We crossed the road and tram tracks and enjoyed a coffee in Starbucks. It was empty when we arrived but then it filled up with young San Franciscans and tourists. Pier 3 was a few minutes walk away and we had to be there by 11am, so we had plenty of time.
When we arrived there was a large marquee filled with people chatting and laughing. Everyone appeared to be looking forward to the experience, but we really didn't know what to expect. We were on the Hornblower California and there were two dining decks. We gave our name and were directed to table 202. This was the first bonus as I had imagined we'd be sharing with lots of other people. Running down the middle of the deck were buffet stations, piled high with food - salads, breakfast items such as sausages, bacon and fried potato, fish, scrambled eggs and bread. A further buffet station held dishes of desserts.
Our server for the cruise was Erika and she asked if we wanted a Mimosa - sparkling wine and orange juice. We both thought we would get one glass and that would be it, but our glasses were continually replenished throughout the cruise!
We also had a DJ who was great and kept us entertained with his banter and piano playing. Before we had even set off we were invited to go up and get our food and we didn't hesitate!
The food was delicious and plentiful. Kitchen staff hurried back and forth bringing out more plates when they were used up so there was more than enough for everyone. We set off at about 11.30am and cruised out into the bay, giving us lovely views of the city. The atmosphere was great with people tucking into the food and knocking back the wine!
There was some sort of international yacht race going on in the bay and we saw the British yacht and cheered! Because of this the captain didn't think we could go all the way to the bridge, but we managed it! On the way we saw a whale! Sophie was ecstatic and we saw its tail flip down into the water. We also saw a sea lion surrounded by gulls who was having a great lunch of fish!
The atmosphere on board was great and the DJ called out the names of people celebrating special events. Passengers even had a dance! It was really lovely.
All too soon we were back at Pier 3 and saying goodbye to Erika and the rest of the staff. It had been a lovely experience and I was so glad Sophie had booked it for us.
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| Alcatraz |
We decided to take the tram to Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf and then walked in the direction of Ghiradelli Square. It had clouded over a little bit and was cool so walking was enjoyable. The whole area was packed with people looking in the shops and eating at the many restaurants.
We somehow stumbled on the old cable car turn and decided to take it as far as it would go. The gear mechanism at Powell Street is being refurbished so we could take the cable car and then hop onto a free shuttle bus. We paid $7 each for the privilege and joined a queue of people all waiting to take the ride. The cable cars can take about 40 people on each one so we waited about half an hour to get onto one. In the meantime it was fun to see them being turned around ready for their next trip.
The ride was exhilarating! I had warned Sophie about the steep hills but nothing can prepare you for looking down and seeing the road drop away! We stopped near the top of Lombard Street which is supposed to be the "crookedest street in the world" and saw cars venture down it, very slowly and tentatively!
The cable car filled up with even more people and we were a real hotch potch of different nationalities. We carried on climbing up amazingly steep hills and then carefully inching our way down the other side. As we couldn't ride to the end, we disembarked and took a shuttle bus to near Powell Street where we took the BART back to Balboa Park before picking up the bus.
We had about an hour and a half back at the apartment before calling an Uber to take us to the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins Hotel. We made sure we were dressed smartly and we both took time over our hair and make-up.
Our Uber driver whizzed us off to the city and the last stretch up Nob Hill was hair-raising, to say the least. I'd forgotten how steep the hills can be in this area - they were almost vertical!
The entrance to the hotel was very grand but the staff smiled at us and made us feel very welcome. We took the lift up to the 19th floor and were shown to a seat by the window. At first, I was a little disappointed as the faded yellow paint on the walls made it look a bit scruffy. Running along the window was a wide sill that I remember Sophie standing on when she was 2. This looked like it needed some TLC as well!
However, the stupendous views and lovely service made up for that and we both ordered a cocktail each - an Old-Fashioned for Sophie and a British Bell-ringer for me. They were delicious, but no nuts or crisps were provided, which would have been nice! I don't know why we had bothered to dress so well as the other clientele were wearing jeans and trainers, and some of them were really loud. Apparently, there used to be a strict dress code, but no more, which seems a real shame.
It was lovely to sit and chat, sip our drinks and gaze out over the view. Unfortunately it was a bit cloudy but at one point the sun did break through the clouds and it lit up some of the tallest buildings.
We ordered two more cocktails - a Cosmopolitan for Sophie and an American Dutchman for me. Again, they were both delicious. The bill for the four drinks came to a whopping $80 including a tip for the very helpful server! Cheap, it ain't!
By now we were feeling peckish, so we ordered another Uber to take us to China Town. He picked us up and we drove the short distance, up and down more tortuous hills!
He dropped us off on Grant Street, the main thoroughfare, and we found a restaurant called the Oriental Pearl that had a dining room upstairs with tablecloths, something I wasn't expecting! Sophie was pleased and said it reminded her of The Han in Market Harborough!
The restaurant was only a quarter full and we were the last to come in so I think our speedy service was down to the fact that they wanted to close! We chose the $28 set meal and enjoyed Dim Sum, chicken and sweetcorn soup and two main dishes of chicken with cashew nuts and sweet and sour pork. These came accompanied by delicious fried rice.
We had a glass of wine with our meal and Sophie tried desperately to get a wifi signal so we could hire another Uber, but we had to give up and admit defeat. As getting public transport back was definitely not an option, we asked the restaurant to order us a taxi and went outside to wait. A Yellow Cab arrived after about ten minutes, just as we were getting a bit anxious! Having no transport home is not a feeling I particularly relish! The taxi whizzed us through the streets and out onto the freeway where he really put his foot down! It was great to see the city all lit up, though!
It was bliss to finally get home, pay the $30 (twice as much as an Uber) and relax for a short while before bed. It was still only 9.30pm!
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