San Francisco 2014: A Chocolate End to a Very Hilly Day

Saturday morning I was up early and ready to wander before the Russian Festival got underway again. I fell in love with the 'building topper' of the Market Street Old Navy store. I may not have seen it if I hadn't been waiting for Ross to open (stopping in just in case something took my fancy).

Near the elevator in my hotel is a sign with suggestions on restaurants and sites to see. One suggestion was to take Jones street up to California to visit Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill. 'No problem,' I thought, 'I will take the streetcar up and that will be that.' I saw the line of eager tourists waiting to be crammed onto the famous streetcar and decided to walk up. The street angle increased exponentially, but by the time I could see the top of the hill I had no where to go but up -  very, very slowly. At least the cathedral was beautiful, complete with massive stones and stained glass windows.

It was all down hill from there to Chinatown, home of the coolest lamp posts in all of San Francisco. From there I hopped back on to the Big Bus for a ride back up the hill to Alamo Square and a view of the Victorian and Edwardian style "Painted Ladies". I always end up getting a little bit lost when I explore a new city, this time was no different... map in hand, I made my way over to Sutter street and the Russian Center. Eventually, the quaint old homes were overtaken by housing projects, graffiti and mass transit.

The line for food at the Russian Festival began just past the men's bathroom in the basement (wouldn't be "real" Russian food if we didn't have a long line to wait in.) I went for the borscht and piroshki (cabbage first and a potato and a mushroom filled one for later.) The afternoon entertainment included more dancers and even a Russian play. 

Once I had my fill of Russia for the day and decided to walk back down to the wharf. I realize maps can be deceiving, especially when you cannot see the hills. Somehow I avoided most of them. I was in awe of the splendor and ornate buildings along Broadway, night and day from the neighborhoods I saw earlier in the day. My legs were starting to falter, so when I had to decide to either walk up to see Lombard Street for one last - the world's crookedest street, or head down to Ghiradelli's Square for some chocolate goodness. Chocolate wins every time. 

It was decadence at is best. Since the sun was setting and the temperature dropping it was quite a commitment to finish every last drop of ice cream. Mission accomplished.
















Not sure what I was thinking when I climbed back on the double-Decker bus for a night tour of the city. I cant remember the last time I was frozen to the bone like that. I was dressed for spring, not Russian winter! I even put on the shirt and nightgown I bought earlier in the morning to add some layers... ended up looking like a frozen homeless person. At least my hotel was comfy and warm.

48 hours in San Francisco. Done.

San Francisco 2014: Russia - by way of the city on the bay

It has been 10 years since I wandered through the streets of San Francisco. I came back to represent the Honorary Consulate of Russia in Utah at the 26th Annual Russian Festival. I had some time in the afternoon before the first night of festivities and decided to act like a tourist and take the Big Bus - hop on, hop off - tour of the city.

It was a blustery, sunny February day on top of the double-Decker bus, but it turned out to be great way to get an broad overview of the city. There were many more hills than I remembered from my last trip. I did "hop off" a few times and got some walking in, but was happy to do most of my sight seeing from above. There is just something so majestic about the Golden Gate Bridge, standing bold and redish against a clear blue San Francisco sky.

I saw much more on my bus tour than I ever remember seeing as a driver through the city all those years ago. I got a good view of Alcatraz from Pier 39, but the invasion of tourists made me want to get out of there as soon as possible. City Hall even looked like it was transplanted from Europe.

San Francisco City Hall

View of Alcatraz from Pier 39.

I took the bus up Geary street to the Russian Cultural Center. It was as if I had just stepped out of Sheremyetovo Airport into a local Palace of Culture in Russia. I could smell the garlic and fried dishes before I could even see the building. A group of elaborately dressed Russian dancers got the evening started. They were lead by a white haired man with ballet points to his toes and a youthful spring in his step. I found one of the older, yet elegant ladies afterwards for a photo.

The Winter Olympics are finally winding down, which is good since I feel a bit Olympic fatigue right about now. Time to get some sleep under an over-sized poster of the 50 foot woman above my bed at the Best Western Hotel California (yes, they do sell tee shirts in honor of the Eagle's tune.)

I am heading back to the Russian Festival again tomorrow to sample some food and buy some unnecessary Russian trinkets.

Utah 2014: Carefree and Carless in Salt Lake City

I needed a break from watching the Olympics and so I headed up to Salt Lake City for the morning. Just after the "point of the mountain" I realized I was almost out of gas and pulled off in Draper. The inversion was creeping back into the valley and just then I decided to hop on the Trax train instead of filling up and driving in. Since I wasn't in my car I had no music in my ear and was forced to empty my mind and get lost in the scenery. Well, "scenery" might be a bit generous. There wasn't much to look at until I reached about 9th South in SLC.

Today, I felt like a tourist in a town I lived in for several years. After a bit of pre-birthday shopping at City Creek, I walked down Main to the Courthouse Trax stop. When I travel in Europe, I always remind myself to look up so I don't miss the detail and history above the doorways. Several old ornate buildings remain in downtown SLC and even a few new ones like the Boulangerie - Eva's Bakery. I stopped in for some gingerbread with cream frosting - to die for!

I couldn't come all the way to SLC and not stop in to Trader Joe's. Just a few stations on the Red Line and I was sampling some lentil, tomato and cucumber salad and buying Irish Sharp Cheddar. I only had a small back pack with me so I didn't get much and had to restrain myself as I walked past the flower section. Not sure why I never noticed the Olympic mural above the lettuce and kale before today...

 

 

After filling up my car, I made it back down to Orem with enough light left in the sky for a walk along the Provo River Trail. The snow and ice has almost melted and a few plump ducks braved the frigid water. Nice all around Utah winter day.