San Francisco

The fog and drizzle added to the eeriness of today’s excursion to Alcatraz, the decommissioned island prison. It was cold in the concrete structures and the faulty rain gutters caused water to drip and gather at various spots throughout the tour. I could imagine the somber mood that would have been present here as the prisoners were tortured with glimpses of freedom, only to realize there was no escaping the island. Many tried, but the swim to shore was too daunting.  I was handed an old newspaper article that told the story of one of the many sad, failed attempts. Within the newspaper includes your next crossword puzzle answer. Scroll down for a hint: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . You’ll need to research and find the original article to find the secret password.

Today’s adventures took a detour for the better. I really wanted to see some redwoods, so I headed to Muir Woods. But apparently, so did everyone else. Way too many people! A bride and her monstrous party made it really hard for the rest of us to enjoy the natural setting.  I never even found a parking spot. As I circled the lot like a buzzard, a park ranger let me in on an inside scoop. He said to head over to Armstrong Redwoods Natural Reserve, not far away, but much more accessible and free of tourists.  When I arrived, I quickly found a parking spot and headed to a nearby trail. The redwoods were just as abundant and tall as in Muir Woods, but the silence was golden! This well kept secret provided the perfect opportunity for a stroll among giants, just not many people.  The tallest trees were all cleverly named. As I read my guide, learning about the history of this reserve and the generosity of its namesake family, I discovered the following logical puzz...

The rolling hills of Napa Valley cradle gorgeous vineyards that produce the finest wines! During my visit I was enthralled with the serenity of the valley and toured several different places. In one particular vineyard I was surprised to find a strange illustration that appeared, at first, to be just a jumble of vines. As I looked closer, however, I saw that there was a distinct path that the vines followed and it led me to a solution for the crossword puzzle!

This afternoon I indulged a little (ok, a lot) by going to Ghirardelli Square, the birthplace of America’s greatest chocolate company (IMHO). The smell of chocolate is mesmerizing and any resistance is useless. So, I went for the mother load and ate an entire banana split, all by myself. After my gluttonous deed was done, I had to walk it off.  The shops at Ghirardelli Square are a refreshing collection of local boutiques selling all sorts of handmade and unique items, including jewelry, fine wine and olive oil. But my favorite stop was Sage, an organic cosmetic company who’s products were radiating. The shop’s owner attributed her products’ special properties to a single secret ingredient. Discover the secret ingredient (and the next crossword puzzle answer) by examining Sage’s promotional flier. Scroll down for a hint: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...

Today I ventured into Chinatown! Walking down Grant Street and then into a few side streets and alleys, I sincerely felt like I had traveled to another country. I made my way down Jackson Street and then found the best fortune cookie factory in a side alley. The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory was bustling with activity. I watched a woman folding hot cookies by hand and setting them up to cool. They work so quickly! It was mesmerizing. As I watched, an old man walked up to me expectantly and held out a cookie for me to take. As I took the cookie he gave me a wink and disappeared into the crowd. I enjoyed the cookie and the fortune seemed unique. I wonder what the the lucky numbers on the back are for... Scroll down for a hint: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The numbers on the back of the fortune relate to the fortune on the...

My inner-child ran wild at the Exploratorium science museum today. So many curious displays and contraptions to tinker with. The exhibition about “seeing” was naturally my favorite. The human body is amazing, especially the mind. While exiting the Exploratorium, I wandered through the gift shop (of course). I found a brilliant t-shirt that I just had to have. It illustrates the significance of a unique perspective (and the Exploratorium’s crossword puzzle answer.)

Nothing can beat the views from The Presidio of San Francisco. I was able to see the entire San Francisco Bay out to the ocean and a beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge! The park is sprawling and I was able to visit only a few of the many sites. Many visitors centers, historic sites and works of art are located throughout the area. It served as a military installation for over 200 years and was officially transferred to the National Park Service in 1994. As I walked through the ruins of the East Battery structure, the old concrete walls seemed oppressive yet protective, a very similar feeling to Alcatraz. In one of the barracks, I saw a peculiar sentence etched into one of the doors. At first I dismissed it as graffiti, but I’m certain it contains more than at first glance. It said, “Victor traveled to India with Sierra where they performed a passionate Tango on top of mount Alfa.” Scroll down for a hint: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...

Getting around San Francisco proved to be quite the challenge. Driving in the city is out of the question as traffic is a nightmare wherever you go! So I tried out the public transportation. Having been spoiled in Paris with their Métro system, SF’s Muni was a disappointment. It is much more complicated and not as convenient. I thought biking might be the way to go. The Bay Area Bike Share offers over 700 bikes at 70 stations to promote this growing transportation movement. However, the hilly city is brutal. There must be another option for getting around. Maybe the compass I was given points in the right direction (and crossword puzzle answer). I swear I've seen that eye logo somewhere before... Scroll down for a hint: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Find the eye logo elsewhere in your materials and the compass will lead...

The Haight-Ashbury neighborhood was delightful to visit. I was a bit surprised by all the great restaurants and shopping since I was visiting to explore the site that is so synonymous with the birth of the hippie movement. After grabbing some Thai food, I made my way to Hippie Hill at the Golden Gate Park and listened to the drum circles and admired the sights. An older man with long graying hair and a tie-dyed poncho walked over to me as I strolled along to get my attention. He was wide-eyed and confused. His friends had just given him a logic problem that he was at a loss to solve. “Can you help me?” He asked. “Star and Aspen together have 13 flowers in their hair while Star and Paisley have 15. If Star and Cloud have 12 flowers as does Aspen and Paisley, how many flowers does Cloud have in her hair?” I had to really think this one through!