Through San Francisco in ripped jeans

Finally the time had come. We went to the city we had always wanted to see: San Francisco. When we arrived at our hotel room, the Hilton in the Financial District, we were amazed. The view of the San Francisco Bay and part of the Financial District was simply amazing.

We wanted to see more of the unknown city. So we went for a walk in Chinatown and had dinner. The restaurant we went to was mentioned in the MERIANmomente San Francisco guide, which was a great companion for us throughout San Francisco and highly recommended. It led us to Kam Po Kitchen at 801 Broadway, a rather inconspicuous Chinese restaurant that other German tourists we met at the entrance found uninviting due to its cool ambiance and admittedly made us initially skeptical as well. However, it was very worthwhile to eat at this restaurant despite the first impression, because not only were the dishes incredibly delicious, but possibly the best and most authentic Chinese food we had ever tasted (unfortunately we haven't been to China yet ;), and the prices are extremely affordable.

So our stay in the city started off very well.

But the next days were also going to be beautiful. The next day, we took a trip with an Uber (particularly cheap in this city compared to the rest of the US and probably the easiest way to get from A to B) to the Golden Gate Bridge, which we then of course (a must with good weather) crossed on foot.

Once we reached the other side, where you have a wonderful view of the city, we admired the passing jets of the Blue Angels, an aerobatic flight squadron of the United States Navy, which flew artistically over the heads of the people of San Francisco as part of the Fleetweek that takes place every beginning of October.

After a while, we took an old cable car converted into a bus back to the Golden Gate Bridge for $5 per person. This was once again a very special experience, because the bus not only had a tour guide who told us something about the places on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge, but also had a disco ball and was playing 70s funk music.

Once we arrived back on the city side, we took a stroll along the beach promenade until we reached the Palace of Fine Arts, a building constructed in the style of Roman and Greek architecture that often attracts wedding couples for photo shoots due to the incredible beauty of the place.

Another highlight of the following days was a trip to Alcatraz, the famous high-security prison operated from 1934 to 1963. It was impressive to learn about the history of the place, which you know particularly from movies like 'Escape from Alcatraz', to see the facilities themselves, and even to interact with a former prisoner who still gives autographs every day on a book he wrote about his time in Alcatraz.

In addition, the view of San Francisco from the island is simply breathtaking.

However, if you plan to visit Alcatraz, you should definitely book it on the internet several months in advance. The tickets are usually sold out quickly!

Another must-do on a trip to San Francisco is, of course, a ride on a real cable car in the city, even though they don't cover very long distances and are mainly used by tourists.

We also enjoyed a very good meal at 'Grubstake' on 1525 Pine Street, a diner partially housed in a retired cable car, with very good Portuguese cuisine, as well as typical American diner dishes.

Last but not least, a visit to San Francisco would not be complete without seeing the famous Painted Ladies, the colorful houses of the city. This was also part of our wonderful experience in this great city.

We also didn't miss a visit to Mission Dolores, known from the Hitchcock film 'Vertigo', the day before we left. It's also an interesting attraction of the city.

All in all, it can be said that San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the USA, where you can see and experience an incredible amount. If you're visiting the West Coast of the USA, you shouldn't miss it, as it not only has many attractions to offer, but is also unique in style among many big cities. We had a great time here that we will never forget.

Your Claudia and Peter