Union Square

Today marked our last full day in good old San Francisco, and with everything we’d seen and done, it felt like the right time to slow things down. No tight schedules, no must-see landmarks — just a chill-out day to let the city breathe around us one last time.

Strolling the Streets

One Of Two I Bought

We left the hotel around 10:30 and wandered up Powell Street, passing the cable car turnaround and stopping to watch the operators do their thing — still one of those satisfying pieces of mechanical choreography that never gets old. After that, we climbed the hill to the big, posh Walgreens to pick up a couple of hoodies we’d spotted earlier. They actually had my size this time, and I really liked the designs. Even so, after spending over $70 on them, they still charged me 40 cents for a bag. Seems to be a legal requirement — they don’t do plastic ones either. Predictably, the handle broke about an hour later, but thankfully I’d brought a spare.

Lunchtime was calling, and Lori’s Diner was just around the corner, so we ducked in for a bite. I’d had my eye on the meatloaf, so we both gave that a try. It was decent — not mind-blowing — and probably a bit overpriced for what you got. There were also some tiny black flies zooming around, the pub kind, which started to bug me (literally), but to be fair they did serve Blue Moon ale in bottles, so that helped. It wasn’t exactly busy, which made us wonder if it had lost a bit of sparkle since we last came.

When we stepped outside again, the real feel temperature had climbed to about 17°C, the sky was a crystal blue, and it felt like peak California. We retraced our steps and then crossed over into Union Square — always a solid spot for watching the world go by.

It's January

On our last visit in 2013, they still had the seasonal ice rink set up, but that usually comes down in the first week of January. I think they were removing the last bits when we first arrived this time. Union Square’s one of those places where time slows a bit — so we grabbed a coffee from one of the two shops there and sat down together, just soaking in the atmosphere. No rush, no noise — just us and the gentle hum of a city going about its day.

After nearly an hour of people-watching, we headed to the far side of the square to visit The Cheesecake Factory — always reminds me of The Big Bang Theory, with Penny serving up sarcastic charm and slices of cake. It’s more of a fancy café than a bakery, but the real draw is the view. Perched on the top floor of Macy’s, it has an open-air balcony overlooking Union Square from twelve floors up. The view was brilliant — rooftops, treetops, and the buzz below. Jane picked up a couple of badges too, once someone finally located the key to the cabinet. Clearly not flying off the shelves.

Fountain in the Street

just Like The Movies

On our way back down, we passed some ongoing construction just outside where they’ve been building the new subway station — apparently for the past decade or so. As they tried to shift an excavator bucket, someone managed to knock over a fire hydrant in the process. Within seconds, water was shooting about 40 feet into the air, just like something off the telly.

Union Square From The Cheessecake Factory

It was properly funny to watch, especially considering San Francisco’s been in a water shortage for the last few years. A full-on geyser in the street. Before long, a crowd had gathered, snapping photos and having a laugh about it. I even grabbed a bit of video myself — seemed too surreal not to capture.

By now, it was late afternoon, and we were both starting to feel the miles. The past few days had definitely caught up with us — being out all day, every day, tends to take its toll. Probably why we never do much in the evenings. So we headed back to the hotel for a well-earned nap and let the city carry on without us for a bit.

Photo Walk

Arcadia, one Of Many Cruise Ships

After an hour back at the hotel, I couldn’t settle, so I headed out for one final wander along Market Street. I hadn’t planned to go far, but ended up at the Ferry Building and just kept going, following the soft late afternoon light toward Pier 39. No real plan — just the idea of watching the sun set behind the city one last time.

Eventually I reached the cruise ship terminal, where a towering vessel was docked — absolutely massive up close. I got some decent photos of it before continuing on towards Levi Plaza, tucked beside the offices of the famous jeans company. What a place — easily missed, and nearly by me.

A Random Find. Levi Plaza

Levi Plaza felt like stepping into another world. It’s a compact but beautifully designed urban park, framed by red brick buildings and nestled quietly off the main path. The centrepiece is a cascading waterfall that tumbles into a rocky pool, which then feeds into meandering streams and shallow ponds with stepping stones crossing between them. The entire area is softened by lush vegetation — palms, ferns, leafy trees — and layered paths that wind through the greenery. Despite being in the middle of the city, it’s calm, cool, and oddly tropical. It’s exactly the kind of place you’d hope to stumble upon, and I’m glad I did.

