Today we did our first trek into San Francisco for sightseeing! We started the day slowly, since Meg was driving out to meet us from Sacramento. She's still in her school year, so she had a group meeting in the morning and headed our way afterwards. Once she arrived and we caught up, we decided to go into the city and travel some of the 49-mile scenic drive. We cut out most of the southwestern side of it, but still had plenty to go see.

It quickly became apparent it was going to be hard to keep the Scenic drive signs in sight! We had a few missed turns, but with my tour book and a map we were always able to correct and get back on track. The traffic was surprisingly not too bad. The real challenge was lots of 4-way stops that had the stop written on the street, rather than with an actual sign. And even then there would be some intersections that had lights and others not. No apparent system... Better to just slow as you come to any intersections! The pedestrians were the real issue. So many of them! And when there isn't a walk/don't walk sign (not that it really stopped them from walking) there was sometimes no end to the stream of people. If you didn't start to edge out and hint it was time for you to go, they'd literally walk all over you.

We first went to Twin Peaks to get a view of the city, and it's quite the view! Crazy to have such a high point right in the city. Little did we know the hills that we'd soon see. After Twin Peaks we did our first try at getting lost, and it was a little hard to find a place to park and get our bearings. Once we did, we soon found our way to the Japan Center. It was VERY busy since there was a festival going on that we didn't know about, but not too bad. I got a nice bowl in one of the shops, it matches stuff Dena has already bought for our future home. It's like a super ice cream bowl, or cereal in my case.

After getting back on the scenic track, we went and saw Grace Cathedral. I've seen the cathedral in Washington, DC sometime ago, and I belive it was bigger than this one, but it was still very nice! It was Sunday, which may or may not be the best time to visit a church, so we just hung out in the back for a little bit. There was an organ recital going on, and what an organ it was! Felt like I was inside a subwoofer when they hit lower notes. Once back on the road we drove by Chinatown, but having just done Japan Center, it was kind of like seeing the same thing twice, at least in a broader sense. Another time!

We trekked out next to Coit Tower, and parked maybe a little too far away... Poor Meg and Dena probably wanted to kick me and leave me. But then who would drive? So I survived. After the journey though, Meg was pretty beat, so we drove most of the rest of the drive, and Dena and I only hopped out for a little bit when we got to the Palace of the Fine Arts.

Outback was convenient for dinner, so we sat down to some much needed food, all this touristing tires one out! We didn't want the day to end, but sadly it had to. We wrapped it up by exposing Meg to "They're taking the Hobbits to Isengard" and the "Picard song", so now Dena and I aren't as alone in our insanity. Always good to add new members to the fold! Tomorrow we return to San Fran to see some more of the city!

Oh blissful sleep! This morning was a slow morning because we were waiting on Meg to come in from Sacramento. She was busy with some school stuff but we didn't mind - a lazy morning for me at least is always welcomed. When she got here and I opened the door we immediately "squee'd" and hugged. It was SO nice to see her in person again!

After talking and showing off each others digital cameras we headed out to tour San Francisco. Which I am sure Meg had already done at some point in her life, but for Keith and I it was all new (of course). The tour was interesting and fun. The streets of San Fran are something else entirely. Very hilly! There were many many beetle bug cars and Echoes. The land of small tiny pods for sure thanks to the tiny hilly streets. Miss Pearl did well on these streets though on some it seemed to groan "What the heck are you doing to me?!". We went to a couple interesting stops where Keith and his long legs were better equipped for the crazy sidewalks and streets and Meg and I struggled after awhile from weakness and tiny legs. At least we were together with our struggles!

With the tour done we go to an Outback Steakhouse then head back to the hotel. Meg and I played on the hammocks for a bit having a girls only moment and wishing one or the other lived closer. After some daydreaming of living closer to each other time sped up and it was time for Meg to head back to Sacramento. Boo!

Tomorrow is another day though. Another day of Keith and I being tourists with cameras. We need a scarlet "T" on our shirt. Or do our cameras and curiosity speak louder than a scarlet letter ever could?