Greetings from San Francisco Pride!

[JWBear]

Day 2:

We had breakfast in the hotel restaurant. I ordered the Belgian waffle, and it came without butter or syrup. When I asked for butter (I don’t use syrup) the waitress acted surprised – like this was some bizarre request. To make things worse, the waffle was tough and chewy. How on earth do you make a Belgian waffle tough and chewy? I had to use my knife to cut it! Are there legions of tourists out there who prefer their waffles dry and chewy? Goddess only knows. The OJ was good, though.

After breakfast we took MUNI (which was free again today) down to the ferry building. This iconic waterfront landmark has been completely restored. The ground floor now houses a food oriented shopping mall. The Grand Concourse on the upper level has been restored to its former glory after being subdivided into office space for the last 50 years. This huge space – nearly 700 feet long – now serves as a grand lobby for the offices that line it on either side.

We had a quick lunch at the Embarcadero Center, followed by a free Cherry Garcia ice cream cone that Ben & Jerry’s employees were handing out on the street corners. (Gotta love this city!) Then, it was off to Golden Gate Park!

We took the N train all the way to 9th Ave, then walked in to the park. By the time we got there it had become overcast and chilly; with wisps of fog rolling in.

Our first stop was the new de Young Museum. The old de Young (or “de Old Museum”, as Bill insists on calling it – lame Bill) was declared seismically unsafe after the 1989 earthquake. It was torn down and replaced by the current building, which just opened in October. The building is critically acclaimed, but controversial. It’s covered with acres of dimpled and pierced sheets of copper, and boasts a twisting 8 story tower. We spent about 2 hours inside, admiring the collections.

By the time we left, it had become bitterly cold. That, and our tired feet, convinced us to skip a planned visit to the Japanese Tea Garden (though we took a couple of pictures from outside of it). We headed back to the N train, and our hotel.

After an hour or so rest, we headed for Fisherman’s Wharf and dinner. Someone from work had recommended a restaurant there called Cioppino’s. Good recommendation! Excellent food.

We’re back at the hotel after an interesting ride on the MUNI. Tomorrow: The Pride Festival!