August 6-Fun in the Sun, San Francisco Style
From riding on a hand carved sea lion on the Italian made carousel at Pier 39 to chasing down my errant Waymo vehicle to get back to the bottom of Telegraph Hill, today was chock full of fun in the city, San Francisco Style.
Heading west along the Bay Bridge earlier this afternoon, I set my sights on Fisherman’s Wharf, remembering how much fun I had with my friends and family there as a youth eating cotton candy, watching the sea lions on the pier, and window shopping.
Excited to find parking for the day right across the street from Pier 39, I strolled down the main thoroughfare breathing in the salty air and reveling in the feel of the sun on my back and the sea breeze on my face.
Making my way to the end of the pier past the throngs of visitors ordering sweet and savory treats, I stopped to admire the sleek shiny sea lions piled on the docks there sunbathing, diving into the water, and creating a cacophony of barking sounds, their large eyes and long pale whiskers endearing them to many.
Wanting to take part in the fun myself, I got a ticket for the two-story merry go round ride and hopped on the beautifully painted sea lion figure, chortling with joy as I rode around and around with children much younger than me.
After taking my time enjoying the live music and the talented street performers, I decided to walk around the city a bit, heading up the steep streets of Telegraph Hill to admire little Italian cafes, far reaching city views, and the large green oasis of Washington Square Park.
Having already walked over a mile, I decided to splurge on a Waymo to get back down the hill to my car. The concept of a driverless taxi service safely navigating congested city streets seems quite extraordinary, but it is made possible by a series of sensors, cameras, and radar on these vehicles.
When my app informed me at the last minute that my pickup point had changed, I ran down the street giggling with my gimpy leg, chasing after the vehicle as it continued to move away from me. Reaching the car before it left me altogether, I hopped inside and enjoyed a pleasant ride back through the city. What a great day on the road!
