Let's go to San Francisco

Over a week ago i returned from San Francisco having spent a week there with a friend. I didn't know what to expect - having been to New York and loving it and then LA and hating it - i had been assured by everyone that i would love it and indeed i did. what a great city!
Friendly, chilled out, small and accessible - if you don't mind walking up hills!, great transport system, clean and really interesting.

It is hard to say what my favourite things were but a big surprise was the street cars which run on tracks and powered by electric cables and run north-south along Market (one of the few none hilly streets) - these were beautiful machines and well maintained, i seemed to follow in my friends footsteps and became a bit of a transport geek!

Alcatraz was also really interesting - with a brilliant guided tour narrated by ex-prison guards and prisoners.

The views from cocktails bars on the top of the city's skyscraper hotels were also a amazing (or should that be the cocktails were a highlight!).

I think my favourite area was North Beach - with the most fantastic bookstore i have ever been in - Citylights. Home of the start of the beatniks movement it has an ambiance which sucks you in and you get lost wondering through the shelves of books on every conceivable subject. i could of spent my entire savings in this store! Along with citylights there were great coffee shops, Italian restaurants and good bars!

A trip outside the city revealed the stunning Muir woods with the gigantic Coastal Redwoods and a tour of wineries were much wine tasting was undertaken!

there are lots of photos here and here but below are couple of my favourite