Springtime Adventures in San Francisco: Fisherman's Wharf Update 5/7
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statelady01 · 05-04-2006, 10:36 PM

For the record, Karen is an excellent driver, no matter how big the vehicle!!

On with the cable car adventure!

Few bench seats were left by the time we got around to our side of the car, but enough room for Chez, who wanted to avoid further stress on her ankle. I actually wanted to stand on the outer part. A guy right in front of me, kept offering me his seat and mentioned how he could get better pictures and it was okay to take his seat. That's right, buddy- and I am staying where I am- I have a trip report to write thank you kindly- and wasn't going to post it without pictures from the cable car! After a few offers, he gave up.

Kevan takes in the sights:

We ended up near the Wharf but decided to head back up towards Lombard Street- since by all indications it was close by according to Chez's guidebook. Well, this meant quite the trek up one hill. We managed and during the course of it, Angie phoned- so Cheryl and I triet to capture as much oxygen as we could to talk.

We came to a corner to make the left hand turn up towards Lombard. Insert groans and a few not so choice words here. We assumed it would be a more level walk, but were instead faced with what else but a steep hill. None of us were having any of this- so we crossed and decided to wait on a cable car.

It was a bit of a wait but soon enough one came round. Up the hill we went and found ourselves at Lombard Street. There was pretty minimal traffic and as soon as Chez and I got out into the street to photograph some streets, some guys just jumped right in the middle of our shots! So much for scenery!

So we found our way to the top of Lombard Street. It was so cool to watch cars make their way down, brakes and tires squealing. It's actually a very quaint street and very much a residential neighborhood.

Mark and I decided to use the chance we had when no cars were on the street to goof off in the street.

Chez has the other pictures so I'll defer on that to her when she gets to the San Francisco portion of her report. Mark and I returned to the sidewalk after seeing the sign not to do, uh, what we did.

Back on the sidewalk where I belong

By this point, we all were ready for a bite to eat and headed down to Fisherman's Wharf to check out the possibilites for good eats and good times.

Coming Up Next: Seat him there- it's too loud up front..

Grammy Grumpy · 05-04-2006, 10:36 PM

GREAT pics Mo! On our trip to SF a few years ago we never got to see the cable cars in action. Now I know I want to go back!!

ariel14 · 05-05-2006, 01:19 AM

Great pics!
More pls!!!

**chezp** · 05-05-2006, 02:25 AM

Oh my goodness, those hills were murder! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] I felt so unfit walking up that hill and then trying to talk to Angie. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Thank goodness there was a cable car to negotiate that final hill.

Still it was well worth it to see Lombard Street and the idiots who went careering down there.. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

**Colexis Mom** · 05-05-2006, 06:47 AM

Great update Maureen [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img]

**LizardCop** · 05-05-2006, 07:16 AM

[b]WHEW!!!

I'm tired just reading that [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]

More, Please???

debsta922 · 05-05-2006, 08:24 AM

Your pictures of Lombard bring back so many memories for me! We stayed at a B&B at the bottom of the "crooked" part, and heard tires click-clacking on the cobblestones and brakes screeching as they went around the curves all night long!

Minnie Lor · 05-05-2006, 08:32 AM

Just catching up. I was planning on waitting to read this until Chez caught up but I couldn't help myself. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
Great pics and TR! I would love to visit S.F. someday.

The walking sounds alot like Quebec City in Canada. I had "trained" for all of the walking uphill but obviously not enough. We would be huffing and puffing up a large hill and here would come a native of the area zooming by on their bike or walking with out so much of a huff.

Keep it coming!

lauren-roxy · 05-05-2006, 12:30 PM

Great update Maureen!! Those SF streets are so hilly, I was out of breath the entire time I was there. Great pictures, Lombard street is so fun! Can't wait to read more!!!

RobDVC · 05-05-2006, 02:03 PM

I love your pics of Lombard Street. DW and I had a blast walking those hills on our honeymoon.

**DrDolphin** · 05-06-2006, 04:24 PM

Great pics!

mestitch · 05-06-2006, 04:35 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Mark and I returned to the sidewalk after seeing the sign not to do, uh, what we did.

[/ QUOTE ]

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] You guys are hilarious!! And I don't know if I coulda trekked up that hill!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]

MickeyMAC · 05-06-2006, 06:25 PM

I just got caught up. Your report is great, love the pictures.

statelady01 · 05-07-2006, 09:09 AM

There are some things you want to see as you play tourist in city and then there are some things you would rather not. Cheryl, Mark and Kevan began bursting into hysterics. Huh? What's so funny? Some guy was sitting on a corner and unfortunately, he must have lost a very important part of his pants on some cable car- or elsewhere. Needless to say those three got an eyeful- and I am pretty grateful I was looking at other scenery on the way to the Wharf!

As we came up on this famous area, I was surprised at how quaint it was- even though we were only seeing just a part of it. The sound of the birds and smell of the sea air only added to the WOW factor as we made our way down the street.

Enough with the WOW! and on with the EAT! then. Chez consulted her handydandy guidebook and when she read the description for Pompei's Grotto- we decided it was a must. I believe part of it relayed it was a locals' favorite. Well, if locals are flocking there, then you know it's a good bet.

We found it rather easily and were seated right away. It's been around since the 40's or 50's, very cozy. Our server was pretty friendly, and she got a quick photo of us:

Let me just stay I was starving when we entered but then they served this bread- and it was just really good.I had a salad, Chez went for clam chowder as an appetiser and Mark I believe went for a Manhattan clam chowder? Cant' remember exactly. For entrees, I had pasta, Kevan and Mark went for hot crab sandwiches and Chez went for something similar to a crab sandwich, she'll explain in her trip report.

About this time an older couple walks in and the server was trying to seat him behind us- to which he refused. A man we assumed to be the owner told her to seat them towards the back because it "was too loud up front." Ooops, were we being too loud? Honestly, I don't think we were. It just so happened that no one else in that restaurant seemed to have any conversation whatsoever- and that was not going to be the case for us!

My entree of pasta was good but I was rather full and didn't manage to put away any decent amount of it. These three let me have it too. Right after they finally let me be, the server marches up and asks, "Can I get you a to go box?" and then we were laughing again.

When it came time to pay, we handed our portion in cash over to Chez and she presented the server with a travelers cheque. Then we are advised they don't take travelers cheques due to the fact they "got burned" with some AAA ones last month. It sure would have been nice to know that before we paid!!! We ended up paying with cash in the end so it all worked out- but honestly, I don't understand how a business in the heart of a tourist spot can avoid taking TC's and if they aren't, not to let you know that by way of a sign or something is a little short sighted.

Okay, enough on that- we are full and ready to take on our busy afternoon we have planned. On on stroll through the area, Mark made friends with or pirate- or maybe not:

We browsed a few stores in addition to seeing the Cannery:

Coming Up Next: This is NOT like the Downtown Disney one at all!!