Mark Hopkins Hotel

pictures from top: front of hotel; the original Mark Hopkins; collection of photos of hotel; our room; we even have a doorbell!

Friday, January 15, 2010--California here we come!

As they say in Harry Potter, “Get ready for a bumpy ride!” That’s basically what our pilot told us as we left Atlanta and headed west. But it wasn’t as bad as he made it sound. Long but not so bad.

We arrived and took a taxi to the hotel—the Mark Hopkins Hotel at One Nob Hill! This is the area that was once and still is the home to the wealthiest and most powerful families. In the 1906 earthquake, over 514 blocks of San Francisco (including Nob Hill) were destroyed. Ray surprised me and upgraded us to the 15th floor with a King-size bed, luxurious bath,and a gorgeous view of the city. Immediately walked over to Grace Cathedral to see the Chartres-style labyrinth outside and another one inside. We probably go back later as without the sun shining, you can’t really see the stained glass.

Then we walked down California Street to Chinatown with its dragon adorned Pagoda Gates. We had a delicious dinner at my favorite Chinese restaurant—Far East Café. Always delicious and they make you feel so welcome here. And I especially love their oolong tea—I think I had 5 cups of it!

Then to the bakery to get orange juice and a volcano shaped coconut macaroon. And rode the cable car back up California Street to Nob Hill—the highest point on the cable car line. Cable cars have been here since 1873 and were conceived when the inventor saw an accident when a horse-drawn carriage faltered on a hill and rolled backwards, dragging the horses. The creation of the cable car also opened the door for the building of structures on hills. San Francisco's cable cars are the only ones still in operation (though many of the lines were destroyed and never replaced in the 1906 earthquake.) We returned to our room at the Mark Hopkins to enjoy the view and relax. Here it is 7:20, but our bodies think it is 10:20. Can’t wait to explore more of my city tomorrow, even though it is supposed to rain for the next 5 days that we are here. : (

pictures from top: view from our hotel window; Grace Cathedral; labyrinth at cathedral; Far East Cafe; 2 cable cars on California Street.