12 October 2011, nearing the end of our US holiday. Staying at a bit of a dodgy hotel in downtown San Francisco, but budget and reasonably clean. Our last day for sightseeing; we had already visited key sites such as Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. After finalising some packing and paperwork, we planned a self-paced walking tour printed out from guides – not yet the days of using your mobile online maps to find your way around.

We started our day with breakfast at Roxanne’s Café – not as good as Lori’s Diner, but still better than our hotel’s meagre continental pastries and lukewarm coffee offerings.

Checked out some Chinatown shops but felt ripped off because the T-shirt would cost $5.99 instead of the $2.99 we’d seen elsewhere (didn’t buy one) plus the “5 for $1” postcards were 7 for $1 further down the road. Always looking for bargains!

Continued walking along the planned route including some very steep sections near Telegraph Hill. Great views, lots of steps, including the “Greenwich Steps” up to Coit Tower – a lovely clear day to appreciate the excellent views. Coit Tower itself very memorable.

Headed down the steps from Coit Tower, decided to read the map while walking – not a great idea, as I missed a big step. Ironically, it was the only one actually painted in a warning “watch out there’s a big step here” colour. Twisted my right ankle a bit and skinned the left. Ouch. It’s OK, I had a Band-Aid.

Continued our walk downhill to Washington Park. Sat in the park for a while, eating crisps and the other remaining snacks in our day packs, watching pigeons and the council workers top-dressing the park. Admired the Saint Peter and Paul Church across from the park, where Joe DiMaggio married Marilyn Monroe in 1939.

Decided not to continue the walking tour as described up Russian Hill, might be a bit too much for a slightly twisted ankle. Instead, walked to the Mason Powell cable car to go to Bay Street and to Fisherman’s Wharf for lunch. Unexpectedly found a lovely restaurant, Fisherman’s Grotto – the frontage looked just like a shack, but inside and upstairs it was more like a 4-star restaurant stretching right back to the pier. A stunning view and a thoroughly satisfying lunch with sourdough, crab, and salmon cake.

No more strenuous walking wanted, so took an hour-long cruise from near Fisherman’s Wharf; highly recommended. Once back decided to catch the cable car to look at Lombard Street; had previously learnt our lesson about the very long queue at the turnaround of the cable car so walked the short way up to the next stop to catch it.

Off at Lombard at the “crookedest” street – interesting and picturesque switchbacks. Walked, somewhat gingerly with the slightly injured ankle, down Lombard Street to catch the other cable car back to Union Square, Tom standing on the running board – very cool!!

Stocked up on more Band-Aids at Walgreens. Walked on to a local pub “Irish Bank” on Mark Lane. Then, time to relax: drinking, chatting, eating, journalling, writing postcards, with ankle up and resting with an ice pack courtesy the pub. Cheers!

My “Ouch in San Francisco” Haiku:

Sight-seeing walk day
Not watching where my feet go
San Francisco step

観光日(かんこうび)
またつまずいた
階段(かいだん)に