Reflections from the Journey
Looking back now, we really did have a fantastic time away. Sure, the beggars could be a bit of a pain—there were so many of them—and some of the main shopping areas could do with a good clean and a proper rubbish sweep. But in other parts of the city, there wasn’t a scrap of litter. It’s a city of contrasts, and somehow that made it feel more real.
No complaints about the weather. In the 13 days we spent there, not a single drop of rain. Most days were over 20 degrees, with clear blue skies and brilliant sunshine. Honestly, it would’ve been worth the money just to escape the cold, wet British Christmas. But we got far more than just a break from the weather.
We both thoroughly enjoyed our time in San Francisco. We saw spectacular sights—from natural landscapes and formal gardens to iconic man-made structures and unexpected glimpses of local wildlife. There’s something surreal about standing outside places you’ve seen countless times in films or on TV. Even though some of those films were made years ago, nothing seems to have changed. That timelessness is part of the magic.
Some of the best days we had were the ones where we didn’t do much at all. Like the afternoon we spent sitting on the wall overlooking Ocean Beach—just watching the surfers and soaking in the peace. Although we didn’t see everything we’d hoped to, we got through most of it. In the year or so I’d spent planning the trip, I’d prepared for all kinds of weather—rain, cold, fog—but the sunshine changed our plans in the best possible way. Some places we deliberately skipped, simply because it was too nice to be indoors.
And then there were the unexpected moments—the big fire trucks parked outside the hotel one night, just as I was coming back from the pub. False alarm, thankfully. We also had a great view of the San Francisco Chronicle offices and the Old Mint, right across the road from where we stayed. Little details that made the city feel like ours, if only for a while.
So where to next time?
That’s a stamp in the passport still waiting to be made.