Since we were already on Geary Street, we decided to just keep walking. The rain was starting to slow down a bit, but still making its presence known by sprinkling now and then. Not sure which street we were on, mainly just looking around and enjoying the walk. We decided to go to the mall and see what was there, also Doug decided he needed a new hat. Now, the mall that we went to is HUGE! There are 5 floors of shops and stores to see, anything from Macy’s, Eddie Bauer to Bloomingdales! The fifth floor does not really count, as I believe it is dedicated mainly to offices upstairs. I didn’t really need anything, just browsed and took in all the sites!
We went up to the third floor and there was an Eddie Bauer’s shop just as we got off the escalator. We went inside, Doug looking for a hat. As soon as we stepped inside, there was a sales associate ready to help us. He asked what Doug was looking for and he helped Doug find the right type of hat, waterproof, and the size. Well, actually they had just sold the last correct size, but the sales associate went in the back and found another one for him! He was such a pleasant, helpful man, fairly young, very helpful and not pushy like some can be. He asked if we had any other questions, and pointed us in the right direction. Very pleasant experience.
We then decided to go into China Town. My mission was to find some Korean movies for my daughters. Didn’t work out that way. Oh well. Never could find the shop that sold them.
Going into China Town is like a whole new, or actually old, world. English is not the main language, Chinese dominate the signs, and English is written in very small print. I’m not sure how to describe it, there is so much to see. Going into China Town is a series of uphill, steep, and then down again, so you’re constantly looking up and seeing a myriad of things. We stayed on the main street as when you veer off, it’s easy to get lost, but everywhere you look, there are store fronts. There were bakeries, vendors for T-shirts, trinkets, groceries with dressed birds hanging, postcards, cameras, everything. Of course, being caught up in it, I didn’t think to use my camera. It was fascinating and so much to take in. We didn’t buy anything except some postcards. Please don’t ask what street this was, I don’t honestly remember as Doug was navigating.
It was close to 3:30 or 4, and we were getting hungry. I really wanted Dim Sum, Doug didn’t care but his sugars were getting low. We came to a corner and were deciding what to do and there was a little Chinese girl, very tiny and cute, standing there handing out a coupon where if you buy one, you get the second free, for a restaurant. We were still deep in thought, and before we knew it, she had ushered us into a restaurant. Still not sure how it happened, but she had crooked us in between her little arms and taken us into the lobby of the Chinese Restaurant. Don’t know the name of the restaurant, as the name was displayed in Chinese, and hard to see the English! Remember, SF is built on hills, and so is part of China Town, and this was no exception. Believe me, the Alps had nothing on the stairs to get into the restaurant. We were expecting a little hole in the wall restaurant with not very good food. What a great surprise! It was upstairs with big windows where you could look out and down on the city. The ceilings were inlaid wood and very light with the chandeliers recessed into the ceiling with wood framing them. Very nice, bright and cheerful. And they had Dim Sum! We decided to go light on dinner as I was worried about Doug’s blood sugars, and ordered Dim Sum for 2. They asked what we would like to drink and as neither of us drink, we ordered just water. They looked at us as though we were odd, but still gave us excellent service. We had shrimp, and several delicious little dumplings. Very good food! Of course, the coupon didn’t apply.
After dinner we decided to head back to the hotel. It was close to 5 and the shops were starting to close down. What a nice walk back, downhill. We thought about doing something for the evening but my feet vetoed that idea. We stayed in, and made an early night of it, as tomorrow was our big day!
Delightful Designs 