A quick trip to San Fran

Heidi writes:

I wanted to post a couple of pictures. Tim visited us this weekend. Jeff got to spend all weekend entertaining him and showing him around the area. I had an RA retreat in Vallejo, so I didn't get to spend time with them until Sunday. From the stories I heard though, it seemed like they had a great time. Yesterday we had our fantasy football draft and then we went to San Francisco and had dinner with a friend of Tim's before dropping him off at the airport. We had a great time. Tim and Jeff found some cool places that I had previously not seen, so we walked by them on our way to dinner in China Town. Here are some pictures from our walk:

Jeff Writes:

above is a picture of the Monte Cristo cafe and the front entrance to the Embarcadero. Turning around 180 degrees you can see the ferry building. There are ferries that come in and out of the pier behind the building all day long. Inside the building there is a market area that is really cool. Lots of trendy little shops and restaurants. Also outside there are farmer's markets and art and crafts shows every now and then.
The below picture is the entrance to the Embarcadero center. You can walk through about 4 or 5 blocks of the city either through the middle at ground level or through the 2nd and 3rd floors where there are many patio areas to sit and each lunch or relax. It is really cool because even when you are inside the air flows through and it is very open. Lots of trendy shops.
Below is a picture from St. Mary's Cathedral in China town...rumor has it that the verse was put on the outside of the building to hopefully catch the eye of a some of the miscreants that spent all night drinking at the bars and spent most of their money on booze and trips to the brothel. Clearly some of the finer San Francisco history and lore.
unfortunately I didn't get any better pictures of China town as we met with a friend of Tim's and walked right on in to dinner. It was awesome to be in the area with someone who actually knew a thing or two about where to go and what was going on. Believe it or not China town can be a little over whelming to the casual tourist. Tim's friend Bill was a great guide. He was also great to talk with, he is working his way through living in pretty much every major city in the US and attending some of the finer Universities a long the way: Boston U, Loyola, Georgetown law and SFU. All I have to say is after he gets his PHD finished I think he is going to make one heck of a professor.
The pictures below are of us standing in front of a fountain between the Embarcadero center and the Ferry Building...the water looked kinda nasty...interesting shade of yellow...but it actually fit really well with the industrial feel of the sculpture.