postcard from america

San Francisco – Fisherman’s Wharf “On the Pier” with views of Telegraph hill and the Coit tower, the Transamerica pyramid building and what could be 555 California Street both in the financial district and the blocks of buildings like sugar cubes strewn upon the hills…

“I loved staying down on Fisherman’s Wharf whenever I have visited San Francisco. We always stayed at the Argonaut which is a bit ‘kitsch’ but they have wine in the afternoon if you can get back for it and very decent wine too! It is also close to the Powell- Hyde line cable car, just around the corner and up the hill, and the historic street-cars that come this way. I love them all. I also loved wandering around the historic piers: people watching; seeing ferries come and go; looking out for the sea-lions and the birds; feeling the sun on my back as I sat and looked up at the city, with a salty tang in the air and the waft of sourdough and crab: deciding where to go next… “

Victoria I: Inner Harbour

On this our second visit to the island we wanted to stay in the city (previously we stayed out at Sooke which is south-west of the city) so we booked the Great Western Inner Harbour as it is within walking distance of the inner harbour, downtown and the southern suburbs. We only realised shortly before leaving the UK that the Island marathon was being run on the Sunday (the day of our departure) and our hotel was slap bang in the centre of the start and finish places so all the roads surrounding us would be blocked! It was also Thanksgiving in Canada that weekend too which probably explained why we had such difficulty booking any B&Bs during this period. (I apologise to all Canadians as up until this time I didn’t even know you guys celebrated Thanksgiving!) Continue reading Victoria I: Inner Harbour