Tony
Bennett put it so well
when he sang I left my
heart in San Francisco.
The only regret is that
I couldn’t stay longer
but I will definitely
return. The few days I
had there were terrific.
You can’t compare this
city with any other and
it’s worth the steep climbs!
Where
I Stayed
The Mark Twain Hotel is so named because the author once lived in San Francisco. It’s in the heart of downtown, just a few blocks from Union Square. It’s been a hotel since 1928 and it really feels like a step back in time. There’s an old world feel about it and I felt right at home. The Plantation Shutters on the windows are a nice touch. My room was decorated in cool, neutral colors and was comfortable and the complimentary aromatherapy products were a pleasant touch. The front desk is manned 24 hours a day and there’s an exercise room if you want to stay in shape. One of the best features of the hotel is its proximity to the city’s attractions. I took advantage of this and decided to explore nearby Chinatown.
Adventures
in Chinatown
I
booked on the All About
Chinatown
walking tour and a friendly,
helpful guide led our
group. There are many
Chinatowns in the west
but none of them match
up to this one. I really
felt as if I were entering
another world. The bright
red pagoda style buildings
and stores are fascinating
to see. Our tour lasted
three hours and included
a 10 course Dim Sum luncheon.
There is a two-hour tour,
without the luncheon,
if preferred. Children
under six years of age
go free of charge. It
was a packed itinerary
and the Fortune Cookie
Factory was one of the
highlights. I got to watch
how they were made and
bought some to take away.
Strolling round the Stockton Street Food Market, I saw some fruit and vegetables that I’d never seen before. The Buddhist Temple was beautiful, lit by red lanterns and the air was heavy with incense. Chinese medicine is famous all over the world of course and I enjoyed the Herbal Pharmacy, which had shelves full of jars that were filled with ginseng and other exotic marvels.
It’s
Showtime!
You can’t beat a show when you’re on vacation, especially one that leaves you rolling in the aisles. I went to the Club Fugazi on the North Beach to see Beach Blanket Babylon, a musical parody that’s been in production there for thirty years. It’s a colorful spectacle and a lot of fun. The cast likes to dress up in outrageous clothes, hats and wigs and performs satirical skits at the expense of politicians and celebrities. Victims in the firing line included George W. Bush, Al Gore and Dick Cheney. Pin ups Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton were also given the treatment. Even historic figures got in on the act when King Louie came on stage in a pink wig.
What
I Ate
I favor
family owned restaurants
and I
discovered a terrific
one on the
Fisherman’s Wharf, overlooking
the Bay. Called Scomas,
they serve
meat dishes but are mainly
a seafood
restaurant and they’ve
been in
business for over 40
years. It’s
a friendly place and
the food was great. I
ordered the Sampler
Plate as an appetizer
with crabcakes,
calamari and something
they call
Firecracker Popcorn Shrimp.
For
a main course, I had
the Roasted
Whole Cracked Dungeness
Crab with
garlic and lemon and
also tried
the Lazy Man’s Cioppino,
a massive
fish stew that filled
half the
table. It had prawns,
shrimp, clams, sea scallops,
various fish
and half a Dungeness
Crab in a
thick tomato sauce.
The other great meal I had was at the One Market Restaurant, which takes its name from its address on Market Street. The décor was warm and the tablecloths were crisp and white. They’ve got an impressive menu, which changes with the seasons. There was steak, chicken and duck as well as fish but I wanted more seafood because that’s what San Francisco is known for. A piano player entertains on a Saturday evening. I chose the Smoked Tamarind Ocean Trout for an appetizer and the Tamarind Glazed Wild Shrimp with Hon Shemiji mushrooms. My main course was Pan Roasted Wild Striped Bass and I also sampled their Pan Seared Alaskan Halibut. I barely had room for dessert, and tried the Banana Cheesecake. Delicious!
Leaving
Is Sweet Sorrow
Sadly, my short break came to an end. I strongly recommend this city for the culture, food and entertainment. It’s got a style, all of its own and you won’t want to leave.
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Tony
Bennett put it so well
when he sang I left my
heart in San Francisco.
The only regret is that
I couldn’t stay longer
but I will definitely
return. The few days I
had there were terrific.
You can’t compare this
city with any other and
it’s worth the steep climbs!
Strolling round the Stockton Street Food Market, I saw some fruit and vegetables that I’d never seen before. The Buddhist Temple was beautiful, lit by red lanterns and the air was heavy with incense. Chinese medicine is famous all over the world of course and I enjoyed the Herbal Pharmacy, which had shelves full of jars that were filled with ginseng and other exotic marvels.
I favor
family owned restaurants
and I
discovered a terrific
one on the
Fisherman’s Wharf, overlooking
the Bay. Called Scomas,
they serve
meat dishes but are mainly
a seafood
restaurant and they’ve
been in
business for over 40
years. It’s
a friendly place and
the food was great. I
ordered the Sampler
Plate as an appetizer
with crabcakes,
calamari and something
they call
Firecracker Popcorn Shrimp.
For
a main course, I had
the Roasted
Whole Cracked Dungeness
Crab with
garlic and lemon and
also tried
the Lazy Man’s Cioppino,
a massive
fish stew that filled
half the
table. It had prawns,
shrimp, clams, sea scallops,
various fish
and half a Dungeness
Crab in a
thick tomato sauce.