Sweet San Francisco, Seen through Special Eyes

Photo Credit: Lonely Planet

We have been to San Francisco many times. Since there are many friends and family in this city, our visits have mostly been centered around social events. We have not really had a closer look at what makes the city buzz. This time, however, my twenty-three-year-old granddaughter volunteered to take this elderly couple around the Golden City. She works as a Scientist for Envigo, one of the city's (and the country's) most successful biotech firms, after graduating with a BS in Biology from the University of Washington. Her special Millenial eyes gave us two beautiful days in the city.

Pier 39

She took us around in Ubers. I don't even have the app on my phone.  First stop was Pier 39. There were many points of interest: the floral door, the Carousel Ride, the boardwalk, exotic shops, the heart of hearts, and the great bay views. But when the barks, honks, grunts, growls, roars, moans or whatever else they call those sounds grew more loudly, we knew we were approaching the highlight of the area: the seals that have made the pier home for years. I had so much fun photographing the whole pod. But one very playful one, in particular, was the Star of the Show.

Star of the Show

The pier is one of the attractions of the famous neighborhood called the Fisherman’s Wharf. On the walk around this area, we spotted good street art, a great view of Alcatraz (the Golden Gate was hiding that day) and old WWII ships on display. But it is best known for the crabs, clam chowder on sourdough bread, and other seafood served by the restaurants that have been serving these great foods for generations. And not far is Ghirardelli Square, a two-level shopping section with captivating arches and signs, where the star is the chocolate exemplar sold at the Marketplace. 

my granddaughter looking at a warship

Another Uber ride took us to Chinatown. Whoa! Beyond the Dragon Gate unfolded an area bustling with rows and alleys of all kinds of cultural products from the East: home décor, gadgets, souvenirs, produce, baked goods, dry goods, etc. There were also plenty of cocktail and karaoke bars, food joints, etc. Festive red balloons hang over the streets. Ornate buildings and temples make for great photos, too. Then my granddaughter brought us to her favorite bakery, Good Mang Kok. Their dim sum items are the best I have ever tasted. No wonder this Chinatown is one of the oldest and best established in the US.

Chinatown

We were all in San Francisco because another daughter, who is based in Melbourne,  was on training at her company’s HQ. We spent the night in her hotel room. After the morning tours, we met her for lunch. Then we proceeded to something I never knew existed: Japantown. It is a sprawling two-wing two-level mall of everything Japanese: décor, gadgets, clothing, art, food, cosmetics, etc. I loved the giant pagoda at the entrance, the wall painting of colorful umbrellas, the red bridge connecting two floors, temple replicas, and other Instagrammable spots. But it was at the store selling matcha ice cream in many many different flavors where we stayed the longest. Mine was the green tea version!

Japantown

Uniqlo

The next day, we saw what a major fashion center San Francisco is. We sought out Uniqlo (whose brand ambassadors include tennis icons Djokovic and Federer) to see what all the fuss is about this Japanese brand. The secret is great designs and materials. We also visited JINS, the fashion eyeglass outlet frequented by millennials. I found some styles for me (at 71, I still feel 31!). Too bad we do not have these stores in Phoenix.

During our shopping spree, we walked through Union Square and loved the Filipino flag hanging over one of the buildings fronting it. So were many other countries’ flags a little farther away. We found another heart of hearts. Nearby we also passed by The Turnaround, where the vintage tourist trolley turns around.

Zendesk

After lunch, we visited my daughter at the  Zendesk HQ. The company is one of the most successful in innovative customer service apps and support (Uber and AirBnb are two of its biggest clients). It was a delight to see how employee-focused the company is, a key reason for its success. The creativity of every employee is unleashed with the best working environment. Modern food and bar areas are in every floor (with pantries filled), nooks for every size and kind of discussion (twos or big groups) and a creative studio, and desks/chairs for every kind of working arrangement (including standing up or slouching with a laptop). San Francisco is one of the best workplaces in the world. Google and Facebook lead the pack in this work environment that was just starting to be in vogue when I was retiring.

We had three big meals in San Francisco. I am including this bit to show what a diverse culinary experience one can have in this lovely city. Our Day 1 lunch was at Delarosa, a popular pizza and pasta place near my daughter’s office on Market Street. On Day 2, lunch was also at a popular Indian eating place near their office called Little Delhi. But the highlight was our dinner at Crustacean, a sister restaurant of Thanh Long, the classic Vietnamese restaurant that has served the famous roasted crab with garlic noodles for ages. A friend took me and my young daughters there in the 1990s. They gushed that it was the best meal they have ever had anywhere in the world. Since then, they have dreamed of going back. So I took my daughter, albeit to this more accessible and upscale location. We even topped the night with delectable Thai desserts at Kin Khao right across Parc 55, my daughter’s hotel.

Bay Bridge at night

This time, we definitely had an unbelievably focused lovely two days in San Francisco. I do think it was because we had one of the best tour guides I could ever have, my millennial granddaughter who knows the city well. After all, she lives in Livermore, about forty-five minutes away. And that’s what our next post is all about.

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