San Francisco, USA

 A day in San Francisco - 23/05/2006

With only one day to spend in San Francisco, I and a couple of friends, tried to see as much as we could.
It was enough to fall in love with this beautiful city, and it still places number one in my heart when it comes to places in the United States.

FISHERMAN'S WHARF

One of the must-visit spots in San Francisco, Fisherman's Wharf is a waterfront marketplace, with a bustling atmosphere, packed with family-friendly entertainment, lots of restaurants (famous for fresh seafood, especially crabs) and souvenir shops.


And of course, you can't miss Pier 39, where a community of sea lions has taken residence.
It all started shortly after the earthquake of 1989 with a few Californian sea lions hauling out on Pier 39. By the begining of 1990, they started arriving in droves and completely took over the K-Dock of Pier 39. After a lot of debate and research, the experts from the Marine Mammal Center recommended that the sea lions stay in their newfound home.

  Sea Lions at K-Dock, Pier 39

Beautifully packed stands with fresh fruits

CHINATOWN

A city within a city, Chinatown is vibrant with exotic shops, restaurants, food markets, temples, small museums... A great place to shop for herbal remedies, silks, teas, antiques and a lot more.


It's one of the oldest Chinatowns in the United States and serves as a testament to the enduring immigrant spirit and cultural diversity that defines the city.


Dragon's Gate is the iconic entry to Chinatown at Grant Avenue and Bush Street, a green-roofed gate adorned with two dragons and little red lanterns. It also feautures two grand lion statues, who should guard the district and chase away evil spirits.

LOMBARD STREET

Dubbed the “Crookedest Street in the World,” this famous zig-zag street is located in the Russian Hill neighborhood and is world-renowned for its steep one-block section with eight hairpin turns.

View from Lombard Street

The sharp, winding curves of Lombard Street take you through historical and high-end neighborhoods lined with beautiful, colorful flowers.A taxi ride down this street was a great way to experience it. I'm sure I would have reached the bottom faster if I walked, but that wasn't the point!

CABLE CARS

Cable cars are part of San Francisco's identity.  They've been transporting people around San Francisco since the 19th century.
They run on tracks and are moved by an underground cable. Their familiar bells can be heard ringing from blocks away.

ALCATRAZ ISLAND

Alcatraz was the site of the first lighthouse in the Western United States but became a federal penitentiary from 1934 until its closure by Robert Kennedy in 1963.

The strong currents around the island and cold water temperatures made escape nearly impossible, and the prison became one of the most notorious in American history.

It housed famous convicts such as Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly.
Located only 2 kms from Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz is now one of the city's most popular touristic attractions.

GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE

Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks of San Francisco and you can cross it by car, bike or walk, but it's probably best seen from the water.
I personally passed under this bridge on the top of a massive cruise ship, where I could see it quite close and from different angles.

A bit about its history, the Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate in California to link San Francisco with the Marin county to the north.
Upon its completion in 1937, it was the tallest and longest suspension bridge in the world.
The main span, 1280 meters long, is suspended from two cables hung from towers 227 meters high and at midpoint, the road is 81 meters above high water.

The bridge was supposed to be painted in stripes of blue and yellow to increase visibility, but when the steel was primed in a burnt red hue, it was decided that the color was quite visible and more pleasant to the eye.

LORI'S DINER

A stop at Lori's Diner in Union Square, for a quick bite was like stepping back into the 50's.

An authentic 50's diner with great decor, red sparkling booths and a full size Ford Edsel car from 1959 parked inside the dining room.

San Francisco from the sea