San Francisco Snaps

I visited San Francisco last weekend with a young person. Both of us had been to SF many times, but never before just to spend the weekend sight-seeing. The first picture I had to take was this SF icon:

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The flag above Castro and Market always chokes me up.



We drove across The Bridge, just to do it and take in the view.



Some of our snaps were conventional:



But it is still possible to see The Bridge in a new way.




We stayed at Hotel Del Sol, which I recommend for its service, price, location, and proximity to the 30 Stockton bus line.

Wimsical art, everywhere.


View of Pacific Heights from Cow Hollow, through the Del Sol palmtrees:



Early on Sunday morning we walked up Telegraph hill to Coit Tower. I must have gone there years ago, but never walked, and never since the murals were restored. They are so wonderful. What a treasure.



My camera battery died just after I took this picture, so the rest are just in my memory. Oh, well here you go. I'll google them for you.



The theme of the murals is Work of all kinds , including the work of robbing businessmen at gun point. I just love realistic, narrative, cartoonish art like this, but then, I like the Bayeaux Tapestry too.

In the evening, we went on a tour of Alkatraz. The audio-tour of the prison is cool and weird, disturbing and fun. This NPS site has several slide shows depicting the different people who lived on the island. If you want to go, buy your tickets on-line ahead of time, and then pick them up at a self-serve kiosk at Pier 41. No need to wait on line. Just remember to bring the credit card you bought them with. And take the bus. Parking the car cost more than one ferry-boat ticket.

We liked Boudin, the sourdough bread cafe, too.
But there is so much more to do. I've never toured the Octagon House, the Conservatory of Flowers, the Columbarium, or gone on the Vampire Tour. And I haven't even begun to explore the history piers.