Hello from San Francisco

Do you have a set route when you visit someplace?I seem to. That is, I seem to be very spatially aware and love to revisit places I've seen.I manage to get to this lovely city every once in a while and the thing I love to do is walk from Union Square, where my hotel is, up Powell st. to the top of Nob Hill and down to Fisherman's Wharf.This was my morning view. Today I had it in mind to go visit the Coit Tower on the way back across the city.So here we go:Up and down Powell street, thru Chinatown, thru the Italian district, (they're having a parade tomorrow), past the lovely groups of Tai Chi-ers.And I'm here at the ocean. Gloomy and ghostly Alcatraz just past the boats. I went to visit once. It was extremely spooky. Once was enough I think.Here is the reason I love coming down here. I just love the sea lions. I could watch them all day. This is one of 167 sea lion photos I took. (plus 5 videos)Then, a visit to the aquarium. In my next life I'd like to be a marine biologist.Or maybe just have this guy's job!Four hours later, I walked back up the hill to the Coit Tower to have a look.If I lived here I'd love to live up here at Telegraph Hill. Living here plus a dog would equal those ten pounds I'm trying to lose gone in a week! I'm telling you. You want thunder thighs? Move to Telegraph Hill and get a dog.But here's the real reason to live here. Can you imagine waking up to this every morning? Heaven.Look at this loveliness. One day I'm going to have a 20 ft bougainvillea climbing up one side of the house and jasmine up the other, and hibiscus bushes and huge jade plants making hedges around my garden.Back down the hill to the hotel at Union Square and an evening walk to the Yerba Buena Gardens for the dance and culture festival.I spent a happy couple of hours walking around and enjoying all the street dancers and open museums and then, an opportunity to sit at some long tables and create a collage using magazines, scissors and glue sticks. I like rough edges so tore up the images and came home with this little design.Fireworks over the bay this evening.Oh happy day.I think I'll sleep well tonight. :)