of Jesus near the Stations of the Cross.

Not Worth the Time: A wax museum in the Fishermen's Wharf district. We wouldn't have gone if we didn't have free admission. About one-third of the persons portrayed actually looked like them.

Unexpected Treat: Boudin, A bakery, restaurant, deli, and kitchenware store that's really neat.

Biggest Regret: Being unable to hook up with some old high school friends.

Biggest Pleasure: Being able to hook up with some old high school friends.

Greatest Blessing: Taking a pleasure trip with my wife, our first since before our two twenty-something kids were born.

3 comments:

Deborah White said...

I'm crushed that you didn't ask for restaurant recommendations! :) Seriously, let me know before your next jaunt to SF. (Burger or breakfast at The Buena Vista? Dancing at the Top of the Mark, at the Mark Hopkins Hotel? The farmers market and food stalls at the Ferry Building? The best Borders bookstore anywhere, on Union Square?)

Sounds absolutely delightful. It might be my all-time favorite city. In fact, here on my office wall is a framed poster of the SF Museum of Modern Art.
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Happy New Years, Mark. May we both achieve new heights of excellence, and touch more people, with our respective writings.

Pilgrim said...

What a fun trip! My brother lives out there, and I've been out twice. I love visiting that area. Happy New Year!

Mark Daniels said...

Deborah:
I will ask for your recommendations the next time we head anywhere in California.

We did look around in the Border's at Union Square, in fact. But because we only took carry-ons and decided to limit our expenditures, we didn't do any serious shopping. I did however, just finish eating a bowl of ice cream with Recchiuti chocolate topping, purchased while sauntering through the stores at The Ferry Building.

A friend of mine here at Friendship Church says that San Francisco is his favorite city in the world. He was my campaign treasurer when I ran for the State House of Representatives last year, a very Red State Reagan Republican, demonstrating that a love for SF is not the exclusive purview of Blue State Dems, I guess.

Julana:
I'm glad that because your brother lives in SF, you have more excuses than most of us have to travel there.

It was a very fun trip!

To both of you, thanks so much for your comments and have a happy 2006!

God bless!

Mark