10-7, SanFran Day 1

We just returned from a fantastic trip to SanFran.  I have another favorite city to add to my list of go-to places in this world.  The last time I had been to SanFran, I was a 20-year old deck cadet.  When I eagerly asked the chief mate as we were sailing toward the harbor 'Where is the Golden Gate Bridge?!?!"  He pointed overhead.  I dashed out to the bridgewing, looked up, saw nothing, and he pointed to the radar.  Sure enough, we were passing directly beneath the bridge and I couldn't see it with my bare eyes through the dense fog.  Yep, you can imagine how many times I told this story to the kids in anticipation of our trip (and again, a time or two, once they were able to see the bridge for themselves).  Come along with us as we relive each day of this week-long vacation.  Boy, we sure had fun!

An open-air restaurant on the Columbus Day parade route -- a happy accident:
'there's a parade today?'.....'Oh look, we're right on the parade route!' (And, yes, don't our kids look like Colorado country bumpkins wearing their cowboy boots....)

Floats, buses, horses, and the SFPD

We were unable to catch up with a KP friend during our stay,

but he did tip us off to another happy accident:

the last day of Fleet Week and one last Blue Angels air show.

A pano from the boat we took to view the show from the bay. 

There were a million boats on the bay, I loved the presence of the government boats: SFFD, SFPD and the CG.

Here comes Fat Albert!

The pelicans made a guest appearance between fly-bys.

I was too busy taking video to take stills of the show.
This is the one and only.... darn they move fast.

At one point during the show, I was taking a video of the infamous low and fast flyby.... unfortunately, it wasn't until it was about overhead did I realize that I had my hands on my phone and nothing to cover my ears.   My ears are still ringing from that one!

Our hotel was about a 10 minute walk from Chinatown.  I'm not sure if Sven and Nik got tired of going there, but Emalie and I loved it.  Emalie and I finally found our common shopping bond:  Chinatown!  Emalie asked to go back day after day.