Such a lovely report! Thanks so much for sharing!

<<<We cut our losses and got back on the bus to Union Square and I never did ride a cable car on this trip.>>>

Next time, try the California Street line. The line "uphill" is never long, and even at the starting point outside the Hyatt Regency, you never have to wait more than one car's worth.

I had never heard of Katana-ya, until we passed by recently around 5:30 p.m. on a warm Saturday, and the line was HUGE! I'll have to try it sometime, but "off-hours".