Birthday weekend in the City by the Bay

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You guys, I had a wonderful, fantastic birthday weekend. Except for spending time with family and friends, there is nothing else I could have wished for.
I started Saturday morning off with a hot shower, birthday marble muffins and fresh coffee. Then I opened my birthday cards and a few presents that had come in the mail. Hooray for birthday mail!

A little later, I had a Skype date with my family, who was gathered at my sister’s place for a big birthday party. After all, it was my sister’s birthday, too, and it made me a tiny – ok, more than a tiny – bit sad that I couldn’t be there.
You know, for someone who used to share every birthday with a sibling and have family and friends come over for a celebration, it is kind of hard to adjust to practically having the day to myself for the last few years. At least, I had something to brag about on my own, because a little after the Skype call, I headed out to spend the weekend in San Francisco with my love.

We had a (very) late breakfast at our favorite breakfast joint in the East Bay (their apricot scones are to die for!) and then parked our car and took BART into the city! We had a hotel close to Union Square and really didn’t need to bring our car.

Parc55

After we checked into the hotel, we set off for a nice walk around the city, sat and observed people at Union Square, had hot chocolate and then tried to decide where to have dinner.

Union Square

We walked all the way over to Van Ness Avenue (if you know San Francisco a bit, you know that it’s a good 30-minute walk from Union Square) to check out the “House of Prime Rib”, of which we had read great things. And it’s quite obviously a prime dining spot, as we didn’t have reservations (we like to be spontaneous!) and the wait was 3 hours! So, a change of plans was in order and I quickly consulted my beloved iPhone and made an online reservation at Morton’s Steakhouse (don’t mind if we do!), and back to Union Square we went.

We sat at the bar for about an hour and had a couple of drinks (and I was strangely fascinated by the sleeping pig that was part of the table lamp, ha!), before we got our table and indulged in a ridiculously expensive, but oh-so-delicious steak dinner. Holy buttery-soft Filet Mignon, you guys, with a side of steak fries and sauteed button mushrooms! I am sorry that I don’t have any pictures of the food, but I didn’t dare to take out my DSLR for a food picture in this fancy restaurant and the iPhone picture didn’t do the food justice… so you just have to imagine what it might have looked like.

Morton's

The next morning I went out for a little photo walk before we checked out of the hotel. J kept calling it my “birth-weekend” and made me make all the decisions (which, I am usually not very good at, mind you!). So, first, I insisted on riding the Cable Car to Hyde Street. When we stood in line to get our tickets, it was sprinkling a little bit, but then the weather decided to go with the birthday flow and sent some sunshine for the rest of the day. It was a beautiful day!

Cable Car

Bay Bridge

SF

We had lunch at Lori’s Diner, walked around Ghirardelli Square and then went over to the Old Fort Mason Pier, which offers an amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the City Skyline.

Lori's Diner

We hung out in the sun, enjoyed the views and soaked up every precious minute of our time in the city. I must have taken what felt like a gazillion of pictures and I obviously will have to share some more with you in another blog post. I didn’t want this here to get any longer.

Golden Gate Bridge

SF

SF

Needless to say, I feel truly blessed to live so close to such an amazing city and the opportunity to explore it whenever I want.
I can only hope you had as fantastic a weekend as I did.

  1. These pictures are gorgeous! I know you must be sad, but just remember that you’re family is celebrating for you too, and now you can practice some Fierce Love and not have to share your celebration… Its funny how often I think of F.L. now….like how your husband let you pick everything over the weekend… but you aren’t used to picking things. Its tough!

    I’m so glad you had such a nice birthday weekend San, you deserve it.

  2. Is it possible that I feel like I’ve never seen a photo of J before…?! I’m sorry you couldn’t spend your birthday with your family, but it sounds like you celebrated pretty darn well. <3

  3. Next to having your family there to celebrate with you, it looks like you absolutely made the most of your special day/weekend. Happy birthday!

  4. Looks like you had a wonderful time! Such pretty pictures. :)

    Happy birthday!!

  5. Sounds (and looks) like you had a lovely weekend! That’s so neat that you and your sister share a birthday. That must have been so much fun when you were growing up!

  6. What a nice birthday weekend!! :)

  7. What a great birthday weekend! Happy Birthday girl, may this be the best year yet! :)

  8. Oh my gosh, I would so trade birthdays with you this year! What a fun weekend! You are so lucky that you live close to so many wonderful places that you can get away to for the weekend!

    That is cool that you share a birthday with your sister! Is she older than you?

    1. What a great weekend.
      SF is such a beautiful city. Glad you had such a nice birthday!!

  9. What a great birthday weekend! I love the city and I can’t get enough of the pictures – so bring it on ;)
    BTW – you guys are such a cute couple!

  10. seriously LOVE all of your pictures and so glad you had such a wonderful birthday weekend, yay birthdays!

  11. So glad that you and J had such a nice time. I love San Francisco! What a fabulous place to spend your birthday! Happy Birthday, San!

  12. aw, i’m so glad you had such a wonderful b-day weekend. awesome pictures, as always! HDGDL!

  13. Oh man, your pictures are AMAZING. Love the one sloped on the hill… Awesome :) Sounds like you had a fantastic time though, so happy to see!

  14. Wonderful pictures! What an amazing trip! Love San Francisco! xxx

  15. Happy (belated) Birthday! It looks like you had a wonderful birthday in San Fran. I love the photos- especially the street car and the downhill shot. It looks like you had nice weather (for San Fran standards).
    P.s. I’m a little slow on the uptake but I just realized/read the pearl jam quote at the bottom and I LOVE that for a blog title. Major kudos to you. Keep it up!

  16. This post makes me want to hop on a plane and visit San Fran for so many reasons. It looks absolutely beautiful. I must ride the trolley some day.

  17. Yes, I admit I am terribly jealous of living close to San Francisco! Beatuiful images and looks like you had a great weekend! And it’s all your fault that I have to check flight prices now ;-)

  18. I love San Francisco. Happy Belated Birthday!

  19. Sounds like an awesome birthday weekend! I’m glad you guys got to get away and enjoy yourselves and feast on some delicious foods! I’ve heard great things about Morton’s and need to come up with a good reason to visit one!

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