Land's End and the Sutro Baths

This Sunday Grandma and Grandpa came out from the East Bay to spend the morning with us here in San Francisco.  The weather was simply beyond spectacular.  Nowhere should March fourth be as sunny, mild, gently breezy, and clear as it was yesterday, especially in San Francisco.  My expectations for the rest of the year have, I'm afraid, been ruined.

Following brunch, we took advantage of the clear skies, extending all the way to the coast for once, and made a trip out to Land's End.  Perched on the North-Western tip of the San Francisco peninsula, Land's End offers trails down to beaches, spectacular views of the ocean and the Golden Gate, military history, shaded seclusion, and even reasonable parking.

The view from the parking lot was pretty amazing, but it didn't quite satisfy Mimi. 

She insisted on heading down the massive, cliff-face stairway to the promenade below.  Naturally, she wanted to tackle the stairs herself.  Well, with a little hand-holding, to be sure, but nonetheless, relatively on her own.  It took several weeks, but we eventually made it down.  

Once on the promenade we hooked to the left and headed for the ruins of the Sutro Baths.  Mimi again insisted on making her own way. 

Our hard work was rewarded at the bottom with an amazing view of the inlet to the bay.  You can see the tip of the north tower of the Golden Gate in the distance if you squint. 

Still too short to take in the views on her own, Mimi got a boost from Grandma up to the rail's edge.  Mimi's quite adventurous for her age, but at least she still has a healthy respect for heights.  The sheer drop to the water below brought a little more caution to her exploration.

But once again on terra firma, Mimi wasted no time taking control of the outing.  Here she is determining our next point of interest. 

There's not much left of the Sutro Baths, just some concrete foundations that hint at the grandeur of the former indoor pool and bath house.  This was no rec pool or day spa.  When it opened in 1896, Sutro Baths was the world's largest indoor bathing facility. 

 Encased in glass, it must have been a remarkable sight. 

And the pools... they were so large that lifeguards used rowboats.  Swings and diving board abounded, making entry into the water far more risky, and more fun.  It would've been a swimmer's dream and an liability insurer's nightmare. 

Sadly, the Sutro Baths came to an end in the 1960s.  Closed and partially demolished, then completely razed by fire, it's remarkable just how little remains of what must have been a colossal structure.  Hiking back up from the ruins I was a little saddened that today I highly doubt we could ever build something so grand, so revolutionary, so unique.  At least the ruins are still there to inspire us.  And to wear out Mimi in preparation for a nice, long nap.

Why am I Always the Horse?

Ever since I supposedly became an adult, I've been the one who eventually finds himself on the ground, grass, sand, or floor being pummeled by little hands, elbows, and knees.  I don't know why, but I'm that adult kids tend to identify with and consistently pull from grown-up conversations to sit in a cushion fort or explore the backyard.  This selection invariably results, I'm happy to say, in a lot of fun for me.  The only drawback is the day ends with fresh bruises up and down my body.  And this weekend was no exception. 

Sumie's youngest brother, Genta, was visiting this weekend, so all four Iwasaki siblings were in town for the first time in what seemed years.  Parties, on both Saturday and Sunday, were called for.  Mimi, upon hearing she'd get to spend the entire weekend with her cousins, was excited.  Some might say too excited. 

Saturday found us at Shu and Kayo's place in Palo Alto.  As part of student housing, their apartment backs up to an amazing courtyard crammed with neighbors, all of whom seem to have children.  It was like traveling back to the 50s - gangs of children running through the playground, and in and out of each others homes, with minimal supervision and maximum enjoyment.   Our evening ended with all 6 cousins camped out on the couch.  Mimi, being the only cousin without a sibling, is still a bit protective of her property, as you can see from the picture below.  I hope she'll soon get to the point where 6 month old babies are no longer threatening. 

Genta came back to stay at our place Saturday night.  Early the next morning (well, early for us) we packed into the car and headed for Twin Peaks to show Gen the lay of the land.  San Francisco may be much smaller than NYC, but it sure is a beautiful city. 

By 2:00pm, everyone was back together, this time at our place.  Kae and Eddie brought some fantastic dim sum and kids and parents alike gathered round the coffee and kid's tables in the living room for the feast. 

With everyone completely stuffed, and the weather unseasonably warm and sunny, we all headed outside.   Having a usable backyard in a city is a fantastic luxury, especially when you have kids.  Where else can you water the children without making a mess? 

By the time we came back inside the kids were ready to rough-house.  Quite tired from my adventures outside, I made the fatal mistake of lying down on the living room floor.  By the time I got up, there were four children perched atop my back. 

 Here's a bit of video of the carnage:

Despite a slipped disc or two, I was still in working order by the end of the party.  Our last guest left around 9:00.  That was 7 hours in our little house with 6 kids.  I, for one, was exhausted, but very thankful that Mimi got to spend the weekend with her cousins and that the four Iwasaki children had some time together again.

I really don't think these moments could've happened if we hadn't left New York.  At least not nearly so often.  Despite missing NYC from time to time, knowing Mimi is growing closer to her cousins, aunts, and uncles day by day makes it all worthwhile.  Now we just need to get all the grandparents together!