Celebrating a Loved One's Milestone Birthday in San Francisco

One of the reasons we visited SF was to celebrate a loved ones' milestone birthday.

Ferry Building, SF

We spent an afternoon on our last day in the Ferry Building area in SF.

Bay Bridge, San Francisco

We waited for S. to get off work at Starbuck by the Ferry Building.

S. came to get us after his exercise class and we met in Starbuck.



Pedalling his bike, he came to meet us dressed in sweat shirt and his shorts, but looked happy after a long day's work.

Walking along the water front, we had a good view of the bridge as the sun started to set.

Since S. lives close to the ferry building area, we went up to his apartment and visited for a little while.

 We headed out for dinner in a local restaurant.

This local restaurant has always been our favorutie.






We were here in 2014 for the first time and we really enjoyed it.













The restaurant has a very special social program to help some special folks to gain valuable employment skills after experiencing some difficult periods in their lives.

We always admire business/companies engaging in social enterprise projects to help people who need a little bit more assistance before they can stand on their two feet in our society.

The crab cakes were delicious!

We  try to support them with our business.
This was why we wanted to come back here to celebrate our special occasion.


When the food arrived, we held hands and gave thanks to God to mark this special milestone occasion.


The food and service were both very good.

While we were having dessert, we gave S. his birthday presents, a couple of small things and  a lasei. We were glad that we were able to share his milestone birthday with him.

After this delicious and memorable dinner, it was around 9pm, time to go to the airport for our red eye flight home.

S. ordered a Uber for us and we went to retrieve our luggage.

We had a bear hug with S. before heading to the airport.

We had a great trip and thank God for a safe and great trip in the States.



R.T.
San Francisco
USA
Week of  April 3, 2017

Spending an Entire Afternoon at the Ferry Building in San Francisco

China Town, San Francisco

Today was the last day of our stay in SF.
We got everything ready, checked out of the hotel and stored our luggage at the front desk.

We heard about a pastry shop recommended by S. in China Town, so we walked there looking for some gifts for S.'s birthday tomorrow as well.

This small pastry shop sold dim sums for take out, meat filled steam buns and other sweet filling. It was always busy with a long line up.

Since we were not in a hurry, we did not mind lining up. We bought some of their house special, took them to a nearby park. S. really made an effort as he came during his lunch break and joined us to enjoy an unplanned picnic.

Later, walking with his bike, S. came with us to the Ferry Building.

It only took about 15-20  minutes. A good walk!

The Ferry Building, San Francisco

 He went back to work and we stayed down there.






















In front of the Ferry Building is the Embarcado Centre, a place where many activities take place.

There were many booths set up with vendors selling various crafts items on the day we visited.

Its a place visited by tourists to San Francisco where street musicians perform,

People sat and rested while some were honing their skateboard skills with their peers.

Some were practicing sword fighting.

We were there enjoying the free music, the fine weather and watching people engaging in their activities.

I was here in 2013 visiting this plaza and the place shone for me at the time.

 But this time, some of the sculptures looked neglected and evidently needed much attention 

We joined the numerous people who were sitting outside the Ferry Building.











We thoroughly enjoyed the mild temperature and the ocean view.









After an hour being outside, we visited the stores inside the Ferry Building.

The interior of the Ferry Building, San Francisco

We learned that the clock tower of the Ferry Building withhold the 1906 earthquake but incurred significant damage.

We saw one of the original hands on display inside the building.

We enjoyed visiting the many beautiful and interesting stores selling various items such as:

Interesting and unique plants

Colourful and mouthwatering sweets


















An entire store devoted to selling mushrooms

Many different varieties of mushrooms.

Time flew by and before we realized it, we spent an entire afternoon in and around the Ferry Building area!








R.T.
Ferry Building
San Francisco
USA
Week of April 3

Colours and Messages of San Francisco

A San Francisco street lined with tall palm trees - ( Mission District )

We visited two different states in the United States recently. They were Nevada and California.

