Hilltops and Cobbled Lanes

Rai, when asked, "why does San Francisco have so many unique neighborhoods?", your Mom and I will always give the same answer: "It's the hills!" San Francisco is not a big city. The Bay and the Ocean limit the city to just 7 by 7 miles but the city's 43 hills throw a natural obstruction in your way at every turn, making it feel like a much larger place.
First, there is the fact that the hills actually increase surface area. Beyond that, however, the hills divide parts of the city that would otherwise be connected allowing, over time, for each to have developed it's own unique culture, look and feel. The hills also create hillside neighborhoods with roads that wind and curve their way up the slopes, homes that perch precariously on stilts, hilltops covered in trees, and creaking, wooden staircases that connect it all. All this wouldn't exist if it weren't for those hills.
In search of hilltop views, secret lanes, and staircases, we set off on foot to walk a hill we rarely visit. Russian Hill is one of the city's more affluent addresses, yet it remains one of the most historic too. Walking, we searched for hints of it's past. The wonderful Macondray Lane is a good example of this. Amongst the congested streets and high rise condos of this neighborhood, this little lane, lush and green, cobbled and boardwalked, is a reminder of what this entire area may once have looked like. Nearby hilltops gave us great views to the west over the Marina and towards the Golden Gate Bridge and to the east towards Telegraph Hill, downtown and the Bay Bridge.
One day, if you've got a little of that 'explorer' in you, Rai, you'll spend hours, days, and weekends exploring as we do. It's walks like this one that remind us of the magic that is San Francisco.