Walk #1 from Stairway Walks book

After completing two of the walks in the book, we decided to "start at the very beginning, a very good place to start!" :-)

But, before we started out, Dick went on our morning run, and I took Gabby for a nice long walk instead. It was a glorious morning and she needed to go to her favorite spot. Here are some nice shots along the way.

The morning sun on The Palace!

Gabby isn't paying attention to the swan!!

We decided to take the bus to the start of the walk. It was about a 1/2 hour bus ride, always interesting.....We thought we would grab some lunch during our walk but we were hungry as we walked from where the bus dropped us off to our starting point. We passed 'The Andersen Bakery' and the chicken sandwich was calling our name so we stopped and shared a sandwich. GREAT decision!! It was so good and we wouldn't see another food place that we would want to jump into until the walk was OVER!

We walked to the starting point and began the route of:

Yerba Buena Cove, Telegraph Hill and Chinatown.

The Union Bank, originally he Bank of California, founded in 1864! We were hesitant to walk in because we were dressed in our running gear. Glad we did!! The 'doorman' was so sweet and welcomed us right in!! He wanted to make sure we saw the artifacts and invited us downstairs to the museum to see an even larger display! We enjoyed the items in the lobby and thought we'd wait until we had Tay or another 'coin collector' with us to spend more time in the museum. It was absolutely beautiful and elegant! Notice the CEILING!!!

As our first set of steps approached, I think I heard Dickey gasp! Oh my!! According to my RunKeeper application, we started at 160 ft above sea level and ended at 220 ft! It doesn't sound like much but that is some hill right there!!
But, the view was speechless!! Transamerica Pyramid and Bank of America building. Gotta love it!! It was a little cloudy over here. At our house it was blue skies!! Come on sunshine!!!
How did we do as a couple and directions? Well........let's just say, we had to have a THIRD opinion. God sent him at the PERFECT time!! Thank you God!! We disagreed and here came this man/angel. He works in the financial district and eats his lunch up here most days. He gave us the correct directions while sharing a little of his life!

Him: Did you guys go to the end of Calhoun?

Us: Well, instead of doing a U-turn at the end, we just looked down the way.

Him: Oh Ok, that'll work.

Us: So do we go this way, back up to Montgomery to get to the 'Filbert steps'?

Him: Yup, that is what you'll do. I like to come up here, or over to the steps one block up to eat my lunch. It breaks up my day.

Us: What do you do?

Him: I work at a firm. I am in charge of creating the files for our clients retirement portfolios. It really doesn't define ME because it is a really boring job. But, it pays the bills for my family. I can show up to work like this! (Points to his clothing while wiping the sweat off of his forehead) Yea, everyone else in my office are 'Suits' but not me. My boss is cool with this. (Shows clothing again)

Us: Well, thanks a lot for the directions! Enjoy your lunch!!

Him: Ok. Thanks! Bye!

In the book it states that we'd come across friendly people, willing to help, and we did!!

So, onto the Filbert steps! Get READY!!!

This pic is looking into ONE of the many little private entry's along the descent.

Picturesque!

Yes, we STARTED at the top and walk the stairway down. You've got to do it to appreciate it! Can you see the stairway in that greenery? Pretty well hidden and spectacular!!

Right before the last set, we saw this bench. Funny because while walking through this JUNGLE, I said to Dick, "We aren't in Kansas anymore!"

This was taken looking UP to where we started. It says in the book that people REPELLED on this hillside in order to plant all of this vegetation!! It also states that usually there is one person, or the neighbors that maintain the gardens and the city supplies the water. Can you see the purple?

At the end of the walk, we pass through the heart of Chinatown. Here, in Portsmouth Square is the "outdoor living room of Chinatown.' Chinatown is a 25 block area. In this area is the first tent swelling in Yerba Buena in 1835!

Told ya, we were in the middle of it!! I love it though. I'll be back to shop in these stores!

I HAD to stop and listen to this guy! I have no idea what the name of this 'instrument' is but it has only ONE string. Very impressive! I gave him $2 to take his picture and he started playing, "Yankee Doodle"! hahahah!!!

Turning left on Grant to California. Old St. Mary's, the first Catholic cathedral in San Francisco, dedicated in 1854. It was rebuilt after being damaged, not destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. It is still an active parish!

OK, so this is NOT in the book, but HAD to stop and take a pic!! hahahah

We did not check this place out, maybe next time!!

I checked the iPhone for the #30 bus route back home so we walked over to the nearby stop 1.5 hours later, 3.64 miles walked and 700 foot combined climb!!! It was an enjoyable walk! Having it end at the church as our last 'attraction' was fitting because here we were, on this beautiful Monday afternoon, strolling through the streets of SF! Couldn't feel more blessed to have this time to share, laugh til my sides ache from the humor of Dick Nash while feeling the sun/son, shine down on our happy faces!