It is a VERY small place that apparently always had quite the wait – outside.
If you are ever in the area – believe me – worth the wait!
Beware if you go to the bathroom though. You go thru the kitchen and out a back door. You are now in a garden like area between old buildings. I walked around looking… hmmm… Then I realized that down these couple of steps there was this closet on the outside of the restaurant. Then as someone came out, I saw that there was sink inside, so I went in. I could not believe this was allowable or up to code.
Anyway, the previous person had clogged the toilet, so when I flushed, disaster insued.
I wandered back out to John & Jeanne laughing because I had been gone for about 10 minutes. Jeanne headed towards the back door and I warned her not to.
Food – amazing!
Bathroom – not so much!
We walked around the corner to Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral.
Mass was being said so we only stayed a few minutes.
We watched a few dogs play on Washington Square and then piled back into the Mini Cooper. Which by the way is not an easy task when your butt is as big as mine!
Next, they took me to Coit Tower.
Which was built in 1933 atop Telegraph Hill as a gift to the city of San Franciso by a female volunteer firefighter.
Once at the top of the tower, the views are amazing! Granted, today it was very foggy, drizzly and overcast – so I can only image what they are on a clear day.
You can see: Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Treasure Island and pretty much any of the sites around the city.
Alcatraz
View towards Washington Square (you can see the Cathedral in the foreground)
Outside, in the parking lot, was a public restroom. Now this is something new.
You pay for its use and then it self cleans.
(see the bubbles under the toilet)
It basically showers & suds itself down after you exit.
Next we drove thru the Presidio towards the Golden Gate Bridge.
The Predidio has severed as military base for the Spanish, Mexican and U.S. Army’s dating back to 1776 thru 1994 when it became a National Park. It is enormous! Visiting all of it would take a day or so in itself. So many beautiful sites to see.
Doesn’t seem like a big deal, until you are about to walk on it.
And then the reality of one reason why people do walk on it.
We walked to about the halfway point and turned around. The weather was getting worse and worse.
Now we drove over it to visit the Marin Headlands.
The Marin Headlands are just north of San Fran. This area is very hilly and served as military installations beginning in 1890. There are still numerous bunkers, batteries and bomb shelters there.
The views from here were also amazing. And again, can only imagine what they are like on a nice day.
Like I said, very hilly and the roads can be scary at times.
Next they showed me some very exclusive neighborhoods – yowza! What those prices could get ya in Ohio! Including Seacliff… here is what Wikipedia says about it…
Homes in the Sea Cliff neighborhood are large, and many offer impressive views of the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands.
A small public beach named China Beach is located in the neighborhood.
Some of the neighborhood's more famous current and past residents include Jefferson Airplane guitarist Paul Kantner, actor Robin Williams, actress Sharon Stone, actor Cheech Marin, Gap founder Donald Fisher, and Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett.
Then on to the Sutro Baths…(thanks Wikipedia)
Sutro Baths opened March 14, 1896 with a $1 million pricetag — an extravagant public bathhouse envisioned and developed by the eccentric one-time mayor of San Francisco, Adolph Sutro. After working its way through its many lives (Playland, 1960s ice rink, etc..)— burned down while being demolished on June 26, 1966. In 1980 the Golden Gate National Recreation Area bought the land for $5,500,000.
1894 Photo
TODAY PHOTO
As we drove home, we went by Ocean Beach. Here is what Wikipedia has to say about it….
Ocean Beach is a beach that runs along the west coast of San Francisco at the Pacific Ocean. It is adjacent to Golden Gate Park, the Richmond District and the Sunset District. The Great Highway runs alongside of the beach, and the Cliff House and the site of the former Sutro Baths sits at the northern end. The beach is a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and operated by the National Park Service.
We went home for a while to rest from out busy day of sightseeing.
That evening, we headed to E&O Trading Company for dinner.
Very, very good!!
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