Day 47 - San Francisco

June 17th
(Ursula) We saw quite a bit of San Francisco, but there was still so much more to explore. Unfortunately, we had to remind ourselves that we were on a journey and just passing through—which, at times, was hard for me to accept.

When we visited the Swiss Consulate to pick up our mail, the gentleman there acted a little smug. He asked for my ID, and I couldn’t help but think he was being a typical “bünzli” Swiss. However, his cautious approach was quickly justified when we opened a small package (insured for $150) that contained Heinz’s lost Bulova watch. It was a mystery who found it and sent it here, but Heinz was thrilled to have it back.

Next, we took a quick trip through the Bay Area and dropped off our films at Kodak in Palo Alto. On our way back, we stumbled upon a lovely campsite on the Pacific coast, which was the perfect spot to settle in for the night.

June 18th
(Ursula) Unfortunately, it was raining in the morning, but we didn’t let that stop us. We visited Golden Gate Park, where we particularly enjoyed the Japanese Tea Garden and Greenhouse. The grounds were beautifully manicured and serene. Then we parked downtown and walked past City Hall to Union Square.

One of the highlights was taking the elevator up to the 32nd floor of the San Francisco Hotel. This elevator was unique, with glass walls all around, mounted to the outside of the building. It was both exhilarating and a bit scary! By the second ride, that funny feeling in my stomach was gone.

For lunch, we headed to Cliff House Restaurant, where we had the hard task of choosing from 40 different omelets. We enjoyed the magnificent view of the Pacific surf and surfers braving the cold water.

June 19th
(Ursula) The sun was shining again! We started the day by visiting the Mission San Francisco de Asís, then took a leisurely drive along the Pacific coast, snapping some beautiful photos along the way.

In the afternoon, we made our way back to the town center and visited the Bank of America building, designed by Skidmore. It was my favorite structure in San Francisco—modern, sleek, and awe-inspiring. We ended the day with a delicious dinner at the famous Chinese Empress Restaurant, which was the perfect icing on the cake for such a wonderful day!Read more