Monday, January 27, 2020

Jan 25-26 San Francisco

First time visiting San Francisco via cruise ship.  We've been here many times by plane/auto, so we were looking forward to the sail in through the Golden Gate.  Thanks to the miracle of modern technology we were able to determine our passage under the Golden Gate Bridge.  The fog was so thick you couldn't see the bridge until directly underneath.  I was following along on the GPS map and looked up just as we went underneath, and this was it.

 The fog was lessening as we pulled into the bay.  However, Photoshop has sharpened the pictures somewhat beyond what our eyes were seeing.
 We docked almost directly below Telegraph Hill
 Alcatraz shrouded in fog
 After dinner we walked down to Fisherman's Wharf, about a mile and half.


 Cynthia never did have an Irish coffee, even though we passed the Buena Vista several times over the two days.  (Cynthia not woman enough to have Irish coffee at 9 am!)



After a good night's sleep -- all that exercise -- we awoke to a bright and sunny day.  We walked from Pier 27 towards thr tourist areas...
 ...and boarded a cable car on the Powell-Mason line.  This line, a couple of blocks away from Fisherman's Wharf, is much less crowded than the Hyde-Beach station.  Of course, this early on a Sunday morning, there weren't any other people about.  In fact, we had the cable car to ourselves going downtown.


 On arriving at Market street, we got in line for the next cable car heading to Hyde-Beach.  We were first in line, and a group of tourists came up shortly to fill out the car.
 The tour guide directed a couple of his guidees into the standing positions right in front of Cynthia and me.  I think they were Chinese (not from Corona infected areas, I hope) and were fascinated with what must have been their first visit to San Francisco.  Especially with Chinatown as we passed through it.
 Union Square
 Lombard Street -- can't see the curves from the cable car atop Russian Hill.
 Going down Hyde towards Beach, with Alcatraz in the bay
 We walked west from Hyde street through the Maritime Park to Fort Mason, up and over the hill, and onto the Marina.

 Palace of Fine Arts

 Street art
 There was a Farmer's Market on Fort Mason with lots of locals and their dogs buying the weeks produce.
 Sunday morning exercise.
 One of the beautiful painted ladies that front the marina

 Someone from 1968 who never left
 After lunch at In-N-Out Burger and dessert at Ghirardelli, we returned for the life boat drill and sail out.  Much better weather than the sail in, although it was COLD.  Even on Sunny Sunday we were wearing our arctic wear and not regretting it.

 Out through the Golden Gate to begin an Around the World circuit that will return here on July 4.


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