Golden Gate Bridge and Giraffes

Nick was out late so he sleeps in, while I reorganize my suitcases, and Matt leaves to work on vows with Jamie over breakfast. Once Nick wakes up, we take a very long cab ride to the Golden Gate Bridge. We considered walking it but 8 KM one-way seemed like too much to ask this morning. So we snap some photos in front of the bridge (which is uncooperatively half concealed in clouds) while our cabbie waited, then we hopped back in and were driven way back across town to the piers by Fisherman's Wharf. This is where the America's Cup sailing races are happening today. So we stroll up and inquire where to view the races and learn that they finished 2 hours ago! We had been misinformed the day prior when we asked en route to the ball game. So instead we went in this video dome to watch a promo video about the races that gives a good history and touches on specifics of the boats. Sort of cool. Got our photos with the cup, which we lean is the oldest trophy in international sports. Grab food truck food with the last of our cash at the number 6 ranked food truck in the country. Delicious spring rolls and tacos. We start walking back to the hotel. On the way we come across Coit Tower, which is a massive stone column on the top of a tall hill. The view of the city and the bay from here are spectacular. Running pretty low on time now, we hustle back to the hotel to iron our formal clothes that have been sitting in the bottom of our suitcases for the better part of a month now. Get everything looking presentable (ourselves included) and take another pricey cab ride, this time to the San Francisco Zoo, where Jamie and Carissa's wedding is taking place.

We put our wedding gift inside of a rolling cooler, which we then wrapped in animal-themed wrapping paper and had to pull a long ways from the gate to the actual spot where the ceremony was taking place. Once we got there we saw that we were also the only ones that 1) brought a large gift, and 2) brought the gift to the wedding. Faux pas. Alas, the ceremony went off without a hitch; Matt performed well in his role as minister, and the self-written vows of the bride and groom were awesome. Behind them as they recited their vows were a variety of horned beasts, storks, and zebras. Fittingly, the groom and groomsmen all wore matching zebra pattern ties and belts that really popped.  Once the ceremony wrapped up, we all headed to the boardwalk overlooking the lemur exhibit for hot appetizers and an OPEN BAR. Then, in groups of 15, we were taken to the giraffe exhibit and got to feed them bananas and lettuce. Very cool looking creatures up close. After a couple hours of appies and drinks (in the freezing cold!) we all headed back to the groom's parents' rented house for more drinks and chicken still leftover from Friday. Once everyone has their fill, we a head of in cabs back to Union Square. Nick and a couple of the groomsmen go in search of some bars, while myself and Matt call it a night.