Beautiful Bay Area

Really enjoying our time in San Francisco. We're being well looked after by Kevin & Michelle and also managed to catch up with some dear San Francisco-based friends we originally met during Covid lockdown in Paihia! 

Staying in San Rafael so there is no need for a weather report, it's sunny every day! We took a lovely walk on Mt Tamalpaias that was full of dappled shade and little stream beds - all still green in the valley but bone dry in the wide open areas.

Always nice to take a walk along the Sausalito waterfront and wander amongst  the houseboats.

Check out the houseboat mail boxes.   

Spent time revisiting old haunts, the rustic live bait shop at Loch Lomond still going strong with its resident seabirds waiting for a bite.

An easy ride from Larkspur Landing on the ferry across to big smoke. As we left Larkspur Landing we had a bird's-eye view of San Quentin prison!

Cold breeze the day we went to the city and fog shrouded the golden gate bridge from view.

By the time we hit the city the sun was trying to make an appearance.

We set off to explore the POPOS, privately owned public open spaces, to see the city from up high on  rooftop gardens. 

Our first stop was to the roof garden at 343 Sansome Street. 

The doorman lets you know which lift to take and off you go. We were the only ones there and had fantastic views of the city, the triangle building and through a gap in the sky scrapers, a glimpse of the sea. 

The garden and seating areas were immaculately maintained. Then we wandered on towards Union Square via China town.

Lunch in Chinatown was underwhelming, maybe we picked the wrong pot sticker joint!

Onwards we went to Union Square.

Enroute we passed all the fancy schmancy boutique shops, think Cartier, Harry Winston, Bulgari, Chanel, Vera Wang.  The Harry Winston diamonds in the window displays were amazing.....but who buys that stuff?

Seemed strange to see people openly rolling joints and smokin em in public, we're not in New Zealand anymore Dorothy :)

Our next rooftop spot was at 1 Kearny Street (enter through 23 Geary Blvd, doorman will sign you in) and up to the 11th floor. Again we had it all to ourselves and it provided stunning views over the city and down to Market Street 

Market Street and downtown by the ferry terminal had really cleaned up it's act since our visit two years ago, we didn't see one homeless person or tents like we did last visit. 

Back down to earth and Market Street was remarkably quiet for a business day. On previous visits this street was full of traffic, buses, taxis, pedestrians ... not this time.

The architecture of the city is a glorious blend of new and old - love it all.

Final city roof garden stop was Salesforce Park just south of Market Street. 

This garden runs over four blocks and has stunning plantings, waterfalls, fountains, shady nooks and crannies for city office workers to have lunch, a perimeter walking track and lots of free events and music over the summer months. It's awesome to be walking above ground, encircled by skyscrapers and hear so much birdsong in the garden. 

It even has a gondola to take you up to the garden from street level, pretty nifty.

The park appears to be floating amongst the city tower blocks. 

Back to San Rafael by ferry and a little mooch around Tiburon - so many bay /shoreline areas to enjoy here, it's great.

Larkspur ferry landing has a cute little shopping area to grab a coffee on your way to/from the ferry and it also has a fish pond with the biggest carp I've ever seen up close and a lovely turtle family ...at least they looked like mum, dad and the kids :)

Having a marvellous time with family and friends here in San Francisco. Feel blessed and thankful to have the time to really connect rather than be rushing with in- transit/short visit limitations.