The City & The View

On Sunday it was back in the car again for some San Francisco sightseeing! Once over the Bay Bridge we drove down the Embarcadero past the Ferry Building, Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. Then we kept going up and up to get to the top of Lombard Street. Since we were right there we had to drive down it and jump out at the bottom to snap some pics :)

Back down the hill again to get into our car. . . in SF you're always climbing up a hill or going down one. Katie and Adam, who live in a relatively flat area of Louisiana, were amused by the constant elevation change.

After a stop up at Coit Tower for a view of the skyline, bay, Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street and Alcatraz (it really is a spectacular spot to catch a glimpse of just about every major attraction) we drove into the heart of the city to see the Painted Ladies -- you may recognize these from the intro to the classic TV show, Full House. One our way to Golden Gate Park we also passed through the epicenter of the Summer of Love, the Haight Ashbury neighborhood.

Despite knowing quite well that it would be freezing down at the beach, we were lured by the sand and the sun. It was indeed windy and cold, but it was also gorgeous.

The grand finally of the Jones Tour: The Golden Gate Bridge. On the north side of the bridge you get THE best view of the bridge, the city and the ocean. It is truly so spectacular, so awe inspiring, so beautiful that I don't think you'd ever forget it in your whole life after seeing it.

It was the perfect way to end our day in SF, and I think Katie and Adam would agree :)

I think this day and this view will stay with me forever. We've been blessed with an incredible opportunity to live here in the Bay Area and with an even greater opportunity to share it with two of our most treasured friends.

Monday was our last full day together. Andrew had to go into lab for a while, so Adam gladly played video games for a few hours while Katie and I had one of our coffee chats (a weekly occurrence in college; sadly we only get to have a few a year these days).

You stick us in a coffee shop with two delicious lattes and you might not see us again for a very, very long time. Our coffee runs dry but the conversation never does ;)

Andrew was able to sneak out early so the four of us walked to Top Dog to get hot dogs for lunch and then took a long walk through North Berkeley. I was excited to show them Indian Rock, one of our favorite destinations when we go for a walk. It's a huge rock in the middle of a neighborhood that you can climb for a great view of Oakland all the way to north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Best of all, it's one of the most impressive places to watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean.

Andrew likes it because he can run around and play on the rocks like a kid haha

I love the view and chance to soak it all in with friends. I was not looking forward to seeing the Lee's go on Tuesday morning -- we loved having them visit.

Chinese take out, Wii games and multiple rounds of Taboo (which the girls won so the boys had to go pick up the food haha) on Monday night was exactly what we all needed.

I have to say, hanging out in the living room with some of your best friends, eating greasy, yummy Chinese food and laughing to whole time had to be one of my favorite moments.

Katie and Adam are fun, kind, loving, hilarious, generous, incredible friends. Andrew and I are so lucky to have them in our lives. Now we're just counting down the days (~15 now) until we get to see them again -- this time back in MN!! Woohoo!!