San Francisco is for lovers

So I surprised Chad with a trip to San Francisco this year! We had quite a few things to celebrate: a) his birthday (which we welcomed by driving into the city), b) his graduating, c) Father's Day and d) our four year anniversary!

Here's how it went: my awesome sister-in-law offered to watch the babes months ago, so whenever I figured out that it was about to time be the surprisOR to my man (versus the forever surprisEE), I took her up on the offer! We left on a Saturday evening right after Chad got off work, spent the night in Salinas after hitting up a gross sushi bar (Chad fought for this disgusting place! Puke!), and woke up early to leisurely drive into the big city, totally relaxed and ready to go!

We had quite a few hours left before we could check into our hotel (the hotel I BOOKED secretly - muhahaha!), so we decided to take advantage of our car time. Off we went to Alamo Square to see the painted ladies (and hit up a random farmer's market!), Lombard Street and then the Golden Gate bridge! Yes, all of that! I was so excited with it being my first time there, ya dig?! (Every time I told people I had never been to SF, they always looked at me like I had not experienced one of life's basic wonders. Now I know why!)

Okay and can I just say how absolutely FREEZING it was during the END OF JUNE and BEGINNING OF JULY?! Holy cow! I brought all sorts of Summer clothes only to don my jeans 95% of the time!

Anyhoo, we were having a blast - and we were only 2 hours in! Next we decided to park the car and then take off for the brunch I had a Groupon to. So we walked 4 miles. One way. Yep - we walked! 8 miles total. But it was not so bad because we got to walk all the way up one of those main, awesome San Franciscan streets where we ran into...

THE PRIDE PARADE! Yes, we were in the city the weekend after the marriage bill passed! It was crazy - picture a wall of smoke that wasn't of the cigarette variety mixed in with straight up NAKED people and lots of techno music! Nutso! And hey - there were even kids there. It just reminded me that every time Chad and I get out of town, we are major once-in-a-lifetime-event magnets. Our honeymoon was riddled with "this is the last time this will happen for the rest of the millenium" and "you lucky dogs, you caught the President of the European Union being in town parade!"

Anyway, once we finally walked until we meandered into the not-so-pretty-part of San Fran for brunch, we were ready to return to our room to get ready for the night.

The next day we finagled our way out to Alcatraz (thank goodness! I didn't buy the tickets pre-sale because I was so sure I would be able to find some other way to do it once we got there. When we went up to get them, we were told they were sold out for 2 weeks! What?! So I called a tour guy and LUCKILY two of his people weren't able to make the Alcatraz leg of their trip - hey-o! So immediately we snatched them up - giving him our credit card numbers on a packed trolley. Eek - and off we went!

The rest of our trip was just fabulous. We came home on Tuesday, making this the first time I had a sub for my Stroller Strides classes - quite the big step. This trip was needed so much, it was insane - truly the perfect way to end the two months of madness! (May and June - I basically died.)

 Our view from The Buena Vista!

 At the beginning of our 8 mile trek.

 So beautiful!

 This was so darn strong! Oh my gosh!

 The Well's first branch!

 Waiting for the trolley!

Some freaking maniac swimming around Alcatraz. Idiot!

Last but not least, I just have to document our last night in town's dinner. We went to Little Italy and ate outrageously amazing food. It was so perfect. I just love that man of mine! There we were, surrounded by legit Italians (it was a family owned business), sitting closely to people from all around the world. Truly wonderful. After that, we walked to Ghirardelli Square to enjoy our send off: a humongous sundae! Cheers to San Fran!