"If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair."
I'm sure you all know this famous little number, written by the Mamas and the Papas. I'd like to change it around ever so slightly.
"If you're going to San Francsico, be sure to wear some sun cream on your head."
Because if you don't then you may end up looking like this:
It was cold, it was foggy, it was overcast and yet I, The Ginger Warrior, managed to get a second degree sunburn on my forehead. Getting burned with no sun rays in sight - it's a special talent I tell ya!
Despite the very unattractive and leprous looking eyesore on my cranium my time in San Fran was a good one! The highlight was, without a shadow of a doubt, the beautiful reunion with my friend Tegan:
We met back in 1996 in Great Yarmouth of all places! I was 16 he was 23 and we were firm friends from the very beginning. I hadn't seen him in over sixteen years so you can pretty much imagine the scene - I threw myself on him like the excitable puppy I am (minus the licking) and refused to let go for quite some time. Poor T, he'd just driven almost 8 hours to come and see me and perhaps wasn't mentally ready for my affectionate onslaught. But he took it like the dear friend he is.
We didn't have much time together in the city so we decided a hop on hop off bus tour was the ideal way to see the large majority of downtown San Fran in a relatively short space of time.
We saw the harbour
San Fran city hall
the financial district
the Bay Bridge (not to be confused with the other more famous one)
and, of course, the other more famous one I have just referred to
This was the best shot of a very bad bunch. Weather conditions were not conducive to crisp, clear and colourful photography. If you're a mighty observant person you may be wondering why the shot of the Bay Bridge is filled with bright blue cloudless skies. That picture was taken a couple of days earlier but I wanted to include it here because a) I think it's a very pretty shot and b) it provides quite the contrast to the foggy image of its sister bridge! It would seem the weather in San Fran is as changeable and unpredictable as that of the UK.
Oh! And we also saw a giant pair of legs clad in fishnets. Beautiful.
I throughly enjoyed my day in San Fran and appreciated the friendly, open and tolerant vibe of the city. As is usually the case when one is on holiday I didn't feel I had enough time to truly get to grips with what the city has to offer outside of the centre itself and away from the tourist traps. But I have a feeling that I'll be back at some point in the future, especially now that my beautiful friend Nise Nise Badger has moved to the area. She truly was the hostess with the mostess and I wish to publicly thank her right here, right now for her impeccable hospitality!
Love you Nise, Nise:
And now, my intrepid Warriors of the World, a less-than-five-minutes video which will transport you to downtown San Fran. You will LOVE the break dancing we were lucky to catch and wait until you see the state of us (mentally and physically) on what HAD to be the coldest, windiest and consequently the most miserable hop on hop off bus tour in history!!!
Wish you were here,
What a fab place San Fran looks so much enjoyed you 5 min video you look as if your having a ball. Shame about the sunburn hope it’s okay keep up the good work. Love Kate x
Sunburn is almost gone, Kate! Trying to ensure I don’t get another! xxx
Loved my ” trip” to SanFrancisco with you! xx
Thanks, Aileen! xxx
I loved it!!! And I did laugh on the bridge! Hahaha.
Man! I don’t think we will ever forget how cold it was!!!
The Golden Gate picture wasn’t too bad – at least you saw it. I drove over it twice and didn’t see it at all because it was so foggy. You would think that the building with the dome would be a capitol building but it’s actually San Francisco City Hall. Didn’t you go to Fisherman’s Wharf? Ghiradelli’s Chocolate was such a good place to visit! Glad you are having a great holiday!
Hi Faith! We did indeed go to Fisherman’s Wharf. I got food poison there and was sick as a dog. Lol!! Apart from that, having a grand old time!
Love San Fran your video reminded me how much
Hello there, we must have been there at the same time, fab time had up and down on the trams, great meal in china town. Bridge a bit blowy but wonderful to see it all. We ended up in LA a must place to go.
I wish I would have known, Denise! How wonderful it would have been to enjoy the wind together! xxxx
That video, well, I lost it at the windy bit on the bus, too funny. Also, I’m going to show that burn to my 17 year old ginger girl.
Keep on warriorin’!
Yes, tell her to learn from my mistakes!!!
Okay I have no idea why there’s a giant picture of my face there. WTF.
I LOVE the fact there’s a giant picture of your face!! And it’s a beautiful one!
Wow! I really like it hadn’t really thought of visiting the states before but this looks Fun! But do you think they’ll let me in now I’ve been to Cuba!?