I left my apartment early on Monday with my backpack and duffel, and caught a bus to the RTD light rail station at Union Station. Fortunately, a direct line to the airport just opened this summer. My plane took off at 7 am, and touched down in SF just over 2 hours later. From there, I took the BART train downtown. Despite the short direct flight, the ancillary transportation added up to be a solid morning of travel. Nevertheless, I was excited to have arrived and to see Aja.
I walked a few blocks to our lodging in the Financial District. Aja's friends, Alex and Annabelle, were kind enough to host us at their apartment. SF carries a reputation for a hefty cost of living, so I was grateful to have a place to stay, and even more grateful when I saw it... I'm pretty sure that my mouth dropped when I saw the modern and luxurious high-rise, complete with floor to ceiling windows revealing panoramic views of the Bay Bridge and surrounding metro area.
Aja and I spent a good while catching up. It had been over 4 years since we studied in Spain together and saw each other last. Needless to say, there was much to catch up on... and to reminisce!
This was technically my second time to SF--I traveled here with my family several years ago to visit my aunt and uncle, but I was too young to fully remember. So Aja and I constructed an itinerary combining my ideas paired with her favorite places. Our first stop on Monday was the Haight-Ashbury district--a neighborhood of unique shops and eateries with a subtle hippie flare. The larger than anticipated downtown is manageable to navigate on foot and bike, but we also relied heavily on Uber (taxi) and the MUNI bus system.
From the Haight, Aja and I walked straight into Golden Gate Park. We only made it through the top portion of the enormous 1,017-acre park.
Next, we taxied to Alamo Square to see the "Painted Ladies"--the colorful Victorian houses that are shown in the opening credits of the TV series, Full House.
Afterwards, we headed to the Mission District, where we picked up food and drinks at the Bi-Rite Market and made ourselves a picnic in Dolores Park. This city park is a popular hang out for locals, and offers great views of the city. Here I noted the homeless population (reminiscent of Denver), but also a vague lack of cleanliness, which reminded me of Philly--2 characteristics common to many metropolitan cities.
After our picnic, Aja and I went to the top of Twin Peaks in hopes of seeing the reported views. Unfortunately, however, the fog made it difficult to see much of anything. I had been warned about the city's tendency for cool, gray days until the "fog lifts"... a clear contrast from the sunny and 80-degree weather I left behind in Denver! Still, the feeling of standing among cold and gusty clouds was pretty cool.
When it was time to come down from the clouds, Aja and I walked to the Castro District--a flamboyant neighborhood home to several bars and restaurants. Here we met Alex and Annabelle for dinner and drinks. The exhausting day had finally caught up with me when we decided to turn in early.
I work up on Tuesday eager to continue exploring!
Aja and I set off on foot, and walked towards the harbor and Bay Bridge.
We both fell in love with the Ferry Building--from the outdoor farmer's market to the indoor niche shops. It was a mutual decision to indulge in coffee and cheesecake for breakfast.
We jumped on the back of a Powell & Hyde trolley, and held on as we traversed the steep hills.
We got off at Lombard Street, one of the country's "crookedest streets."
Finally, it was time to see the Golden Gate Bridge, one of the 7 wonders of the modern world.
I was excited to dip my toes into the icy bay water.
Back on the other side of town, blue skies made for a clear night.
Aja's bus left early on Wednesday, so I spent the morning hiking along the coast at Lands End. As much as I adore living so close to the Rocky Mountains, I will not deny my yearning for the coast line and all the treasures that come with it.
The low-hanging clouds and light drizzle cast a misty and mysterious mood upon the area. Starting at the new visitor center, I walked along the 1.5 mile Coastal Trail, which revealed a rugged stretch of Cypress forest and cliffs.
I anticipated that being at a lower elevation (relative to the Mile High City) would be noticeable in even the slightest form of exercise. However, I still found myself breathing heavily on stairs. Perhaps that whole altitude thing is just a cop out..
Just as the clouds and fog began to thin, the small figure of the Golden Gate Bridge loomed into view.
At the end of the trail, I walked through a neighborhood of impressive mansions on my way to catch the bus across town.
I got off in the city's Chinatown...
...and walked to neighboring Little Italy, where I stopped for lunch.
I walked the rest of the way through town to the Financial District, where I packed my bag and said goodbye to Annabelle.
My last stop before the BART station, was Philz Coffee. The popular small-chain coffee shop is set up so that each customer is assigned to a specific barista, who then takes charge of the order. The fun atmosphere coupled with the unique brew selection made for a great experience. An added bonus: a cannoli that I brought from Little Italy!
