san francisco...finally

Wow! This trip has been long awaited and so was this post. All last week I was dying to post about our trip. Oh, I loved this city! I can't wait to go back and explore more.

I first want to explain that for my birthday all I wanted was a new camera. A digital SLR camera. Dan bought the camera for me and I received it a week before our trip! I knew it was going to be an adjustment from my 3 year old cannon elph...but wow I learned that I have no idea how to use an SLR. But I had a lot of fun taking photos anyway!

We had one day to spend in San Francisco and I had a list of things I wanted to do...

1. Golden Gate Bridge
2. Fisherman's Wharf
3. Walk Lombard Street
4. Ride on a Trolley

Dan was such a trooper (he was sick the whole time), he planned the day so we could check off the things on my list, he posed for pictures, and he was willing to explore each and every little corner and street I wanted to turn down.

The day began with the Golden Gate Bridge. It was amazing. The haze was just lifting over the city. The weather was perfect. Warm in the sun with a great breeze, but not enough to need a sweater.

After exploring around and picking up a post card to send my Grandma, we headed over to Fisherman's Wharf where we would park our car and leave it to explore the city. When we got to Fisherman's Wharf (Pier 39), I quickly got the impression it was not the "San Francisco experience" I was looking for. So we headed to Lombard Street. All the while, I was snapping photos of everything.

At the top of Lombard Street there was a Trolley stop so we hopped on. Only to have our trolley stall and we had to have a truck come push us down a hill! We finally made it down to Union Square for lunch. Where we stopped at Hubert Keller's Burger Bar.

I was really excited to go to find Burger Bar because I love Top Chef & Top Chef Masters. Hubert Keller was a guest judge for Top Chef and a finalist on Top Chef Masters (and in my opinion should have won the show). So we go into the restaurant and let me tell you the menu was amazing; kobe beef, buffalo, oyster mushrooms, shaved truffles, pan seared foie gras, proscuitto, grilled half lobster, avocado...I mean really, talk about a good burger!

So as we are ordering Dan taps me on the shoulder, "Turn around...you won't believe this!" Oh, yes, Hubert Keller was THERE!!! We talked the entire delicious meal about grabbing his attention and taking a photo, which of course I completely lost my nerve and eventually had to have the waitress bring him over. And what do I say when he comes to our table... something to the tune of "it was a really good burger, Chef Keller." REALLY?! THAT WAS ALL I COULD GET OUT!? But none the less we got our photo! (oh and look at that burger! buffalo with oyster mushrooms & carmelized onions)

After my embarrassing lack of conversation with Hubert Keller, Dan and I hit the pavement again. We explored the streets, walking in stores (if you are ever in San Francisco you should definitely check out Saks Fifth Ave ceiling...it's gorgeous!), walking through Nob Hill, Chinatown, the Financial District and then ending up at the Ferry Building.

This is where I completely fell in love with San Francisco. I can't even explain exactly what it was about this area. The Ferry Building is a Marketplace with local produce, wine, breads, ice cream and gelato, cute housewares and restaurants. The shops are inside but there is a backside of the building overlooking the bay bridge and the Ferries. As the sun is setting, (on the opposite side of the city) the shadow is cast over you creating this beautiful, romantic setting. I was so overwhelmed I didn't even take any photos!

We walked down further and found Pier 7. It was like a movie with the lamps and the wood walkway.

For dinner we walked back to the Ferry Building and ate at the Hog Island Oyster Co. One of Dan's former co-workers met us for dinner & drinks. We sat at the bar and watched our oysters get shucked (which we ate 48!) and had the most delicious clam chowder.