After leaving Chinatown, I headed over towards Powell to buy a muni pass. My shuttle driver suggested getting one so I could use all the public transportation on a by-day basis instead of paying for each ride. It was much more cost-effective. You can get 3-day and more passes, but I only got a 1-day pass since I knew this was going to be my only tourist-y day.
It turns out the Powell St station is one of the trolley stops.
This stop is actually one of the most popular - the one that is hand-spun around by the trolley drivers and helpers and the one where people wait in line to get on the trolley to see Lombard St.
The trolley comes down the hill on the left tracks, stops on the wood circle, and is turned by hand onto the right tracks to head back up the hill. The line was about 50 deep by the time I got there, but it moved pretty quickly. I decided to hop on since I was already there - it would cross 2 things off my list I wanted to do: 1. ride the trolley and 2. see Lombard St.
The trolley started off pretty empty like in this photo but picked more and more people up as it went down the road.
There were handles just above the bench seats where people could hang on for the ride.
The ride was pretty scenic and very steep.
I got off the trolley at the Lombard St stop.
I walked down Lombard St snapping photos on my way down the steep street. Many cars drove by - about 20!
Like I said...very steep!
I even saw some go-cart looking things go down Lombard St.
The famous flowers on Lombard St hadn't yet bloomed but there was still lots of greenery.
The houses were, of course, all beautiful.
The stairs down were pretty steep, too!
A good perspective on just how steep that road is!
Proof I was there! :)
After Lombard, I headed towards Fisherman's Wharf to try to find Kara's Cupcakes. I decided to walk down FW, towards the hotel (b/c my phone was dead) and hope I passed Kara's. Turns out Kara's isn't at FW...it's at Ghiradelli Square so I just missed it (I basically headed right when I should have headed left)! I was getting pretty tired from all the walking and probably from all the travelling earlier, so I hopped on the F Bus and headed back to the hotel to charge my phone. I was so tired, I forgot to take photos at FW! Oopsie! Next time...promise.
More SF stories next post...I have a lot of catching up to do!
PS I am safely home in Charlotte...phew! That was fun but I'm glad to be home, too!
omg that sucks you couldn't find kara's cupcakes!! ya it's in the square... when i stumbled across it I was so excited! sounds like you had a good trip - fantastic!
Posted by: kokostiletto | March 22, 2009 at 11:50 PM
You look so cute!!
Posted by: Kelsey Miles | March 23, 2009 at 12:08 AM
Very nice pictures! There is something about San Fran...no matter how much of a fan I am not, I'm mysteriously pulled to it every now and then..
Posted by: BKShopper | March 23, 2009 at 03:15 AM
Cool pics!
SF looks great!
Posted by: Catlin | March 23, 2009 at 06:50 AM
Glad to hear you are home safe. Great pictures, they make me want to visit SF again!
Posted by: Janice | March 23, 2009 at 08:02 AM
San Francisco has lots to offer. Sounds like you hit the high-lights. We went out with our kids and had a great time. They still talk about the food and shopping in Chinatown.
Glad it was a positive trip.
Posted by: A~ | March 23, 2009 at 11:57 AM
Wow! It looks like you had a great time Diana. Lombard street and Chinatown both look so amazing. And you look adorable in your proof that you were there!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | March 23, 2009 at 01:51 PM
Hey Diana,
What fantastic pictures, you really captured the city. My Dad used to live there and he loved it and said how beautiful it was. I'm glad you had some time to sight see and have some fun. Oh yeah, you are adorable, looking good in San Fran, ha ha!
Posted by: stephanie | March 23, 2009 at 08:07 PM