San Francisco - Still Beautiful
I got the opportunity to see San Francisco for the second time in my life last April around this time of year. My Fiance and I were going out to spend some time with her oldest son who lives in the area. I was so excited because the last time I had been there was when I was in Junior High. Anyone that knows Kat and I very well knows that if there is a city with a history that includes museums and a cemetery we will jump at the chance to get there. The fact that her son knew the area was even better. It was something we were really looking forward to.
I want to preface this by saying that we had heard some horror stories about how dirty and crime-ridden the city had become and that had been on our minds as well. I was hoping that it wasn't going to be something I built up as a wide-eyed teen and it was going to just let me down later. We stuffed that in our expectations as well to temper the excursions so that we wouldn't get too excited. We knew we might just really hate it.
We had plans to be there a few days, and we had shows scheduled as well. One evening, we were to be joined by Kat's youngest son, and soon to be wife, for dinner and a show. I was in Musical Theatre for years, and couldn't be more excited about the fact that we had shows scheduled for each night. I seem to have just mentioned that twice, so you get the picture.
I have to say that the train ride in on the BART was exciting; paired with the nervousness my mind fought with all of those feelings on the way in. I just knew that if we just remained aware we should be fine, and we were. From Santa Clara to San Francisco the ride was like a half-hour each way. There was a lot to see on route. It was just cool experiencing it all.
When we arrived, I found that my excitement far overwhelmed my nervousness. I LOVE BIG CITIES! The experiences over the next three days were better than I had imagined. The pictures you will see reflect a lot of what we did. It was cool to be a tourist somewhere so packed full of cultural diversity and rich history. Colors, and yes, the colorful, were everywhere! Sometimes you had to search for pockets of it, but the beauty of the city was breathtaking. The air wasn't always filled with the most pleasant of aromas, but by and large, the city is still thrilling.
While we were there, we got the opportunity to see Hamilton. I loved the experience. The old theatre was amazing, and the show was beyond any expectation I could have had. I would see that again without question. In addition, we had the opportunity to catch a piece of history about to end. Beach Blanket Babylon closed its doors after the 2019 season. This after an amazing 45-year run! One thing is for sure, they will poke fun at any issue in this musical review. I fully enjoyed it. On the last day in San Francisco, we saw Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. If you know the story it wouldn't be a surprise, but it was a very good show. I enjoyed it.
My San Francisco Collection reflects the city of San Francisco as well as some of the amazing spots we visited. We took in some amazing Museums like The Legion of Honor and de Young Museum. There was an awesome Exhibit featuring Monet that I truly enjoyed. I made reference to him in my last blog post. I find his work fascinating.
Reflected in my collection you will see images of Chinatown. What a beautiful place! The splashes of color everywhere was incredible and there was so much to see and do. Immerse yourself in the fabulous experience.
We went to Pier 39. Many of the photos you will see are from there. I had a delicious bowl of Clam Chowder for lunch and Kat's son and I slurped Fresh Oysters on a half shell. We visited so many cool spots in the area. The majestic naval vessel you will see images of is the SS Jerimiah O'Brian. That was a highlight worth seeing. It is one of two remaining operational Liberty ships and the only one that is unaltered. One of my all-time favorite images I have taken comes from that ship.
David, My Fiance's oldest son, and I got aboard a tour boat that took us beneath the Golden Gate Bridge as well as around Alcatraz. You will see that I made images of the bridge from several locations. The iconic bridge is a reminder of how creative and talented mankind can be. There wasn't a spot where the bridge gets any less magnificent. I also included a shot that features the Bay Bridge; it is also quite the marvel.
This experience was amazing. Did it have its rough spots? It did. Unfortunately, mankind hasn't done a great overall job keeping it clean. However, that isn't a reason to avoid the city. On the contrary, it should be a destination everyone gets to take in at some point. I want to thank David for the amazing guidance throughout San Francisco and it's surrounding area. I am quite fortunate to have a partner in crime like Kat. Every experience it better with her beside me. I am certainly blessed.
Enjoy the images! If you have any questions or comments please feel free to ask them. If you'd prefer to email me privately, please do so. I believe my prices are quite fair in case you see something you like and would like to display it someplace. I love to hear from those looking at my shots. Don't hesitate to get in touch.
- Cheers