We arrived to San Francisco on Wednesday afternoon and hailed a taxi to take us to our hotel in the theater district. Anytime there is a conference going on hotel prices seem to get jacked up. Since we had to find our own digs for this conference we found a better cost option with a boutique hotel. The rooms are smaller and no room service but at half the price we are good with that.
We got checked in and headed out on foot to the Moscone Convention Center to pick up Dear’s badge for the conference. After Dear was all checked in we came back to the hotel to drop off his materials and started our uphill walk to the Mark Hopkins Hotel. We wanted to experience the view from the “Top of the Mark”.
You know the streets are steep when they put in stairs! We were huffing and puffing by the time we hit California Street.
The Top of the Mark affords beautiful panoramic views of San Francisco. The prices are a bit steep but we planned for it enjoying small bites, a drink and beautiful views!
The sun set and we got some evening views, too.
I will share the photos we took of Grace Cathedral later that happens to be on California street, too. We walked through it on our way back to the hotel. Downhill all the way, woohoo!
It was a wonderful beginning for our time in San Francisco. We had some dessert when we made it back down the hill in the restaurant connected to our hotel.
I’m posting this now because today has been a rainy day in San Francisco and I’m spending the evening in my hotel room while Dear has a business dinner. I was quite the Seattlelite today venturing out on a hop on hop off tour of the city in the rain…on the top deck of the bus!! I’ll share the raindrop photos later!
I’ll share the rest of our San Francisco experience next week. Tomorrow we are being picked up by my first year college roommate and her husband for a few hours to catch up on what’s been going on in our lives the last 35 years or so before they drop us off at the airport for our trip back home.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
San Francisco has its own magic, but the hills are killers. The first time I went there I was flying for Delta and had no other shoes than 3″ heels. They did not stop me from trying to see everything, but I had trouble walking the next day.
Wishing now we had gone to the Mark to catch some of those fantastic views you captured! I totally know what you mean about huffing and puffing as you climbed that hill to California Street. The hotel you chose looks lovely!
What a view you had – classic!
I miss the days of accompanying The Great Dane to conferences. His business travel was always so much more interesting than mine.
This post made me want to see San Francisco even more.
So glad all is going well and you’re having a great time. Whew, those steps! We used to love San Francisco, but I’m guessing we’d have to add more cab fare to the vacation cost now — don’t think Bill’s ankle would let him do that any more.
Well, that looked like a lovely ‘first day’! Your post brings back good memories of our time in San Fran!
What a beautiful hotel you stayed at! Such character. Love your photo with the stairs! I am thinking I wouldn’t have made it to the top–glad you did:)
Blessings, Aimee
Fabulous views of the city!! And I am sooooo impressed at your tenacious climb!! Enjoy your remaining time there in San Francisco!