I’ve begun my journey! I can hardly believe that my dreaming and planning has finally come to fruition. But here I am, enjoying the west coast.

My visit to San Francisco has been a perfect start to the trip. I’m not yet totally on my own trying to figure out where I am sleeping and when. Instead, I eased my way into traveling by staying with a close friend from highschool, Elena, and her fiance, Alonso. They were perfect hosts! In the very short time I had I was able to see quite a few sites and enjoy a relaxing New Year’s Eve night in (which worked out perfectly because jet lag had me fall asleep well before midnight).

I had two full days of exploring San Francisco, one very foggy day and the other perfectly sunny. Here are the highlights:

Ocean Beach

Finally, I have now been to the pacific ocean! Ocean Beach runs along the west coast of San Francisco.  Although it was the colder, and foggy day, I was able to briefly put a hand in the water. As much as I wished it was warmer I know I’ll be hitting up warmer places soon enough.

 

Alamo Square Park

This park has the classic (full house opening credits) view that I imagined for San Francisco. The colorful victorian houses are called the Painted Ladies. As we drove over to the park I was greeted with the iconic hills I had seen in movies. Some of the hills were so steep that the sidewalks had stairs built into them!

 

Palace of Fine Arts Theatre

This was a neat stop for the day. The monumental structure is located near the water and is used mostly for hosting art exhibits. Even without an exhibit on display, this was one of my favorite tourist attractions because of the amazing architecture.

 

Golden Gate Bridge

My first day ended with a visit to the bridge. Visibility due to the fog was quite poor that day, so  I couldn’t see the whole structure but it was still a great stop on the tour!

 

San Bruno Mountain

Day two started with some exercise! San Bruno Mountain is great for hiking with one of the most beautiful panoramic views I have ever seen! The trail was relatively easy and I was thrilled to get a rare “no fog” day. From the top I was able to see all of the bay area.

 

Mission Area

This area is filled with life and culture! As I walked around The Mission, I was able to take in the diverse San Francisco scene. There are very cool murals painted everywhere; most were on buildings or down alleys. Lots of them with interesting political or socio-economic messages. I was also able to devour the best burrito I have ever eaten at Taqueria Pancho Villa.

My next stop is Los Angeles so stay tuned! See ya, San Francisco.