What a big difference we saw in the landscape and colour of these two states.

I didn't realize that San Francisco
almost feels like a tropical country as some of its streets are lined with tall majestic palm trees and greenery.

We were awed by some of the sizes of the palm trees we saw.

Union Square, San Francisco

Coming from Toronto, Canada in early April when sudden snow squall could still be expected,
we were treated to fine weather and the sight of blooming flowers in all kinds of colors.

We saw pink flowers in full blooms at Union Square, San Francisco.

I was delighted to see this exotic bird like flower for the first time in Panama.



















Imagine my surprise when I saw  it again on this trip to San Francisco which is not a tropical country!

Telegraph Hill, San Francisco

How I love to have a flowering tree such as this one growing in my backyard!




















This articular flower resembles an upside down trumpet.

I wish I had a bit more knowledge of botany and could name these flowers.

We saw these brilliant colourful flowers on our hike up to Telegraph Hill in some people's front yard.



























But my botanical knowledge is very limited.

 I absolutely have no clue of what these flowers are called.



























This gorgeous purple flower may be called Hibiscus, not sure 100%.

It doesn't matter to me what the names of these flowers are.






















I just love taking pictures of them!




















I really hope that one day I will fill our house with prints of some of these beautiful flowers.

Colourful flowers and interesting architecture were not the only things that added to the interest of the city of San Francisco.






















Bold and imaginative wall murals in the city also made our walking tours enjoyable.

A Wall mural - San Francisco

We saw a few colourful wall murals during our walking tours.

A piece of street art made of old locks and colourful fabrics in Mission District

Here was a love lock street art piece made on a fence in the Mission District.

Recycling old LP records into colourful window display on a Market Street store

We also enjoyed looking at creative window displays such as this one.

The store was decorated with old plastic records
painted in bright colours.


















What a nice way to recycle old used unwanted LP records!

A bold roof top message in SF for the White House staff?

Besides colourful flowers, buildings, what we admired a lot was the bold statements displayed on top of some buildings.

A window display appealing for love not walls in San Francisco 

Subtle messages such as Make Love Not Walls were displayed in store windows.

A message appealing for peace and love from the people of San Francisco to their president trying to build a wall along the American Mexican border.

Another window display with the same message in San Francisco 

With the colourful flowers, artwork and window displays in San Francisco, they reminded once again the precious gift we, North Americans, have on this continent - freedom of speech!



R.T.
San Francisco
USA
Week of April 3
2017

A Nutritious Dinner at an Office on Our Trip

We made arrangement to eat with S. this evening. After our walking tour of the city, he texted us at around 5:30pm asking if we would go and take a tour of his workplace. Off course we would. We took a taxi from where we were and got to his office building. Since it was after 6pm, S. needed to sign us in at the front desk and the receptionist took our picture. A good security procedure.

 Off we went to the dining room where a number of hot dishes were set up for the staff staying behind to eat. I was impressed to find lots of vegetables and nutritious food offered to staff for dinner. There were also juices, different kinds of milk, beverages such as beer and wine etc. The fridges were well stocked with all kinds of drinks, refreshments, snacks and fruits all day.  We had a really good dinner with choices such as salmon, chicken in tomato sauce, baked beans, grilled vegetables. For staff who might have missed the hot dinner, there were a few pizzas available.

Afterwards, S. took us for a tour of his company, we were impressed with the facilities offered to the staff including a recreation area with games, a separate room for massages, for nursing, mediation, and for napping too. It was well after 7pm, but there were still a few people staying behind working or socializing together. Evidently, the work environment is welcoming, accommodating and trying to make staff members feel comfortable. After seeing where S. works, I feel much better knowing that even if he eats at his company everyday, he is eating good nutritious food.

We thank God for his excellent job and that he’s more settled now.

S. walked us back to our hotel with his bike. He came into the hotel and was able to enjoy the body massage chair after a few minutes' wait. This was the most time we could spend with him for the past few days!

R.T.
USA, 2017