July 4th was spent wandering the great city of San Francisco from its piers to the Golden Gate park. We started by arriving from the east bay on the local transit which early in the day was not crowded at all. Most would arrive later for the fireworks in the city.
Grabbed some spicy Mandarin food at a place called Red Jade. Had heard good reviews on a local food show. The Onion Pancake was a cripsy delight with peanut sauce to go with it. Then we tried a lamb dish with spring onion and green capsicum. Also a tongue pleaser. Dessert was these little sweet doughy balls coated with white sesame seeds. Much like a modak but less sweet. Steaming hot and just enough sweetness to wipe away the spicy heat from the palate.
Then we set out on a local bus to visit the Ferry Building. Always a view to be had from here to see the Oakland Bay Bridge span across the waters of the Pacific as they pierce inwards (it too is almost as old as the Golden Gate at 75 years).
From there it was a first for us - a street car ride to connect to a bus to visit the de Young Museum of art in Golden Gate park. Named after a journalist who also ran the AP at one point, this museum houses premanent collections of artefacts from all over the world - from ancient to contemporary along with special exhibits. The treat here is the viewing tower to which admission is free. This is actually the best part for me since I am not much enlightened by watching art however amazing in its 3D form.
From the tower you see the views of SF that you cannot from anywhere else. The pinnacle of the golden gate bridge just peeping out from a hill that tops its height in one direction to another hill with the Ignatius Cathedral to views of Cal Academy of Sciences right below you with the Amphitheatre in one corner.
Great weather helps too. No fog in sight and just enough warmth to not need layers of clothing...can get to be a drag.
Since we did make the hike here we toured the museum which does have some amazing stuff esp that which took some patience to put together 200 or so years back. Best exhibits were some chairs that looked beautiful even after such time had passed and someone sat on those for years.
The daughter has an artistic bent and she throughly enjoys taking such things in.
From there we tracked back to the train station for the ride home but not before the rest of the familia got some action in the form of the quintessential shopping throw in - at the mall in SF - too glitzy to pass up I guess. For me a good chai latte made to order kept me awake .. what else could I want in life at this time?
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