Goodbye San Francisco

Tooooooooo many more San Francisco stories to tell, but alas at 11.59 tonight we fly to Miami for our next adventure.

  Had an absolute blast in San Francisco and staying 5 nights at the one location ment we could dig that little bit deeper into a community that welcomed us with open hearts. Sometime in a big city you can disappear …  but with that hat not a chance!

And my gift of the gab what chance did they have not to meet me.

San Francisco Street Art

 

In China Town, loved the little referance to the Golden Gate Bridge in the bottom right.

In a small cafe 

Jazz art on the streets of Little Italy 

1959 Loris Diner

Had to do the whole touristy diner thing … so got to try a 

“Hot Diggity Dogs” 

  

I think I've walked up and down enough San Francisco hill to be able to cope with the calories.

We shared the Moon Doggie … not the prettiest plate of food,

 it was described on the menu as, The Classic all beef hot dog, split & grilled, served with relish (gherkin), onion & french fries.

Add your own tomato ketchup & mustard sauce and

 “don't wear white’’ 

Yummy

  

Women’s Murder Club

Is a series of mystery novels by James Patterson about four San Francisco women who use their professional skills to solve crimes. 

Sandy and I had been watching the TV series before we left Australia and as it was set in San Francisco I was hoping to clock some of the sights from the show.

The most iconic building that they keep showing is the Transamerica Pyramid and today it was my target on my  morning walk.

Completed in 1972 the 48 story modernist skyscraper is the 2nd tallest in the city. I was seeing it from a distance over the past few days and today I got to walk around its impressive footprint.

It has such an imposing presence that can been seen from all over the city.

Got to chatting … hard to believe, me … chatting!

 to Miss America this morning in the Redwood Gardens behind this amazing building.

She was such an advocate for the gardens and told me that the location was once where they sold fish to the city people. The Mayor of the time rallied hard to get the Redwood trees planted on the site and today it’s a little bit of the woods in the city.

Thank you Miss America 

Pizza in the Italian Quarter

 Lunch today just had to be right on top of the hill over looking Washington Square Park and Saint Peter & Paul’s church in the old Italian quarter.

Simply amazing building inside and out.

So quiet to just sit and reflect.

Tony’s is the place to be on a Sunday for late lunch

We scored the front table, that Aussie hat working it’s magic again. Barbera, one of our faves when it comes to Italian wines.

The foot crossing are all in the italian colours making it feel super festive.

Puffy crust that you can taste the smoke for the wood oven simply done with fig preserve, prosciutto, parmigiano and balsamic glaze.

Our waitress name was Theresa which touch a little nerve for me today, her gentle ways and kindness just reminded me so much of my beautiful sister 💔. We chatted as I do and she gave me the biggest cuddle and whispered in my ear that my Therese was with us all today.

Last Night in San Francisco

Well our time in San Francisco is coming to an end. We have done so many things and meet so many wonderful people. 

Tonight it was a underground comedy club to be ticked off the list and we weren't disappointed. Grungie and a real small space seating only 49 people under a kabab shop just around the corner for our hotel. It was fun to be in the space and interesting to hear American comic talking about their lives.

Along a dark moody hallway from street level then dropping under ground in a old service lift with metal shutters

Into a fun bar area for pre show drinks and mixing with the locals

As the cable cars went past up at ground level you could here and get the vibrations … a bit spooky. 

We had a blast.

 

Wes Maye from Mississippi

A very very small bit of the Wesley Maye story.

As written by me after only chatting to this incredible man yesterday for an hour in-front of his building. 

Not all that he told me I will post about because something are just too special and keeping them in your heart is where they should and will stay. 

Wes, like me loves a chat and collecting people to talk too.

I just can't do justice in this post to this amazing mans life thus far, but to share with you just a brief few lines that he openly shared with me yesterday.

After chatting for some time about the weather, leaves on the pavement ect  … I asked him what was his heritage as I like to do, he paused, smiled and said proudly to me he was born in Mississippi. Wow was my response and I chatted about me learning how to spell Mississippi way back in my childhood.

Wes told me he was born into a very large family because back in his day that was how families survived, the bigger the family the more opportunities and food that could be bought into the household.

Listening to him talking about his time growing up was a glimpse into someone’s world that I never thought I would be lucky enough to ever get to hear about first hand. He told me how times back then were tough and rough, very tough and very rough and left a lot unsaid as he knew I should instinctually understand. Somethings just don't need to be talked about to know about! 

He move to San Francisco in 1964 after he had done national service and here he made his life as a press photographer, involved in the movie industry and a cable car driver and now a building supervisor. One thing that he shared with me was that one day long ago on that cable car some people were wondering where he was from and they were thinking because of his accent the he was from New York. When he told them he was from Mississippi they scoffed and said that he was a smart ass. I looked at him confused by his comment and he said that back then if you were from the deep south and talked with a more northern accent you were labeled as trying to be above your station in life. 

Ouch I said and he smiled saying this was why I told you this story because I knew I could!

Wes thank you for letting me into your world and may we chat again someday.