MONDAY AUGUST 3

MONDAY, AUGUST 3:

      San Francisco!! Where do I start?? Our first day was simply wonderful. We took the ferry from Marin county over late morning, about a 30 minute ride. It was a clear, sunny, beautiful morning and stayed that way all day.

 

               Another ferry passing infamous San Quentin prison, in Marin county:

 

 

 

  Our first glimpses of the Golden Gate Bridge (GGB) and the city skyline were thrilling. Could hardly believe we were really here!

 

                                  

     Disembarked the ferry, and took our time exploring up the Embarcadero, leisurely taking notice of quintessential San Francisco sights: Coit Tower,

 

                                                       

 the F line streetcars,

Alcatraz,

  the sights at Pier 39 (where at ate lunch), especially the Sea Lions,

street performers, and floating island restaurants.

Continued on to Fisherman's Wharf. Alioto's and Fishermen's Grotto are still there – like I faintly remember from more than 40 years ago!

       Then we got off the Embarcadero and threaded our way through some side streets with their iconic San Francisco urban dwellings – and hills! - as we worked our way over and up to Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill.

                                                                   

 

Lots of stairs, but worth it. Fabulous 360 degree views both from the grounds of the classic Art Deco monument

and from inside on the observation deck, reached by a 66-second ride in a vintage elevator.

    
                                                              Bay Bridge to Oakland: 

                                                                  Alcatraz:

                                     A pier on the Embarcadero:

                                                  Transamerica Tower taking center stage:

                                                 

 

                                          Ferry Building against Bay Bridge:

While we were waiting in line for the elevator to the observation deck (about an hour), we enjoyed the fresco murals on the walls of the ground floor. These were done during the 1930's by leading California artists who were all influenced by Mexican muralist Diego Rivera and depicted scenes of the Great Depression, both rural and urban.

      Then, we worked our way down the hill – almost as challenging, and wended our way over a few blocks to colorful North Beach, or Little Italy.

 

      

Where did we hop into for dinner in this Italian neighborhood? A little authentic Mexican place. Delicious food, cheap prices. And huge quantities – took home leftovers.

        The picturesque and dramatic sights didn't stop as dusk started to fall

 

 

 

 

                                                                            

 

and we began making our way back to the ferry building, now lit up like a beacon.

 

A totally stimulating, enchanting day.