San Francisco, again

After breakfast, we were off, all dressed in our winter woollies.  We weren't going to be caught out this time with the cold winds that San Francisco is known for.

First stop was a guided walk with a National Park Ranger, learning how the waterfront area changed over time and how it became a tourist area.  There are a lot of old wooden boats buried under roads and buildings in downtown San Francisco, some excavated and some not.  We then popped into Ghirardelli again to get some more of their free chocolate squares (only 1 each at each store!).  And, as a special treat - ice-cream sundaes all round for lunch.  The boys had 3 scoops of ice-cream, with hot fudge sauce, marshmallow sauce, whipped cream, a cherry and a chocolate square - neither of them could finish it!  I had a simple sundae - 2 scoops of ice-cream, dark hot fudge sauce, cream, chopped almonds and a cherry - I was able to finish it and had a little bit of Robin's one.  Eric had an espresso sundae, with ice-cream, whipped cream, 72% chocolate sauce, a chocolate square.  He then ate the remainder of Karl's sundae then finished what I had left of Robin's.  As he left, he informed us that we were not to touch his stomach!

California Poppy, the state flower

Next stop was walking up the hill to Lombard Street, the crookedest street in the world.  We walked down it (249 steps) then up again on the other side (253 steps).  The boys realize it is simply a normal street with lots of bends in it and flower beds to make it bendy, but it is still good to go and see it (not sure if Eric will drive us down it or not).

We got a cable car down the hill, then a tram down to the Farmers Market on Pier 1 - we got some apples and tasted a few samples along the way (not sure where Eric put his samples after all the ice-cream, but he did have them!).  Then, tram back along past the piers to Pier 15 and 3 hours at the Exploratorium, a hands-on, full-on, wonder-filled learning, discovering, tinkering centre.  I went round with Karl - he raced from one exhibit to another, stopping at those that caught his eye (particularly those with computers) before racing off to the next one.  Just as well he had a bright yellow cap on today - it made it slightly easier to spot him when I got left behind.  Eric was with Robin - Robin spent over 30 mins at one activity, creating vertical marble runs.  There were different areas, focusing on the different senses and on social interactions, magnets, etc.  As I said, it was full on, and we all enjoyed it.  For more, see www.exploratorium.edu

Last stop before heading home was grocery shopping.  We tried to get on the F tram to go back past the piers and up Market Street to a nearby Target store, but 2 trams went past us, with people stuffed inside them like sardines in a can!  So, we started walking to Market Street and found a Safeway - a family-sized microwave lasagne dinner and baby carrots for dinner, and a few other supplies for our last few days here in the US (strawberries, blueberries, bread, sliced meat, cereal).  It is difficult to believe that the US portion of our trip is soon to end (it is Saturday here - we leave on Thursday to meet my mum in Tahiti for 3 days).  It seems we have been away for a long time, yet the end is coming too fast!

But, before then, more exploring San Fran tomorrow and Monday!

Below are some of the trolley trams we have been on, each painted to represent different cities that had trolleys and trams.

Oh, and the sun did come out, the fog cleared and we shed our outer layers - it was a very pleasant early afternoon weather-wise.