Coast to Coast Part 8 San Francisco

 

Coast to Coast 2026

Part 8 San Francisco

We arrived yesterday late afternoon and went exploring.  To make the most of our visit we bought explore tickets that gave us access to the cable car and bus services. It took me ages to work out the routes and bus stops. We had to see the Golden Gate Bridge and anything else we could fit in. We used the cable car for the experience and  theatre of the ride to get to the sea front and Fisherman’s Wharf  for breakfast then a walk along to Pier 39  to catch the Blue and White boat trip to the bridge because we could not do it in  the fog yesterday. After the cruise we explored Pier 39 and did more gift shopping.

Going to Haight Ashbury, the birth place of the Hippie Movement had to be explored  in daylight. Taking a bus was not difficult and  got us to where we wanted to go.

In the quest for live music there were artists performing outside the entrance of   Pier 39 to keep us entertained  while waiting for the cruise. When we got to Reilly’s the live music had been cancelled. It clashed with the USA having one of the important matches that was being shown at the Mad Dog and was a ticket only night. It was a cold evening  so we stopped at an Asian restaurant, Papa’s, for our evening meal. Beer and chicken noodles. We got an Uber back to the hotel and a brandy night cap. Joon was going home, back to Guwahati, and  had an early start to catch his flight. We booked his Uber  and waved him off at six-thirty. That was the end of his epic adventure with us.

That left us to check out of the Bay Bridge Inn and move to another hotel then drop off the hire car. First there was breakfast to be had the closest was Mr East another Asian restaurant that served fresh fruit and salad. We could not get access to the room until three but we were able to drop off the luggage to empty the car before dropping  it off at the rental centre at the airport. Gita and I returned via the Metro and did a bit of shopping at Macy’s before returning to the Marine Memorial Club Hotel to check-in. It felt so safe and plush and  near the centre of things in Sutter street off Union Square.  

They had “Happy Hour” from four to six in the restaurant on the fourth floor which we both took advantage of.  Happy Hour rolled into an evening meal and  serenaded by the staff into a full performance that when it finished it was time for bed.

The hotel had a laundry room that we made use of and  refreshed our clothes to take home. I went for a walk on Market street and found a Trader Joe’s and stocked up on fruit later we had heard of the Black Cats Night Club which was a few blocks away and went to investigate. I did not feel safe in that area which was quite run down. There were quite a few people living on the street. Walking there at night would be asking for trouble. The other option around the corner from the hotel was another club that did food with music called the Biscuit and Blues with a $40 ticket plus food. The artist was Joey Delgado a renowned Nashville Blues champion  that we talked to after the show.

It was cold the next day. We took an Uber to Fisherman’s Wharf then came back by bus. Too early for happy hour we slept through it. We ate in Cesarios next door.

Our last full day out for a walk to another Trader Joe’s on my own. Gita and I took bus no 2 outside the hotel then a 43 to take us to Haight Ashbury and the Tie Dye Shop. It was amazing the whole shop looked as though it had been Tie Dyed even the carpet. We returned on the no 7 bus. There was “happy hour” at  the hotel but no evening meal so we walked to Sam’s Grill and Seafood restaurant near Market street. It was cold again so we got an Uber back.

We were ready to leave and got an Uber to the airport arriving at 11:45. With some assistance we were quickly through luggage check-in and on to passport and security with a ticket for flying but no seat allocation. The on line check –in forces you to buy your seat allocation  which I refused to do. My daughter could look up my seat allocation on United Airline site but I could not. It just added  another level of unnecessary  tension I could do without.. We did get the seats just before boarding at four and departed at five fifteen. Glad to be on our way home.