Most people who visit San Francisco take a cable car or a trolly (also known as a street car) which has an electric motor attached to an overhead wire. Unlike a trolley, a cable car is pulled up the hill by a cable. San Fran has both. The cable car is the most famous of the two. The Bielicki family jumped on one back in 1968. My father thought it was a great thrill. He was from Philadelphia when that city had trolleys.
There is plenty to do in San Francisco. At least four days worth of activities, if not more. This expose is our record of several sojourns to this city by the bay.
Kathie and I were in San Francisco in 2017 flying from Las Vegas. From the air, we could actually see Bridal Falls in Yosemite.
The airport is south of San Francisco. On a clear day, you can actually see the city.
We actually purchased BART train cards months before our visit. It takes about 35 minutes to reach downtown from the airport. We used UBER to get to our Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf hotel.
There are a number of fine hotels around the city. We focused our attention to the Fisherman’s Wharf area. Our room was extremely comfortable, but a bit pricy.
The foyer of the hotel had a “Elton John” statue advertising the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in the area.
There is a courtyard with a pool. Even though it was cool, people were swimming. As Mark Twain once said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”
One of the reasons NOT to have a car in a large city is the cost of parking. In 2017, at this Hyatt, it was $59 dollars—ouch!
There are 45 Piers in the San Fran Wharf area. From Pier 39 down to Pier 1 is known as “The Embarcadero.” Pier 39 is extremely busy and a tad chaotic.
In 2003, there were plenty of seals. They have come and gone since then.
We came across one of Robert Wyland’s 100 murals. It was a trip to California when he was but 14 when Wyland saw several Grey Whales. He has been inspired ever since to draw and sculpture whales. The one at Pier 39 was Wyland’s 61st mural.
We happen to see Robert Wyland drawing in Key Largo in 2007. It was his 95th mural and he was drawing manatees and dolphins.
We did go to the Bubba Gump restaurant back in 2003 when the love for Forrest Gump was at its height. I may have met the man himself?
In 2017, we went to the popular Fog Harbor Fish House. We could not pass on the Clam chowder as it was known to be a winner.
How do we know it was a winner? It was on the menu!
I did like Fog Harbors mussels in cream sauce. It reminded me of us being in France and having “Moules a la Normande.”
Near Pier 35 is the iconic “Fisherman’s Wharf” sign.
The area centers in the North Beach district where Italian fishing immigrants feed the growing San Fran population—mostly with Dungeness crab.
The famous Alcatraz tour starts at Pier 33. Hornblower Cruises–the same company that operates the boats at Niagara Falls—will ferry you 15 minutes to this rather small island.
It is highly recommended to get your tickets months in advance on-line. Although, we did meet a family that was able to snag tickets a few hours before their tour.
When Alcatraz was first discovered by the Spanish, it was noted that the island served as a “bird colony.” The birds are still there.
Alcatraz used to be a Civil War fort. The 100 or so canons never did fire. It did become a Civil War prison. In 1933, Alcatraz became a Federal Penitentiary.
Al Capone, the famous Chicago gangster, was imprisoned at Alcatraz. After serving 11 years for tax evasion, he was released after showing signs of Neurosyphilis that he acquired from his Chicago days. Al was afraid to take a prescription needle. He later died of cardiac arrest.
The sojourn out to Alcatraz, indeed, is well worth the time and money. Operated now by the National Park Service, the cost and transportation are reasonable.
The National Park Service gives tours throughout the day. Our guide, Keven Kannengeiser, talked about the prison inmates on our tour.
On a bright summer’s day, you will not be alone taking the tour.
Most of the prison is still intact. However, fire did destroy part of the prison like the Officers Club and the Warden’s home.
If you needed assistance walking up the hill, there was “free” service.
The prison cells are quite evident though. An audio guide can be had to inform you of what went on in this prison. It is not hard to imagine people sitting for years in this place.
The prison closed in 1963. Sea water erosion and the $10 cost per day for prisoners was too much to bear. Normally, the cost was only $3 dollars.
The closing of the penitentiary was also partially due to the 1962 escape of three men. The fast-moving currents and cold water basically deterred escapees. 36 men tried, all but five that were captured are believed to have died from the elements.
In 1969, the Prison was occupied for 18 months by Sioux Indians. They were protesting their rights to the island. Their occupation can still be seen.
Alcatraz has played an important part in our popular culture. “The Book of Eli,” “The Last Stand,” and “The Birdman of Alcatraz” come to mind.
Walking from Pier 45 to Pier 1 is almost 2 miles. There is a trolley that will take you from one end to the other. We walked all the time in 2017. By walking you may encounter people doing unusual things like driving a “jacked-up car.”
We noticed from Pier 41 ferries leaving for Sausalito. It is an interesting community across the bay. We later drove there for several hours.
In 2003, Kathie and I saw the Japanese ship “Nippon Maru.” We saw it in the open sea in Northern California and it was, indeed, impressive. Today, it is permanently docked in Yokohama Harbor in Japan.
I liked Pier 1 down by the Oakland Bridge. There is a large sculpture known as “Cupid’s Span.”
Like most cities, San Francisco has its share of interesting pieces of art work.
In Pier 1, also known as the Ferry Building, is a large farmers market on certain days. Mostly it acts like a foodie hall.
