Author's Note
San Francisco, why not? After all its only a quarter of the way around the world, almost, depending on how far north you fly first but seems to average at six thousand miles it would seem.
By the time I started writing this journal the bug for documenting our travels had truly bitten, I was trying to catch the essence of our trips, not just the sights but our thoughts and emotions.
By now we had learned a lot from our previous travels and although we have to plan a bit more than the average person we do have realistic expectations of what is achievable in day with limited mobility and more importantly being able not only to switch our plans for the day but also part way through the day as well.
We have absolutely no chance of seeing everything we had planned but we have options.
Although its not always easy for Jane to get to places she gives it a good try, there occasions when we’ve simply had to give up, even with the best planning you can’t account for everything.
This journal isn’t just a list of daily events, its our personal journey and for me visiting a city isn’t just about sightseeing, its the emotions that go with it. That feeling you get when you see a famous landmark for the first time or stand in a location and take in the view, in that instant you know that its a memory that will last forever.
Introduction
Hills? What hills? Oh... those hills. I forgot about them.
Why return to San Francisco so soon? Well, there’s a song that goes, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” — performed by Tony Bennett, in case you didn’t fancy Googling — and that’s exactly what happened to us back in 2013. After an unforgettable Christmas spent exploring the city’s winding streets and golden skies, we knew we had to come back sooner rather than later.
With so much to see and do in and around this incredible city, there’s no chance of ticking it all off in one go. But this time, our itinerary was meticulously stitched together — a tapestry of days that crossed paths just enough to squeeze the most out of every moment. And if plans did shift (as they always do), we’d still be within spitting distance of something on our list. Tactical tourism, if you will.
Each entry in this journal expands on the original blog — it’s not just a list of landmarks, but a retelling of the sights, sounds, and sentiments that coloured each day.
According to past weather records, it looked like southern California was lining up for yet another mild winter. Rain tends to make an appearance, yes — but unlike in the UK, it's usually in the form of a dramatic yet fleeting downpour. Our main concern? Accessible transport. While trams and buses generally do a decent job, occasional hiccups occur. Some buses — veterans of a bygone era, probably still remember the Cold War — have ramps that refuse to work. And in the outer suburbs, where trams share the road with cars, raised platforms are often a luxury there simply isn’t space for.
If you’ve picked this up for a read, I hope it offers a little insight into this remarkable city — one that everyone ought to experience at least once. And when I look back on this journal in years to come, flick through the photos and relive the memories, I know I’ll wish I were there all over again.
Con B