Pier 7 To The City

As twilight took hold, I made my way back toward Pier 7, stopping to take a few photographs of the Transamerica Pyramid — that iconic needle-pointed skyscraper that still dominates San Francisco’s skyline. Completed in 1972, it was once the tallest building west of the Mississippi. While the city’s skyline has grown around it, the Pyramid remains unmistakable — all angles and ambition, shaped like something you'd expect in a sci-fi film rather than downtown real estate. Seeing it silhouetted against the fading sun, with its tapered peak glowing in the last light of day, felt like the perfect visual to close out this chapter.

I fancied a drink, so tried a few bars on the walk back, but they were all packed — too noisy, no quiet corners. So I ended up cutting through side streets and heading to the discount booze shop instead. No fuss, no queues.

Back at the hotel, it felt like the final stretch — time to finish off the last beers and put my feet up. Or at least, that’s what I thought.

Turns out we weren’t quite done. Around 9pm, hunger returned, and that meant one more uphill march to Uncle Vito’s for one of their 14-inch mountain pizzas. Just $12, piping hot, and seriously tasty. Once fed and watered, it was finally time for bed. Tomorrow’s going to be a long one — the journey home awaits.

Reflections on the Day: Cable Cars, Geysers & Goodbye Pizza

After days packed with bridges, ferries, and prison tours, Friday arrived like a deep breath — our last full day in San Francisco, and the perfect excuse to slow the pace. No schedules, no landmarks, just a chance to let the city unfold around us one final time.

We started with a wander up Powell Street, pausing at the cable car turnaround to watch the operators spin their wooden stage — still one of the most satisfying bits of urban theatre. Then came a climb to the posh Walgreens, where I finally found hoodies in my size. Seventy dollars later, they still charged 40 cents for a paper bag that promptly gave up on life. Good thing I packed a spare.

Lunch was a nostalgic nod to Lori’s Diner, where meatloaf met mild disappointment and tiny pub flies staged a buzzing protest. But Blue Moon ale in bottles helped smooth things over. It wasn’t busy, and we couldn’t help but wonder if Lori’s had lost a bit of its sparkle since our last visit.

Union Square offered a reset — blue skies, 17°C warmth, and the kind of people-watching that makes time slow down. We grabbed coffees and settled in, letting the city hum around us. No rush, no noise — just the quiet joy of being present.

Then came The Cheesecake Factory, perched atop Macy’s like a cake-themed lookout tower. The view from the balcony was brilliant — rooftops, treetops, and the buzz below. Jane picked up a couple of badges after a minor cabinet-key saga, and we moved on.

Outside, construction chaos delivered a surprise: someone knocked over a fire hydrant, sending water 40 feet into the air like a spontaneous fountain show. San Francisco’s water shortage made it feel like a surreal contradiction — a geyser in the street, and a crowd laughing like it was performance art. I grabbed a video, naturally.

Back at the hotel, we took a well-earned nap, letting the city carry on without us for a while. But I couldn’t settle, so I headed out for one last photo walk — no plan, just the pull of golden light. I followed Market Street to the Ferry Building, then kept going, eventually reaching the cruise ship terminal and Levi Plaza.

Levi Plaza was a revelation — a tucked-away oasis of waterfalls, ponds, and winding paths, framed by red brick and softened by tropical greenery. It felt like stumbling into a secret garden, and I was glad to have found it.

As twilight settled, I made my way to Pier 7, stopping to photograph the Transamerica Pyramid — that sci-fi spire still holding court over the skyline. Its silhouette against the fading sun felt like a fitting visual to close out this chapter.

I tried a few bars on the way back, but they were all packed and noisy, so I opted for the discount booze shop instead. No fuss, no queues — just a quiet drink to toast the day.

But the city had one last demand: pizza. At 9pm, hunger struck, and I made the uphill march to Uncle Vito’s for a 14-inch mountain pizza. Just $12, piping hot, and the perfect send-off. Cold pizza is a crime, and I wasn’t about to let the day end on a misdemeanor.

Back at the hotel, feet up and fridge now empty, we finally called it. Tomorrow, the journey home begins. But tonight, the city gave us one last gift — a day of soft steps, warm light, and the kind of quiet magic that lingers long after the suitcase is zipped.