An Outing to San Francisco

Franklin Street,
from Market

When we first moved to Monterey over thirty years ago (wait, what?), we were happy that we'd be in such close proximity to San Francisco—only two hours away. We were sure we'd be up there all the time, to go to museums or concerts or the opera or just to experience the big city. Well, needless to say, that didn't happen. It's remarkable if we get up there more than once in a year. 

Well, yesterday was the first time in a couple, few years. And we had a marvelous day out! It didn't hurt that the normal summertime fog stayed away, and the day was breezy and pleasantly cool.

What took us there was the Immersive Van Gogh show that is playing far and wide. A couple of Facebook friends mentioned going, and they seemed pretty positive, so I thought it was worth checking out. It turned out to be nothing like anything I ever dreamed of—partly, perhaps, because I never looked thoroughly enough at the venue and had it in mind that it was at SFMoMA, which would, I'm sure, have been an entirely different viewing experience. We did enjoy it, but I found it both kitschy and grandiose, not really my cuppa. (I might have benefited from drugs.) I kept wondering what Vincent himself would have thought of it. What I got the most out of was people watching. (Though all that said, yes, I am glad I went. It was different.) Here are a few photos I took.

Many people had purchased
sunflowers as a souvenir

A couple in the corner was experiencing the
show with their phone camera

The store was questionably decorated—though
then again, this was San Francisco

On our way back to the car we had to stop for a geocache, simply because it involved climbing a tree right there in downtown San Francisco. Nobody paid any attention.

We walked down Market and enjoyed the bustle of workers at work.

Installing art

Installing a tree

While studying a sidewalk plaque detailing a walking tour devoted to the days of the Barbary Coast (around the time of the gold rush), we were approached by a woman who suggested that we visit a nearby hotel, the Palace (originally established in 1875), simply for the beauty of the main public area, which had been damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and recently has been restored to its full splendor. We figured, sure, why not—it was just a few blocks out of our way. And yes, it was worth the stop. Now I'm lusting after afternoon tea in that restaurant: the perfect setting for such.

Then we were off to Golden Gate Park to (of course) do some geocaching. We found all that we were looking for but one—and that one was the toughest one to get to. But the views were good. 

We first explored the northern reaches of the park, which included the Plant Conservatory grounds—

especially the beautiful dahlia garden. I am now convinced that I was meant to raise dahlias! And a little research has netted me one grower that has a few tubers left to sell! I am going to start right away! Here are a few of the dahlias that we got such pleasure from:

We ended the day with fabulous Japanese food—gyoza, yellowtail collar, tuna tacos, seaweed salad with maguro, and snow crab and salmon bundles—at Koo on Irving Street. 

And then, at 7:45, we were all set to head home, having evaded rush hour. But... the car said no! Or rather, the battery did. Hey! No fair! We just endured this nonsense not even a year ago. Apparently I don't have good car battery karma. But I do have good AAA karma, because our rescuer arrived—after a tense long wait on hold with AAA with my phone battery at 3% (apparently I don't have good battery karma, period)—within ten minutes. And voilà! We were charged and on our way. Only half an hour lost. Home by a little after 10. 

The whole thoroughly (minus the battery angst) enjoyable day almost makes me want to go back up there again before another year has passed...