Let’s go to (part 2)

That headline above reminded me that in my previous list of musical hits relating to all of the famous San Francisco songs, I completely forgot about a UK Band called the “Flower Pot Men”.

They released a single in 1967 titled “Let’s go to San Francisco (part 1)”. Now, guess what the B side was? Yes, you’re probably stuck on this one, so it was “Let’s go to San Francisco (part 2)”.

I am sure that you will agree that they were extremely inventive in those days of psychedelic pop! But, what an era it was.

Enough nostalgia – time for more things to do and an extremely short history of the city:

San Francisco is the financial and cultural hub of the larger San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland metropolitan area, with a population of 8.4 million.

It is the 14th most populous city in the United States.

San Francisco (Spanish for "Saint Francis") was founded in 1776, when colonists from Spain established a fort at the Golden Gate and a mission named for St. Francis of Assisi a few miles away. The Gold Rush of 1849 brought rapid growth, making it the largest city on the West Coast at the time.

After three-quarters of the city was destroyed by the 1906 earthquake and fire, San Francisco was quickly rebuilt. During World War II, it was the port of embarkation for service members shipping out to the Pacific Theater. After the war, the confluence of returning servicemen, massive immigration, liberalizing attitudes, and other factors led to the Summer of Love and the Gay Rights movement, cementing San Francisco as a center of liberal activism in the United States.

Today, San Francisco is ranked 44th of the top tourist destinations in the world, and was the 6th most visited in the United States.

The city is renowned for its cool summers, fog, steep rolling hills, eclectic mix of architecture, and landmarks including the , cable cars, the former prison on , and its Chinatown district. It is also a primary banking and finance center.

Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf

http://www.pier39.com/

PIER 39 is a great place you have to visit or you will NOT have "done" San Francisco. Whatever you want to do (keep it clean, boys), you can find it here; shop, play games, bar hop, watch "wild life" and even see some animals. The sea lions are an attraction of their own.

But, will it get your “seal” of approval though?

Sorry, had to get that one in – ARF, ARF, ARF

There is also great view of Alcatraz Island from here and this is a wonderful photo opportunity place. It is recommended that you bring a jacket with you as it can get quite windy and, therefore, cold. Try to come in the middle of the day to avoid the early morning and late evening fog that SF is famous for - the locals call it their very own free Air Conditioning. There are also some very high end jewelry stores here for that special charm from SF and there are quite a number of great restaurants in close proximity also. Pier 45, the “Quieter” Wharf

At Pier 45, the fishing industry is still alive, although smaller than in its glory days. San Francisco's longest pier is also home to historic ships and the incomparable Musee Mecanique with its collection of antique penny-arcade machines, nickelodeons and pinball games (you need to bring loads of Quarters). Past the serene Fishermen's and Seamen's Memorial Chapel, you can stroll to the pier's end and enjoy a Before exploring Pier 45, check out the historic Ferry Arch at Pier 43 - a strange-looking Beaux-Arts structure with ancient tracks running out toward the water. Ferries filled with railroad cars once docked here. The cars, carrying lumber, dairy products, animals and grain, rolled off the ferries onto the Belt Railroad tracks, and from there to points around the city. The arch is currently being renovated.

On the east side of Pier 45 are two fully restored historic vessels: the Pampanito, a World War II submarine, and the SS Jeremiah O'Brien, a salty World War II Liberty ship that made a historic trip back to Normandy in 1994, 50 years after D-Day. If the Jeremiah O'Brien isn't there when you visit, it's probably cruising the bay. Both ships are movie stars: the Pampanito in "Down Periscope" and the Jeremiah O'Brien in "Titanic." When moviegoers watched dramatic scenes of the Titanic's engine grinding into reverse after the ship hit an iceberg, that was the Jeremiah O'Brien's engine, and the ship's pounding and clanking won the movie its Best Sound and Best Sound-Effects Editing Oscars. Tours of both vessels are available for modest fees.

If you are a , then take the trouble to walk a few short blocks west to:

Ghirardelli Square The Ghirardelli Company is a US division of Swiss confectioner Lindt & Sprüngli. The company was founded by, and is named after, the Italian Domenico Ghirardelli, who, after working in South America, moved to California. The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company was incorporated in 1852, and is the second-oldest chocolate company in the United States. http://chocolate.ghirardelli.com/chocolate/San-Francisco

Ghirardelli Square, considered the first successful adaptive reuse project in the country, has a history that spans more than a century and covers three continents. This specialty retail and dining complex, housing shops and restaurants, was originally a chocolate factory established by Domenico “Domingo” Ghirardelli.

In the 1960s the chocolate manufacturing operation was sold and transferred. A group of San Franciscans, fearing Ghirardelli Square might be demolished, purchased the property. Unique shops and restaurants were created within the old factory, combining the latest in retailing and fine cuisine with the flavor of old San Francisco. The project officially opened on November 29, 1964.

Today, Ghirardelli delights visitors with its lively retail mix, while maintaining Ghirardelli’s tradition as a trendsetter for the rest of the world. In 1982 the owners applied for and were granted National Historic Register status, a move that ensured the preservation of Ghirardelli Square for future generations. Nob Hill

Nob Hill is one of San Francisco's signature neighborhoods, renowned for its city landmarks and the famous hotels that border Huntington Park. The area is also influenced by the diverse personalities of the downtown neighborhoods that surround it.

The area's reputation of privilege dates back to Gold Rush times, when cable car lines made the hilltop accessible and the railroad barons and bonanza kings built their mansions there, far above the rowdiness of the bawdy waterfront.

Luxury hotels now stand in the place of those original palaces, and when you hike to the top of the hill, historic buildings such as the Fairmont Hotel and the Flood Mansion are undeniably impressive, as are the cascades of bougainvillea and the apartment buildings with their wedding-cake facades.

Venture away from Huntington Square and the terrain starts to change. Chinese temples and small businesses spill over from Chinatown, and over towards Union Square you find upscale boutiques. Funky shops and dive bars lie along the blurred edges of the Tenderloin (an area known as the Tender Nob), and the Polk Street boundary is lined with nightclubs and popular bars.

Some parts of the neighborhood feel frozen in time. The hill is dotted with vintage barber shops, old corner coffee shops and cocktail lounges from bygone decades. Nob Hill has also been home to some iconic San Francisco characters. Legendary columnist Herb Caen lived in the Brocklebank building, across from the Fairmont Hotel, and the neighborhood is currently home to Marian and Vivian Brown, the famous "San Francisco twins," known for their signature identical outfits.

It can be difficult to distinguish the precise boundaries of the Nob Hill neighborhood. This guide covers an area roughly bordered by Polk, Post, Mason and Washington Streets..