Japs on the side

This is not a travelogue.  Not in the true sense.  Neither is it about a geography lesson involving Japanese people.  It is about finding the upside on a fall day.  As in taking the family or rather the family taking the initiative to go wandering out to the coast and making it a day - a good day as fall makes its way in Northern CA.

So this Saturday we took a train into San Francisco.  The weather did not disappoint.  Clouds parted and it soaked the coast line and surrounds with a cozy 75 F.  We started by heading west from the eastern side of town (where our Rapid Transit dropped us) on Geary Boulevard using a local transit bus called the MUNI (pronounced Myuni).   Nothing spiritual about it ('Muni' means 'sage' in India) but at least they have started using new coaches that alleviates the rider from smelling what was carried on board last night from China Town.

Geary Boulevard, so named after California state's first (and youngest) mayor runs east to west about 8 miles and ends at the Great Ocean Road (the western edge of Golden Gate Park).  Our first time visiting this part of the planet although it is merely a few hours from home as the crow flies.

Land's End - at least behind the gift shop - Pacific waves crashed below the lookout into erstwhile Sutro Baths

A view of the bathing pools - now a ruin - a scenic ruin

It was a short walk among the cypress trees that dot the high bluff and then downhill to view the once famous indoor pools called Sutro baths.  The whole area was developed by Adolph Sutro, later mayor of San Francisco;  who built a garden and an estate and a massive swimming pool complex right on the ocean using salt water.  Impressive but not financially viable.  It fell into eventual disrepair and now the burned down ruins greet visitors as seen from up above.  If you walk downhill to the beach you can wander the caves used to bring supplies in to build the pool complex.

Inspired by these wanderings we took another bus ride into the central part of town to catch some nourishment that came in the form of some good looking dogs.  As in the German kind with a twist.  I had one with a Vietnamese inspired sauce and the little one opted for a Philly Steak kind with the pickled jalepenos (a mildly spicy chilli) on the side.

The cashier rang the order which was classic San Francisco.  See below.

Japs on the Side - an order at the Dogs, of Dogs, for the hungry Dogs 

 After filling in on the bovine (and divine) tubes with spicy sauces and some carbs we loitered in the district which is home to the LGBT community.  These folk tend to be loud (at least in this area where they feel at home) and expressive in more ways than one.  See below..

Cross walk in color, Castro SF

Colorful Castro - LGBT district San Francisco

We had a plan to catch some Asian made movies at the Castro theater later that evening but had a few hours to kill so decided to trek uphill from the food place to go see a different bird's view of the city by the bay - this one from Twin Peaks. These are two short hills located in the middle  of the city where I had been a year ago.  This time the family came to enjoy it too.

Panorama of the city of SF from Twin Peaks

Sutro Tower - used for local TV and Weather - Twin Peak lookout

Tram Ride home (to the Embarcadero for the final leg)