I savored dipping homemade bread into the clams in cream at Hog’ Island Oyster Company.
Not too far from Pier 1 is the Levi Strauss main office.
If you go inside there is a small informative and free museum.
If you follow the steps up Telegraph Hill in Pioneer Park, you will find the 1933 Coit Tower.
Named after its benefactor, Lillie Hitchcock Coit, the 210-foot tower stands above the area with majestic views of the bay and San Francisco.
There is usually a line inside waiting for the elevator. It is hard not to notice the fresco murals about American Social Realism that was done by 25 artists back during the Great Depression.
We happen to meet a beautiful couple from Chile who saved their pennies and did budget travel to the max to make it to San Francisco.
In 2017, outside of Coit Tower, was a statue of Christopher Columbus. This large bronze statue was erected in 1957. I was well aware of the controversies surrounding Columbus and was surprised to see it standing. Sure enough, it was taken down in June of 2020. The picture I have of this statue, could be considered “historic” now.
In the center of the city on “Russian Hill” is the famous Lombard Street. It is known as “the crookedest street in the world” as there are 8 hairpin turns. About 2 million people visit this street yearly and nearly 17,000 people on a nice summer’s day.
If you walk up on the left side of the street there are only 253 steps; the right side has 249 steps.
There are a number of flower gardens, mostly 2000 blue and purple hydrangeas.
On the same street, just down further, Kathie noticed parrots in the trees. Someone let out these Peruvian/Bolivian cherry-headed Conures. These “wild parrots” number about 400 today in San Francisco. Importing exotic birds has been illegal since 1992.
We did enjoy taking the North Beach “free” Walking tour in 2017 sponsored by the San Francisco Library system. Even a dog was allowed to come with us!
The tour started at the Saint Peter’s and Paul Church.
The church did display an album showing the famous Yankees baseball player, Joe DiMaggio, being married to Dorothy Arnold in this church back in 1939. This great baseball player was from the area.
Joe was known as ‘Joltin’ Joe and “The Yankee Clipper.” His greatest claim to fame in his 13-year Yankee career was a 56-game hitting streak back in the early 1940s—a record that still stands. There was no mention of Joe and Marilyn Monroe.
The tour did take us down to the edge of Chinatown. This is the largest community–about 24 blocks–of Chinese citizens outside of mainland China.
In 1968, my mom was “hankering” for some delicious “Chow Mein.” We went into a fairly large and busy Chinese restaurant. Maybe due to translation errors, what was served was my first taste of “Lo Mein.” I have been a fan ever since.
Being in downtown, Kathie and I in 2017 decided to “play it safe” and eat at a Cheesecake Factory located on the eighth floor of Macy’s. We got to peruse each floor going up the escalator. This Macy’s is definitely fancy.
We waited for an outside patio table that over looked Union Square.
Unfortunately, I did not ask for a table along the railing. We noticed two young people not enjoying the views.
Back in 2007, fellow volleyball coaches, Barry & Julie Sikorski, introduced me to a café known as “Buena Vista” which is near Pier 45. This establishment is known for their particular “Irish Coffee.”
In 2008, Buena Vista set the mark for the largest Irish Coffee in the world via Guinness World Records.
Not far is the famous Ghirardelli Square. Like Disney Springs, one can receive a small piece of “free chocolate” from Ghirardelli’s famous store.
The Sikorski’s and I were attending the 2007 NCAA Division One National Volleyball championship being held in Sacramento—less than 2 hours away. Penn State won the championship that year under Russ Rose.
The Sikorski’s invited me to go with them into San Francisco for the day. It was a great treat and fond memories. Barry did have a phobia. Barry could not walk along the railing of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The 1937 Gold Gate Bridge is one of the most photographed bridges in the world. It is well over 200 feet high with its towers going over 700 feet.
Only 34 people have survived jumping off the bridge. Well over 1500 people have committed suicide. There are phones close by to help you decide differently. A 20-foot net expanding from the bridge is to be completed by 2023.
12 miles north of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge is the famous “Muir Woods” National Monument. 240 acres of old growth coast redwoods—Sequoias—are protected. You will not find the General Sherman tree here, but it does make an interesting day getting out of a busy city.
San Francisco is known for its park system. In 2003, Kathie and I came across the 1903 “Dutch Windmill.” It was actually used for irrigation.
Our favorite museum is just north of the Golden Gate Park known as the “Legion of Honor.” I was awed at looking at Konstantin Makousky’s painting of “The Russian Bride Attire.” The painting makes you feel that you’re actually watching them get ready for this 17th century wedding.
People in San Francisco like to keep themselves fit as evidence of this race.
Right before going into the Golden Gate Park is the famous “Haight-Ashbury” district. This area became a symbol of the Vietnam protest movement in the late 1960’s.
San Francisco is an iconic American city. Songs, movies and history has made this city special. There is something unique about the “Golden Gate City” or just “San Fran.”
I would like to dedicated this expose to Gene Cervelli who lived on 33rd Avenue in San Fran. H and I happen to meet by chance in the city of Salzburg, Austria in June of 1977. Gene was in Europe to see a fellow friend become a Cardinal. We became roommates for 3 nights and even attended an Opera together where Gene proceeded to sleep! He has since passed on—RIP my friend.
