Rise and Shine, or Maybe Not: A Fashionably Late Start
Greetings, fellow wanderers! Day Four in the land of palm trees and alohas began not with the crack of dawn, but with the delightful laziness of a late start. Our alarm clock might have had a coffee date with procrastination, but who cares when you’re living on the edge of the Pacific? The morning agenda? A rendezvous with the illustrious Big Bus Tour of San Francisco. Spoiler alert: breakfast was so in vogue that it had its own catwalk.
The Breakfast Ballet
Picture this: the clock ticking past 8:45, the aroma of bagels wafting through the air, and a line for breakfast that resembled a conga at a salsa party. After a 15-minute wait that felt like an eternity, we secured our VIP seats. Cereal and bagels became our breakfast comrades – a power duo that could rival Batman and Robin. Oh, did I mention the fashionably late start? Classic California.
Grandson Goals: Harry’s Birthday Extravaganza
But first, let’s press pause on breakfast tales. A mandatory pitstop was made on the telephone express to wish our grandson Harry a happy birthday. As luck would have it, he was en route to Old Trafford for the Manchester United versus Arsenal showdown. His name even graced the sacred scoreboard, ushering in his birthday with a 3-1 victory. Grandparenting level: expert.
Big Bus, Big Dreams (Red route)
With stomachs fueled and familial duties fulfilled, it was time to embark on the Big Bus Tour, the Scarlet Pimpernel of sightseeing adventures. San Francisco unfolded before us like a map of dreams, and we rode the open-top chariot through its enchanting streets. Golden Gate Bridge, here we come – and yes, Michele braved the breeze with nothing but her strappy top as armor.
Lombard Street: The Uphill Battle
Two and a half hours into our bus odyssey, a decision was made. A strategic disembarkation to tackle Lombard Street, the crooked marvel of inclines. The uphill climb was reminiscent of scaling Everest, with Michele’s expression oscillating between determination and a dash of “What did I get myself into?” We reached the summit, victorious, and gawked at Lombard Street’s hairpin turns. Note to self: never move to Lombard Street, unless you have a passion for dodging zigzagging cars.
Crepes, Piers, and Poolside Serenity
Lunch Interlude
Post-Lombard triumph, we rewarded ourselves with a shared strawberry-filled crepe. A symphony of flavors danced on our taste buds, setting the tone for an afternoon escapade along the waterfront piers. Why, you ask? Because tomorrow was Labor Day, and the piers were buzzing like a caffeinated beehive.
Poolside Chronicles
Late afternoon ushered in a session of poolside pontification. Picture this: lounge chairs, cool drinks, and a backdrop of California daydreams. It was the perfect interlude before we headed to the hotel bar, where beer and cocktails engaged in a spirited tango with our taste buds.
When Night Falls: The Big Bus Tour (Blue route)
Nighttime Antics
As the sun dipped low, we decided to add a splash of nocturnal glamour to our escapades. The evening unfolded with the Big Bus Tour Night Route (Blue Edition), promising a 60-90 minute rollercoaster of San Francisco’s illuminated splendors. Joining us in this venture were our newfound friends from Portsmouth – a delightful twist of fate from a breakfast encounter.
Bus Woes: Out of Fuel, But Not Out of Charm
Mid-tour, our open-air chariot experienced a brief hiccup, a pause in its rhythmic journey. Turns out, both our bus and the one trailing us decided to embrace fuel scarcity simultaneously. A replacement bus waltzed in, and we resumed our nocturnal adventure, crossing the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
Sunset Serenade
The delay, a mere hiccup, gifted us a mesmerizing sunset spectacle. San Francisco sparkled like a celestial disco, and the Golden Gate Bridge bid adieu to the day with a flourish. A delayed dance with the city lights turned out to be a serendipitous affair.
Midnight Munchies: McDonald’s Misadventure
Back on terra firma, a sudden realization struck – hunger, the nocturnal nemesis, had crept in stealthily. With no time to spare, we found ourselves in a race against the fast-food clock. McDonald’s was the chosen battleground, but alas, fate had other plans. Self-service tills took an unscheduled siesta, and a dash of order mix-up sprinkled some extra minutes onto our hunger pangs.
Farewell, San Francisco: A Love Letter to the City by the Bay
And so, dear San Francisco, our fling with your hills, bridges, and eccentricities has come to an end. We depart with memories etched in the hills of Lombard and the sparkle of your twilight skyline. Thank you for being the perfect host to our escapades.
