After arising from our slumber, Josh and I hailed an uber to take us to GGP. As we got closer, the sun quickly disappeared as the classic SF fog had rolled in off the ocean. Our warm temperatures took a nosedive. Josh kept saying he should've brought a sweater, I told him he'll be fine. Upon arrival, we headed towards the beach so I could see the view...which was non existent due to the heavy fog. But I still am glad I saw it regardless.
We spent the next few hours exploring GGP. We kept stopping to find some geocaches along the way, but man, you could get lost in there. Fun fact, GGP has more acres (1017) than Central Park (848). We swung by areas such as the buffalo reserve, the casting ponds, and the polo fields. The lack of fellow tourists in the area was nice as I could really enjoy what was around me.
Having our fill of GGP, the Golden Gate Bridge was next. We ubered over to the Presidio, which is the park where the Golden Gate Bridge stands, and not the park that shares it's name. Once we arrived, we weren't even at the bridge yet, but I can say with confidence that nearly anywhere you go in SF that's by the water has amazing views.
We walked along the shoreline, stopping every once in a while to capture the view forever. As we walked, I noticed the last of the fog engulfing the GGB, almost as if it was fighting the forces that were slowly extinguishing it. As we got closer, the fog kept fading, and the bridge became that more magnificent. Let me say this. When you travel, don't be the full on anti-tourist. By that I mean, don't focus on all the hidden gems and lesser known sites and smells. Of all these places I grew up seeing in books, on TV, and on the internet, nothing compares to seeing them in person. I remember the chills and patriotic pride that overwhelmed me while standing at the feet of the Statue of Liberty. I recall my breath being taken away at the views from the Space Needle and Empire State Building. I reminisce on the state of euphoria I was in when I stood between the Opera House and Harbor Bridge. And now here I was, underneath one of the most incredible man made marvels, the Golden Gate Bridge.
Below the GGB on the SF side is an old fort dating back to the civil war days. You can go all the way up to the roof and stand where the cannons sat years ago. The GGB hovers right above and gives you an amazing perspective of just how vast it is. I imagined myself standing there over 100 years ago, clad in full uniform, staring over the Pacific, closely watching for enemy ships. It really is a sight to see.
Mid afternoon crept up on us quickly, so we headed back to Josh's apartment to take a breather and freshen up. Once the R&R was complete, it was time to check another MLB ballpark off the list. But first we needed some fuel. Mmm spicy ramen noodles for the win.
And now, Oracle Park. Home of the San Francisco Giants. And what made it even better was that Madison Bumgarner was on the mound. I remember witnessing his amazing world series performance against the Kansas City Royals. So for me to see him pitch on his home turf, possibly for the last time in a giants uniform, was pretty surreal. Oracle Park itself is also a real gem. If anyone ever asks for the top five MLB ballparks, Oracle is definitely on that list. The history, the atmosphere, and most importantly the scenic backdrop. Take a look.
In the end, the Giants lost to a bad team, but that was the epitome of their season. The game was still incredibly fun and the full mooning aligning with the right field foul pole over the water was pretty sweet. To end the night and the trip, we headed back to Josh's place, and up onto the roof. We sat and talked into the night, with the city towering around us in its calm, evening state. And yes, the view was incredible. That's all for San Francisco for now. Where will I end up next? Only time will tell.
No comments:
Post a Comment