Where We Stayed Puts The “O(h)” in San Francisco

Given a choice, we shun hotels. Besides being expensive and cosmetically beautiful, they don’t really give us a genuine feeling of being home. We go instead for bed-and-breakfast (B&B), where available and affordable. And that’s what we did in San Francisco.

 
It was my second time in this city where people, as the song goes, leave their hearts. I stayed there for 3 days/2 nights for my first visit way back in 2010. Our 2013 visit was Mayi’s first. We stayed for 7 days/6 nights which we split into 3 days/2 nights in Holiday Inn Fisherman’s Wharf and 5 days/4 nights in Bernalview B&B.

We initially stayed at Holiday Inn because it was just a few blocks from Fisherman’s Wharf where the bus from Emeryville Station of Amtrak dropped us off. Coming from a long train trip starting from New York, we needed an instant home upon arrival in San Francisco. For our 3^rd and subsequent nights, we moved to Bernalview B&B, a 3-level Victorian inspired home occupied by Alan Lessik, a long-time San Francisco resident who spares a room for guests (maximum of 2 adult pax) to rent.

For USD80 per room-per night, there was no reason to complain. It was like home and feels like home with a view of the city in the distance. Alan does his own thing, goes to and comes back from work hardly noticed, practically leaving us alone to do our own thing as well. Except for some chance banters, it was pretty much a “to each his own” affair. 

 

Here's the place.

 

The city is around 40 minutes from here. We walk down

to Mission Street where we hail a bus to take us to

Union Square using our 3-day San Francisco pass(port).

The living room on the 2nd level as we emerge from the

flight of stairs outside. Alan's room is on the 3rd level. 

 

The kitchen - fridge is filled with food. No risk of getting

hungry - steaks, cheeses, milk, ice cream, spreads, etc.

Like most American homes, it's clean as you go.

 

I call this the English garden outside the kitchen.

 

The facade at ground level. 

 

 The doors to our room and the toilet. The bathroom is on
the 3rd level, shared with the owner. He gets to use it first
though because he leaves for the office early in the morning.

 

Alan bought us fresh bananas and peaches. The latter has

become my favorite while in San Francisco. The fresh one, 

which I like better, is less sweet than its canned version. 

The neighborhood - Bernal Heights. We were pretty

much within a living community, not a touristy place. 

 

Having seen this, I told myself that there is no need for me

to visit the painted ladies in Alamo. The neighborhood is

replete with Victorian inspired homes in various colors.  

 

While in Bernal Heights, this has become our favorite dining

place. It has a tale to tell. The ribs are to die for. Corner of

Precita and Mission Streets, a short walk from the B&B.

 

 

 

This is what Mayi grabbed a bite of (above). We go to Baby 

Blues for this. Oh so yummy - a delish yet inexpensive treat.

 

With San Francisco's innate charm and character, a repeat visit is hard to resist. For a change, maybe a December (Christmas) visit sounds exciting. Someday soon.