The City by the Bay

Aunt Julie's sweet kids bought her a plane ticket for her birthday so that she could come visit Melody. We thought we'd take her to see the sights in San Francisco, rather than making her suffer the 105 deg heat in Yuba City. So after picking her up at Oakland Airport we stayed in a hotel, then hit the City the next day.

This iconic sign for Fisherman's Wharf is actually at the entrance to the parking lot where we left the car on our visit. I dropped Julie and Melody off up the hill on Hyde Street so that they could ride the cable car down to the Hyde Street Pier. I met them there and we saw the sites and ate the food.

One of our favorite stops was the sourdough bread factory where they make all kinds of animal shapes out of the bread. The alligator is always a favorite, and the teddy bear and lobster are cool too. 

And even tough the bread is GREAT, I think the thing all of us enjoyed the most were macaroons! Without question the best I've ever had. Here's a photo of Mel standing in line to buy the good. I think it's a funny sign.

(Get it? The "bread line." Okay, maybe not that funny to other people.)

Of course, we had to stop at our favorite seafood place (among the many on Pier 39) for sourdough bread bowls of clam chowder (I got the shrimp & crab bowl). These two just had a blast being with each other. And I enjoyed their company too.

These two photos are mostly of interest because the last time we were at Pier 39 it was Christmas time and the weather was not as clear or warm. So for Nate & Kim and David, this is what it can look like. And the view of Alcatraz Island was as clear as I've ever seen it.

The sail boat was indicative of the upcoming Americas Cup race which will be based in S.F. this year. We saw some really spectacular catamarans and other sail boats practicing out on the bay.

The street performers were out in force also, and we caught this guy getting pictures taken of himself with some of the tourists. I remember going to the wharf over 30 years ago when these guys were just kids, and watching them over the years as they've developed their acts. What a way to make a living.

Earlier in the day we had driven out to see the Golden Gate Bridge, and old Fort Point. This fort was built to protect California during the Civil War. 

This shot is from the top level looking down on the inner courtyard

The shots below were actually taken from up on the Golden Gate Bridge. The circular forms you see on the right are gun placements, and this is the side facing into the bay. The ocean side has as many facing the other way.

 Don't these two look happy?

 Well, they are.