The Grand Tour of San Francisco

San Francisco is a great city, with great food and great sights.

One of the days we were there we went on a half day luxury bus tour of San Francisco, offered by Carte Blanche Tours, which we got as a Living Social deal.

We saw pretty much all of the great spots in San Fran, ones that matter to tourists who are visiting San Fran for the first time (or second time in my case).  The pictures below highlight the day, starting with the walk over to where the tour started and then go into the night bar crawl tour thing we did also.

Here is Amanda, outside of this cheese school, which I would have gone in to if we didn't have to meet the tour at a hotel.

Walking by a park, on the way to Union Square.

Coit Tower in the distance.

Walking through China town, one of the largest and oldest outside of China.

Very cool looking building.

Loving the San Francisco architecture.  This city was the first major city on the west coast, and it established itself as a major port, and as a result there were some very wealthy people here, and some very unique buildings were built, and even some newer buildings keep in line with the San Fran look.

More crazy looking buildings.

The Condor, which has been a strip club place for years (Internet says SF original Gentleman's Club).

A church, but I can't remember anything else about this, other than I like the picture.

More of the church and a park area.

Driving by Boudin's, where we ate the day before.

The Cannery.

I love this picture.  The first time I was in SF was with Ryan, and this was before we were in to Academy Award Winning movies, I had no idea this was here.  This is the boat used in the filming of the movie Mutiny on the Bounty.  Great flick!

Approaching the Golden Gate Bridge.

The marina by the bridge.

This is outside at the Fine Arts Museum.

Golden Gate Bridge time!

After crossing the bridge, looking back over to San Fran.

The city across the bay.

Amanda, Toni, Me and Danita.

Another look out spot, after coming back over the bridge to SF.

Driving through some expensive neighborhoods.

This is apparently Robin Williams house.

The driver pointed out that there is the comedy and tragedy masks at the top.

Another bridge shot.

Now we are around in Golden Gate Park.

You can never take too many pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge!

I think this area is called Land's End in Golden Gate Park.

Toni, Me, Danita and Amanda.  SO much fun with the girls!

In Haight Ashbury, at Amoeba Music.

We didn't get to get out, but we did drive through.

The house where Jerry Garcia lived and practiced with the Grateful Dead.

View from Twin Peaks.

There I am with the city behind me.

All the Painted Ladies.  These are the houses you see in the intro for Full House.  They are called Painted Ladies (and this was a term coined by two authors in a book they wrote about these houses) because they are basically all dressed up to make them look pretty, just like a lady would "paint" their face and get all dolled up before going out in public.  These are old Victorian houses, and so amazing to look at.

Amanda and Danita.  Does the scene behind them look familiar?

Here I am with Amanda.

Love this scene!

Couldn't resist this picture.

Japanese part of Chinatown area.

Lombard Street, the crookedest street in the world.

That ended it for the day touring.  Next up was a Martini Wine Crawl, which was originally scheduled for another night, but they rescheduled, and so Danita and I decided not to change in between events.  Yes, we went to some clubs in yoga pants and hoodies.

The night started off at the Press Club.  Really, I am in this picture.

A little dark inside so hard to take pictures of the food.  We went there straight from the day tour, so we needed to eat some dinner, and some of the my best friends from high school live in the area, so they met up with us for dinner.

This is a fruit and cheese plate.

This is grilled cheese with tomato soup.  It was really good!

Here I am with my high school buddies.  By now you should recognize Amanda.  With us are Therese and Melissa.  I have not seen them since graduation, and actually longer for Melissa, as she graduated a year early.  I was SO happy that they came out to see me.  It was awesome to get to catch up with them. 

Then as we left this bar to head to the next (no more pictures since it was dark in all the clubs/bars), we walked out to see a flash mob dance thing going on.  It was really unexpected so I tried to get a good shot but they were moving all around.

So, that is San Francisco in a nut shell.  All of the great spots to check out while visiting there.  It was an awesome, awesome, awesome day!

QUESTIONS:  Ever heard of the Painted Ladies?  Which pic was your fave?  Ever driven over the Golden Gate Bridge?  What is your favorite SF sight?

Great news: Blogger is working again for me.  I stopped in to our Verizon office on base and opened a work ticket and within 24 hours it was up and running.  So happy!

Also, Happy Halloween to everyone, just in case I do not post again before then.  Stay warm and safe, especially on the East Coast where it is snowing.