USA Trip Day 7 - 10 Sep 2014 - Seattle / Pike Place Market Area

Uncle sent us to SFO airport slightly after 7am as our flight to Seattle was set to depart at 9:10 am. 

I realized after our trip that we flew with a different domestic airline every single time! Among all these airlines (Alaska Airlines, Delta, American, Virgin), we would have to say that Virgin planes are the best. While all airlines provide great friendly service and they are not strict with cabin luggage, Virgin planes are just newer with entertainment system for each individual. Other planes were spacious but they were quite old.

USA Trip Day 6 - 9 Sep 2014 - SF Walking Tour Part 4

Cable Car Museum

We left Coit Tower around 5pm and walked down the Filbert Steps into Filbert Street. 

wow custom hat shop O.O

I saw a shop providing a coin washing service too. Vintage much?

After passing by the Washington Square Park, we turned left into Mason street and walked straight till we reached the Cable Car Museum, housed in the old-fashioned red-brick building. 

USA Trip Day 6 - 9 Sep 2014 - SF Walking Tour Part 3

Union Square

Address: Area surrounded by Geary, Powell, Post & Stockton streets 

While this area is well-served by public transport ranging from cable cars, MUNI train, BART, F line streetcar and many buses, it is best explored on foot. Since its nearby Yerba Buena Gardens, we took a leisurely stroll.

As a historically significant site, this plaza was the venue for many pro-Union rallies, held on the eve of the civil war. A 97-feet tall monument was erected in 1903 to celebrate another event - the victory of Admiral George Dewey at the Battle of Manila Bay. This was also the place of the world's very first underground parking, opened in 1941.

USA Trip Day 6 - 9 Sep 2014 - SF Walking Tour Part 2

After our morning excursion around the beautiful architectural buildings of the bay area, we took BART train for 1 stop from Civic Center station to Powell Street station. 

It was fascinating to observe the Powell-Mason & Powell-Hyde cable cars turning around here, right above the station!  

 You can see tourists queue-ing behind me, for that historic cable car ride, unique to San Francisco!

USA Trip Day 6 - 9 Sep 2014 - SF Walking Tour Part 1

We decided to be actual free & easy tourists today and requested Uncle to drop us off along the Van Ness Avenue for exploring historic civic center as well as downtown San Francisco. Much of this area was rebuilt as part of the Beautiful City Movement which strove to counter the chaotic growth of cities during the rapid immigration and industrialization. Hence, it was not without much surprise that most of the more stunning buildings in San Francisco are clustered here together.

City Hall

Address: 1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102

How to get there: There are a couple of ways to get here and public transport is recommended since its not that easy to get a parking lot
1) Civic Center / United Nations Plaza Station By BART Train
2) Civic Center / United Nations Plaza Station By MUNI line J, K, L, M, N
3) F line street car

USA Trip Day 5 - 8 Sep 2014 - Chinatown

Today was a very relaxing day for us to spend some time with Mister's grandma. The morning however was spent, wandering aimlessly round Chinatown, weaving among throngs of locals and tourists, purchasing beautiful postcards and savoring the appetizing Chinese treats.

An imposing Chinatown Gate at the beginning of Grant Avenue marked the area popular with tourists.