Relaxing in San Francisco

It was a beautiful day for a picnic as we headed across the Bay Bridge (Oakland to San Francisco) into San Francisco, passing work being done on a new section of the bridge.

On the eastern portion of the bridge (between Oakland and Yerba Buena Island) we could see the catwalks for the Self-Anchored Suspension Span (SAS). The span’s single 525-foot-tall tower will be closer to the west end of the SAS and creates a distinctive asymmetrical design (see baybridgeinfo.org for more information about the unusual design).

My (Chuck) cousin Barbara navigated the route through the central business district to Fisherman's Wharf, the source for the primary picnic items.

Our first stop at Fisherman's Wharf produced three Dungeness Crabs--cleaned, cut, and cracked.

We then purchased a loaf of sourdough bread at the Boudin Bakery and headed to Crissy Field, just below the San Francisco end of the Golden Gate Bridge for "a table for three" for lunch.

After we found our table, we briefly acknowledged the presence of some of the others enjoying their time at the Field. Some keeping a close eye on any unattended food items

and others enjoying the huge playground.

The table was quickly set with time for a quick photo before beginning the meal.

And what a lunch it was. It was the kind of enjoyment marked by little conversa-tion and instead intense concentra-tion on retrieving every morsel of crab meat from within pieces of shell.

When we finally took a break from eating, we noticed the activity on the Bay.

San Francisco will be hosting the America's Cup races in 2013, so there will be many more sailboats on the bay as the date approaches.



After relaxing awhile after lunch, we took a drive around the city.



We caught this glimpse of The National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi, located in the North Beach section of the city.

We stopped at the Molinari Delicatessen

and bought some Italian Dry Salame from this store, which was founded in 1896.

Our final stop was at Stella's Pastry and Cafe, located by the blue sign in the Hotel Boheme building.

After a quick survey of the display cases,

we each order cannoli filled with sweetened ricotta cheese, vanilla, and chocolate chips and topped with confectioner's sugar.

The more time we spend here, we are feeling the city becoming smaller, more easily navigated, and more intriguing.

And we will continuing exploring.