And none too soon. I think it was a good thing we only went for the weekend. San Francisco is just a great city. The shopping, the food, the wine, just the ambiance is something you can't help but enjoy and over indulge in.
Saturday our flight got in to Oakland about 11 AM. By the time we collected our luggage, got the bus to the Bart station, and checked into the Argent hotel, it was about 1 PM. We took our luggage up to the room, and not wanting to waste any time, immediately headed down to the Ferry Building to check out the farmers market, and have some lunch.
After about an hour or so at the Ferry Building, it was time to head for a wine bar to unwind. Our first choice, London, was closed, so we then headed up to Enoteca, a Cal-Italian wine bar close to our hotel, where we met two other friends and their son, who arrived a little later. After having a few too many wines there, we still had time to kill before our dinner reservation at Foreign Cinema, so we decided to head to a local beer place, that has some local brews on tap.
After having a taste of the local brews, it was time to head over to the Foreign Cinema. I'm pretty sure it was a great restaurant (I [may have] had a little too much to drink!), although I do remember being a little disappointed in the wine selection. Of course that didn't stop us from finding a Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Brunello that were pretty good.
After dinner we headed back to our hotel. We decided to take a cab since the buses seem to run infrequently at that hour. After being rejected by several cab drivers, who refused to take more then 4 people at a time, we managed to find one cab driver willing to take 6 old drunks back to their hotel.
After an after dinner drink at the Argent, and before heading to our rooms for the night, Naomi mentioned she wanted to go for a run in the morning, and I, being the glutton for punishment that I am, agreed to go with her.
She worked my butt off. Starting at 7 AM, we ran from the Argent to the Ferry Building, across to Pier 39 then on down past Ghiradelli Square, and up into some fort, (Fort Mason (?) I think), and then back through China Town to the Argent. It had to be at least 6 miles, and probably more.
Had I known what was in store for me, I wouldn't have gone, but I'm still glad I did, because otherwise, I wouldn't have enjoyed stuffing myself as much as I did at Yank Sing's Deem Sum restaurant. It was really good, but it sure slowed us down for the rest of the day, since we ate way too much. The food kept coming so quickly, we didn't know we were full till it was too late.
Some how though we made it through the day, after some additional walking, shopping, and even a little nap, and then all met up again for a late dinner at Boulevard restaurant.
Now I am sure Boulevard was a great restaurant. The food was outstanding, the presentation was spectacular, and the service was first class. We never wanted for anything. I had the duck which was cooked perfectly. It was tender, and the juiciest duck I have ever had without it tasting fatty. Oh, and the wine list was extensive, and the prices were not unreasonable, considering the restaurant, and caliber of wines. I would definitely go back, and recommend it to anyone.
And then, it was all over. The rest of the vacation was very uneventful. Our flight didn't leave until 1:30 PM the next day so the morning, thankfully, was very relaxing. Got up late, had coffee, tea and danish's in the room, showered, packed etc. before heading to the airport around 11 AM.
It was tiring, but enjoyable, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Even the early morning jog!
Saturday our flight got in to Oakland about 11 AM. By the time we collected our luggage, got the bus to the Bart station, and checked into the Argent hotel, it was about 1 PM. We took our luggage up to the room, and not wanting to waste any time, immediately headed down to the Ferry Building to check out the farmers market, and have some lunch.
After about an hour or so at the Ferry Building, it was time to head for a wine bar to unwind. Our first choice, London, was closed, so we then headed up to Enoteca, a Cal-Italian wine bar close to our hotel, where we met two other friends and their son, who arrived a little later. After having a few too many wines there, we still had time to kill before our dinner reservation at Foreign Cinema, so we decided to head to a local beer place, that has some local brews on tap.
After having a taste of the local brews, it was time to head over to the Foreign Cinema. I'm pretty sure it was a great restaurant (I [may have] had a little too much to drink!), although I do remember being a little disappointed in the wine selection. Of course that didn't stop us from finding a Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Brunello that were pretty good.
After dinner we headed back to our hotel. We decided to take a cab since the buses seem to run infrequently at that hour. After being rejected by several cab drivers, who refused to take more then 4 people at a time, we managed to find one cab driver willing to take 6 old drunks back to their hotel.
After an after dinner drink at the Argent, and before heading to our rooms for the night, Naomi mentioned she wanted to go for a run in the morning, and I, being the glutton for punishment that I am, agreed to go with her.
She worked my butt off. Starting at 7 AM, we ran from the Argent to the Ferry Building, across to Pier 39 then on down past Ghiradelli Square, and up into some fort, (Fort Mason (?) I think), and then back through China Town to the Argent. It had to be at least 6 miles, and probably more.
Had I known what was in store for me, I wouldn't have gone, but I'm still glad I did, because otherwise, I wouldn't have enjoyed stuffing myself as much as I did at Yank Sing's Deem Sum restaurant. It was really good, but it sure slowed us down for the rest of the day, since we ate way too much. The food kept coming so quickly, we didn't know we were full till it was too late.
Some how though we made it through the day, after some additional walking, shopping, and even a little nap, and then all met up again for a late dinner at Boulevard restaurant.
Now I am sure Boulevard was a great restaurant. The food was outstanding, the presentation was spectacular, and the service was first class. We never wanted for anything. I had the duck which was cooked perfectly. It was tender, and the juiciest duck I have ever had without it tasting fatty. Oh, and the wine list was extensive, and the prices were not unreasonable, considering the restaurant, and caliber of wines. I would definitely go back, and recommend it to anyone.
And then, it was all over. The rest of the vacation was very uneventful. Our flight didn't leave until 1:30 PM the next day so the morning, thankfully, was very relaxing. Got up late, had coffee, tea and danish's in the room, showered, packed etc. before heading to the airport around 11 AM.
It was tiring, but enjoyable, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Even the early morning jog!
Comments
John and I always have a good time in SF. I love to walk down by the harbor early in the morning and have my coffee and listen to the sea lions barking orders at one another.