San Francisco

What a beautiful day Saturday turned out to be. We actually made it into San Francisco, and took a walking tour of Chinatown. I had found a website that lists the hot spots of activities to do and see while we were in San Fran and they happened to have a self guided walking tour of Chinatown. So I printed out the map and the directions and we took our time taking in the sights and smells around the city’s oldest neighborhood. Our tour actually made me rethink wanting to go to China, but not that much. There were just so many people there. Of course over the years Chinatown has become a tourist trap but what can you do. So in light of that we had to indulge our senses and enter into way to many shops that in the end all end up selling the same thing. But I was tons of fun to see the city and take in the rich culture. Now if only I knew the language that would make things so much easier. I was surprised by how much of the language was still used today in the area, seeing how so many tourists to visit the site.

There were hand written posters, for people seeking what I can only assume is a roommate and places for rent. Not including the signs for the businesses around the area. Bank of America and Charles Schwab even had signage in Chinese. We indulged in some local cuisine at The Chinatown Restaurant, which apparently is used quite often in movies and TV shows. Their menu even boasts that famous people from actors to state governors have eaten there.

Our tour took us by a playground right in the middle of the city, where Isabelle got out and played for a little while. She went up and down and all around until she found the sand. Once she realized that the sand was where she was landing after sliding down the slide she thought it would be fun to move it around and let it fall from her hands. She even found a new friend who wanted to hug her and play with her while she was at the park. Isabelle really just wanted to play so she lost her new friend pretty quickly. All during our tour Isabelle brought smiles to everyone around her. Shopkeepers, customers, and people on the street, you would think these people never saw any children. But of course she loved every minute of it.

On our way to lunch we viewed a funeral procession that had two small marching bands that walked with the funeral as it passed through Chinatown. We began to wonder if every funeral was this way or if this person was special. After all there was even a new camera filming the event. But the news camera was not filming the protestors, in the square who were fights for the rights of the Chinese in over in china who are fighting for their lives. The situation was explained to us by drawing similarities to what Hitler did to the Jews in WWII, but what is happening today as much worse. Hopefully they will be able to resolve their inner conflict and be at peace.

After our tour of Chinatown we made our way to the Golden Gate Bridge. We actually took the bridge across the bay and took some wonderful pictures of the city and the bridge. Isabelle was so tired from all of the busyness in Chinatown that she slept right through it, not that she would remember but we can show her pictures.

As usual pictures can be viewed later on line at snapfish.com once I get them sent it. I have a few more pictures to take today and then we will be ready to mail them in. So until then you guys will have to wait to see our wonderful tour. I hope your weekend is going well.