August
23-25, 2015
Location Oakland, California
Trip Miles 1142
Gray
walls … graffiti … dingy streets… the dark clouds roll in. I’m very tired.
As
we turn into the grimy driveway, Barbara murmurs “this may be our first mistake
(regarding location of lodging)". A tall panhandler accosts us as we approach
the block-like hotel. The unsmiling male receptionist processes our check-in
with terse efficiency – like a prison guard. We enter our room, which has three
locks on the door. Once inside, we don’t leave.
Welcome to Oakland.
Welcome to Oakland.
Such were the perceptions of a tired
mind after a 200-mile drive across the hot, flat Central Valley, followed by
entry into rush-hour Bay Area traffic. They dramatically changed over the next
two days.
The color change started with a good
night’s sleep. It proceeded with entry into the yellow-hued ButtercuP Grille
and first sip of Peerless coffee. The coffee is Oakland’s own roast and the
Capital P at the end of ButtercuP is intentional. Family owned and run. Working
folks. Honest, sensible faces. Good breakfasts! The color change proceeded with
a quiet walk along the waterfront in Jack London Square and watching the Blue
& Gold ferry depart for San Francisco. A blue-shirted black lady helped us
navigate the antiquated fare machine at the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)
station. In this high-crime city, miracles of generosity are much in evidence!
Our Favorite Restaurants in Jack London Square ...
Jack London and Us!
Our Transportation to San Francisco ...Sweet!
Don't knock it, Y'all ... it's 50 percent OFF!
Carol met us at the Lafayette
BART station. We spent the day with her. Her husband Frank died of cancer about six
weeks ago. He was 82 and his was a life exceptionally well lived. We knew Carol
and Frank for close to fifty years. A former army officer and high school
principal, Frank was an outstanding historian and world traveler with an
upbeat, insatiable curiosity. He kept a written record of the sights and
experiences that meant the most to him. Frank used to call me on each of my birthdays.
We’d meet for coffee and an oatmeal cookie at Peet’s when he and Carol visited
family in San Diego. His life with Carol and their kids was natural, rich and
full. We had lunch at Scott’s in Jack London Square, a favorite seafood
restaurant of Frank’s and Carol’s. She gave me one of Frank’s baseball caps.
It’s a keeper.
Carol, Frank and Us Over the Years ...
Pier
41 in San Francisco is a gaudy carnival! A frontal assault of red, green,
orange pinwheels … bubbles from a bubble machine … much noise … excited people!
I had a flashback memory of the O.C. Buck Shows that used to come to my home
town each summer when I was a kid! Ninety percent of the people we saw in San
Francisco were from other countries. The English we heard was spoken by English
folks and Australians rather than Americans. We arrived by catamaran ferry from
Jack London Square … a great way to arrive!
We
took the Grand Circle Tour on the top of an open-top hop-on-hop-off bus. Goldilocks and I
have been to San Francisco (SFO) on many occasions. We were married in
Chinatown here 48 years ago! However, we wanted to reacquaint ourselves with
this great, crazy city! From Brendan, our over-eager but informative tour guide, we learned a few local facts …
·
SFO
has 66 Starbucks coffee shops … locals are not overly enthusiastic about this situation.
Brendan somewhat sarcastically referred to the Starbucks logo as “our most
famous mermaid”!
·
The
favorite activities of locals are tree-hugging and going to restaurants.
·
There
are more dogs than kids in SFO. The dogs are pampered outrageously! Our guide
is a DJ who did a gig at a Doggie Birthday Party!
·
There
is a Nancy Pelosi Street in honor of local politics which is quite different
from the politics of other areas of our nation.
·
The
Golden Gate Bridge was completed Under Budget and Ahead of Schedule!
Y’all
sit back and join us on the tour of SFO …
Transamerica Tower -- Tallest in SFO!
Market Street -- Brass Fountain Survived the 1906 Earthquake!
Haight - Ashbury --- Local Color! Lots of it!!
Fisherman's Wharf Street Scenes!
Union Square -- Extreme High-End Shopping!
Golden Gate Bridge Selfie ... WHAT A WIND!
Golden Gate Bridge Tower!
We ate a seafood lunch at busy Alioto's on Fisherman's Wharf...Fair...Expensive...Done for "Old Time's Sake"!
Enjoyed relaxing afternoon ferry ride to Jack London Square. we notice that Oakland has more color now ...
Goodbye, San Francisco!
I have to watch it with Goldilocks ... Our "creative collaborative spirit" is starting to fray!! Time to head home! Better catch some Z's! Long drive ahead!
Affectionately,
Captain Baldy
Cute selfie! Looks like a lot of fun! Love Susan B
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