Yesterday after 2 Christmas Stamp A Stack classes, we (my husband, our son and I) drove over the Bay Bridge into San Francisco to enjoy some of the Christmas decorations and see the fun and enjoyable Dept. 56 display in the Hyatt Regency. Although we don’t always make it every year, it’s been a tradition for several years. We have our own Dept. 56 "village" and love to get inspired by the one on display in the Hyatt.
As we drove over the Bay Bridge, my husband tried to snap a picture of the Embarcadero Buildings and the Hyatt… not so easy in a moving car at night… but I LOVE THIS PHOTO… HOW COOL IS THIS!?
This is a photo from Google, so you can see the buildings he was trying to photograph, and the bridge we were on in the distance.
Anyway.. I just can’t get over how totally cool that photo came out … like a time lapse!
We parked and walked (a lot!) and had dinner and enjoyed the big pots of Poinsettias and Christmas decorations all over…
My husband knew I could never walk by the flowers without a quick photo (or 8 or 10). {grin}
We saw the ice rink near the Ferry Building… yes.. people in CA have to PAY to go ice skating – and they were waiting in a LONG line to get a chance to skate!! LOL
Here was our best attempt at a photo of the Ferry Building clock tower – beyond the Embarcadero walkway.. hard to get a perfect image at night, but my husband’s attempt came out the best:
And here is my favorite photo of one of the towers.. looking straight up – kinda made us DIZZY! They outline the buildings with lights during December.
Once IN the Hyatt, we were mezmerized by the hanging lights (they hang them from about 18 to 20 stories up inside the atrium). The colored things behind the lights are the elevators inside the atrium.
Then.. finally.. our goal.. the wonderful Dept. 56 village that surrounds this entire sculpture in the middle of the atrium – it’s huge.. hundreds of little houses and accessories:
Some close-ups of the village.. enjoy!
Hope you enjoyed that mini-vacation…. I will be posting the Christmas Stamp A Stack samples tomorrow… so stay tuned!
~ Patty
Hi Patty! How fun! My husband and I honey-mooned at that Hyatt! We love Levy’s bagels across the street from the Hyatt! The best jalapeno bagels with sun-dried tomato spread ever and of course best bagels with lox! It’s been about 8 years since we’ve been there…it was nice to see your pictures…brings back fond memories.
Amazing pics, Patty!! Wow on the Dept. 56 village- beautiful!!
Gorgeous photos Patty! I have been to SF several times but never made it there at Christmas time. TFS
What a memorable way to spend a day with your Hubby and Son. California always looks so beautiful during the ever-sunny days but these shots at night…WOW! What kind of night temperatures do you get in SF, this time of year, Patty? Love the Dept 56 village and your hubby is becoming quite the photographer!
Oh, thank you for the “visit”. I moved out of CA 2 years ago and miss the bay area very much! That was nice to see.
TFS 😉
Hugs,
Joani
Wow! What gorgeous pictures! We’re all the way over on the opposite coast (Maryland), and dealing with rain and freezing rain. It’s not very pretty here now at all!
Thanks for reminding me how beautiful it can get in the winter with all the deocrations!
Debbie
Wow! How lovely! What a treat to see…especially with your family!
Thanks for sharing,
Pam
oh my gosh! I would love to see the Dept 56 villages! What a wonderful get away before the holiday rush!
Sue
Hi Patti, thanks for sharing your pictures!! I collect Dept 56 (snow villages) too and I love seeing other displays. Have a good day!
Hi Patti,
I’m a native San Franciscan so I always love seeing pictures from the Bay Area! I live in Los Angeles now w/hubby and kids so I really miss it up there. My parents still live in SF. Thanks for sharing all your beautiful pictures! The one that your hubby took across the Bay bridge is so cool! I can’t wait to go home!
Thanks,
Melinda
Hi Patty
I was just at the Hyatt this past Sunday thru Tuesday for a “work” conference! The Hyatt was so beautiful-you captured the lights just perfectly! I tried to explain it to someone that didn’t go, it’s really hard to explain how large that hanging light display is! And I think I spent an hour just looking at the village display-amazing. We also stopped by the ice skating, that looked like fun, but as a native Californian I don’t ice skate 🙂 One night we had dinner at “One Market” right across from the Hyatt-absolutely fab if you ever get a chance check it out!
TFS and Happy Holidays!