Before we knew it, we were arriving at the last stop on our LA to the Bay Contiki trip – San Francisco.

I was so happy to have spent the last week and a half travelling with Sophie again, but it was reaching the end of the trip, and I was missing home.

But there was still a whole day’s worth of fun to be had before getting on a plane!

When we finally got off the bus in San Francisco, it was at Fisherman’s Wharf. A large touristy area with a ton of restaurants, souvenir shops, and gorgeous ocean views along the pier.

Sometimes you can be overwhelmed with all of the things going on around you – what to do next! – that you completely forget you haven’t eaten all day, and it’s time to deal with that.

So I did the smart thing and Sophie and I sat down for lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. I know it’s a worldwide chain, but there’s something about the Hard Rock Cafe that’s very American.

It’s hard to remember to sit down and take a break sometimes, especially when you’re surrounded by new and exciting places. I always have trouble reminding myself to take a break and take care of my body while travelling. But it’s something I’ve been getting better at.

*Enjoying the sunshine on Pier 39 (August 2023)*

After eating, we took a stroll around the pier. A bustling centre for buying the last of our souvenirs from this adventure – and a shop with so many flavours of salt water taffy, I could hardly believe it.

At one end of the pier, there were large groups of people staring off the dock into the sea and smiling, laughing, taking photos. We wondered what was going on, so we poked our heads in.

Once we nudged our way to the front of the crowd, I’m so glad we took the time to stop.

Seals! So many seals just lounging on the docks. It was incredible to watch them lazing around, and every once in a while, one of them would roll back into the water. So cute.

Then it was time to get back on the bus and head to our hotel to get changed for the evening.

Our last night together would be spent on a small boat that would take us around the harbour near Alcatraz and underneath the Golden Gate bridge (so cool) followed by dinner in the iconic San Fran Chinatown.

*Boat ride around Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge (August 2023)*

I’m so glad that we brought sweaters along on the boat, because it was chilly. I always forget how cold the temperatures can get on the water in the evening, when it was so warm only moments before on land.

It was such a nice, relaxing way to end the day.

Another fun fact: I feel the need to share is that the Golden Gate Bridge is often not visible through the thick fog that hangs around the shore.

So even driving directly underneath the bridge, we could barely see it! The bridge in the photo above is not the Golden Gate.

Instagram vs. reality is always an interesting phenomenon that I aim to be transparent about. You can take a nice photo. You can edit a nice photo. But the moments around that photo are much more telling about your travel experiences.

Once we were back on dry land, we went to Hunan House for a late dinner. By the time we were sitting and downing as much Chinese food as we could get our hands on, I was ready.

At some point near the end of every trip, it happens. I’m ready to come home.

I’m exhausted, I miss my partner, I want to be back in my own bed. It happens.

So the next morning, I woke up having had packed the night before, and said my goodbyes to Sophie. I was sad to be saying goodbye to my travel buddy, but I was excited to be on a plane back home.