We left the hotel at 7:45 and walked about a block to a coffee shop for breakfast. We had a ham, egg and cheddar croissant that was really good. Brent had a meeting this morning so we made plans to meet him for lunch. Jackie took the train to our hotel and then we were off to the downtown area. We walked around and took lots of pictures.
Financial District
You can see Coit Tower in the background
The Transamerica Pyramid is easy to see
Our first stop was Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. I've wanted to see it every time we've been there but just never made it. It was as beautiful as I imagined it would be.
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church
The inside was beautiful!
Loved the architecture on the outside!
After this stop, we headed over towards Chinatown to see the Fortune Cookie Factory. It was set back in an alley and I think there were only three people working there. There was a metal wheel where the dough was dropped in and then it went through an oven of some kind. The cookies that didn't turn out perfect were put in a separate pile and given out as round, flat samples. There were two ladies who put the fortune in the cookies and folded them. There was a handwritten sign that said "Photos - 50 cents" so, of course, it cost me to go in there plus $4.00 for a bag of fortune cookies. They were delicious! So much better than the ones you get at a Chinese restaurant.
A couple of hard working ladies here
We met Brent for lunch at Nan King Road Chinese Restaurant and it was some of the best Chinese food I've had. After lunch, we headed back downtown to teh Wells Fargo Museum. It was an interesting place and FREE!
Here we are in front of the stagecoach.
Saddle from the Pony Express
The Pony Express began delivering mail on April 3, 1860 in a record breaking 10 days instead of 4 weeks by steamer or 3 weeks by overland stagecoach. (The stagecoach could only go as fast as 5 mph and could carry 9 passengers inside. Those people were short and tiny!) Young riders carried 20 pounds of important letters that cost the customers $5 per half ounce. The young riders raced on horseback 1,966 miles between St Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California. The riders rode an average of 75 miles in 9 hours and changed horses up to five times!
After this we headed back to The Center for New Music, one of Brent's jobs out there. He and his friend, Adam, rent this building in an area that the city is trying to "revive". Twitter moved their offices down the street and the area is improving. The city gave Brent and Adam some money to renovate the building and we were really impressed with it. A short description of the Center is that any musician who is a member, can perform one concert per year here and all proceeds go to the musicians. It is a place where they can try out their music for an audience. Brent said that the music community is behind them and they have their support. they also have offices they rent out plus practice space. We're proud of what they've done. You can "LIKE" The Center for New Music on Facebook or go here to view their website.
The Center for New Music
Concert area at The Center
By this time it was time for dinner since Brent had a board meeting that night at the Center. We went to Show Dogs, a neat little place that serves homemade, organic hot dogs and sausages. They were really good. We parted ways and Jackie went back to the hotel with us and visited while Brent was at his meeting.
It was a great day. Here are a couple parting shots from downtown.
Love these Chinese markets
Best bargain here is avocados 10 for $1.00!
Typical San Francisco house
Downtown
Love the intricate work
Famous cable car
Across from the Ferry Building
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