San Francisco, etc

San Francisco, open your golden gate
You'll let nobody wait outside your door
San Francisco, here is your wanderin' one
Saying I'll wander no more.

We just completed a fun family trip to San Francisco. We spent two days playing tour guide and showing off the sights of one of the prettiest cities in the US.

We have lived here for much of our lives and yet always find something new and interesting to photo.







We saw a lot of the City, but our adventure started in the Haight. This is the Haight-Ashbury section of SF, magnet to the hippies in the 60's. Lots to say about the Haight, and one of its best websites is here.







I was never a big fan of the Haight area; too many normal people trying too hard to show you how odd they are. The truly unique people, it seems to me, wouldn't be hanging around this over-commercialized community.











I have to admit that my visit to the Haight was probably my favorite part of the San Francisco trip. Although it tries too hard to play up its colorful past, it is fun being there. It is vibrant and has great shops, bars, restaurants, and record stores.

It reminds me of South Street in Philadelphia with it's energy, music shops, taverns, and young people.











And, there is always something interesting to see, especially the Victorians that line the streets.





And finally, there are many famous landmarks in the Haight that take one back to more youthful times. This place, founded in 1967, was one of the first of its kind and saw lots of action - mostly drug overdoses and venereal disease. Today, the clinic has two doctors and five nurses, and treats over 5,400 people a year.





Out of the Haight and off to Fisherman's Wharf, one of the most famous tourist places in the world. The Wharf is also not without its critics. This site explains why. But like everything else, its lively.





The Wharf is an extremely popular tourist spot for people from all over the world. I think that it is the best "people-watching" place on Earth.





For many, it seems to represent the "real" San Francisco, maybe in the same way that the Statue of Liberty represents (for some) the "real" New York.
These Japanese tourists were wonderful. They dressed up in their outfits and ordered crab and clam chowder on the Wharf. They sat near the Fisherman's Wharf sign, the center of the action. I love their hats.





Near Fisherman's Wharf is Pier 39, a pier that is filled with tourist shops, eateries, ice cream shops, and speciality stores. Years ago, a colony of sea lions took over the boat slips and established a breeding ground. These noisy mammals bark, fight, mate, and generally entertain the tourists. The sea lions have become as popular as anything else in the City.

Of course, feeding the pigeons is a favorite pastime of visitors. No one can resist tossing a piece of french bread to our avian friends that hang around the area.



Of course, what SF visit wouldn't include a shot of the world's most famous prison? Little known fact: In 1859 the Post on Alcatraces (Alcatraz Island) was garrisoned by the Army as the first U.S. fort on the West Coast. At its peak there were over 110 cannons mounted on the island. Now you know..

And since I'm on a roll here, here's Coit Tower from the Wharf side. Coit Tower used to be the tallest building in the City. Not no mo'. I always get a kick out of this monument to the SF firemen from Lillie Coit. In 1939, the SF Chronicle did a great story on this very interesting woman.



Off to Golden Gate Park. There are many, many things to see in this wonderful park including the big windmill near Ocean Beach. This windmill has never been operating in the 25 years I've been watching it. This Dutch Windmill was built in 1902, at a cost of $16,000, together with a Dutch Cottage alongside which was occupied by the mill's caretaker. It is 75 feet high, and 33 feet in diameter at the base.



One of the most well-known landmarks in the world is the Golden Gate Bridge. I've been in this spot many times and never tire of it. This is one cool bridge.



Among my favorite times was the New Year's Day First Run. About 300 people would gather at the bridge on Jan. 1 and run across it (and back) at 8am! They had champagne and cake at the finish line. Just what you wanted after running three and a half miles at the crack of dawn.



I've seen many bridges (as have you), but this one has always seemed special to me.



What's across the bridge? The first thing that you arrive at is the other end. The view looks south to the City and County of San Francisco. At the north end of the bridge is the lone sailor memorial, a 7-foot Bronze Statue located at the northern end of the Bridge, at Vista Point. During the evening, the memorial is illuminated. The plaque at the entrance reads "Here the sailor feels the first long roll of the sea, the beginning of the endless horizon that leads to the far Pacific." Two million bucks to build this memorial. Yep, two million clams.

Continuing north, you arrive in Sausalito, a cute (former) artist's community in Marin County. Everything about Sausalito is nice: the weather, the water, the houses, and the shops.



I like Scoma's, a bar and restaurant on the water. Nothing fancy, but it always works. I like that they painted it blue.



..and they make pretty good Cosmopolitans. Learn how to make them here.


Our visit to San Francisco included Clement St. Chinatown, Golden Gate Bridge, Haight-Ashbury, Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Park, and Ocean Beach.

Never being a fan of this politically correct city, I am always lulled by it's beauty. And, who parks a blue car in front of their blue house? Perfectly San Francisco.