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We
visited San Francisco during December 2000 in conjunction with visiting
friends in the Monterey-Carmel-Pebble Beach areas. The weather was cold
and overcast much of the time, but we were able to get a FEW photos with
the sun shining! |
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This
photo of the Golden Gate Bridge was taken from the Presidio are while the
skys were mostly overcast. |
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During
an hour or so that we spent in the area around the Golden Gate, the sun
finally broke through and we were able to get a couple of photos of the
bridge showing off it’s “golden color.” |
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Fisherman’s
Wharf was decorated for Christmas and, since this was NOT peak tourist season,
we really enjoyed being able to walk around the area without having to deal
with the hoards of people who would normally be crowding the sidewalks and
shops. |
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I tried
and tried to get Lena to grab ahold of one of these LIVE crabs and hold
it up so that I could get her photo, but...NO WAY! |
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If
a person is into eating seafood, they are not going to get it much fresher
than here at Fisherman’s Wharf. We liked the ‘informal table setting’
style and felt right at home grabbing things with our fingers and stuffing
them into our mouths! |
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Lena
had never had “SOUP IN A LOAF” and thought that the combination
of FRESH clam chowder served inside Parisian sourdough bread was one of
CAPITALISM’s greatest achievements! |
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There
was no wind when we walked by some of the fishing boats tied up near the
wharf and the water was so smooth that the reflections of the boats were
almost like ones seen in a mirror. |
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There
were no lines for a ride in this horse-drawn carriage, but the waiting time
to get on a STREET CAR at the turn-around area (even though there were relatively
few tourists) was in excess of ONE hour. |
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So,
Steve and Lena did NOT ride a street car while we were in the city! |
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Toilets
inside businesses around Fisherman Wharf are restricted to PAYING guests.
Lines for the ONLY Public Toilets in the entire Wharf area were INCREDIBLE.
The delay in gaining access to the public toilets was due to the TRIAL use
of a new concept.....>>>>>> |
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This
is an ‘experimental’ FULLY AUTOMATIC toilet that cleans itself
after each use. You pay your money, the door opens, you enter and ‘do
your thing,’ exit the toilet, the door shuts, and then the toilet automatically
goes into a ‘cleaning cycle.’ Only in San Francisco! |
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We
enjoyed taking a tour of a WWII diesel submarine, USS PAMPANITO 383, that
is tied up near Fisherman’s Wharf. |
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This
photo should dispel any rumors about Americans not allowing RUSSIANS to
go aboard our submarines! |
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This
shot of the fishing boats in the harbor with the San Francisco skyline in
the background gives you a good idea as to the overcast skies we had most
of the time while in the city. |
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Needless
to say, a visit to GHIRARDELLI’s Chocolate (and ICE CREAM) Shop was
essential. This place is definitely NOT for the dietetically inclined! |
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I cannot
believe that we did NOT choose to go into the Ice Cream Shoppe while there
was NO LINE of people standing outside waiting patiently for someone to
leave. |
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Never
was there a truer poster ever printed! And, of course, Steve did NOT need
any encouragement! |
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It
is always interesting to see some of the “different” stuff on
display in the Wharf area. |
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Lena
was particularly impressed when she saw a Russian MATRYOSHKA DOLL shop (complete
with Russian salesclerks)! Of course, the sales prices were about 5 times
those she was used to seeing in Moscow...and the clerks had an American
(“Capitalistic”) ACCENT! |
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In
addition to the Matryoshka dolls, this shop also had a nice selection of
GEL, the famous hand-painted blue and white Russian porcelainware. |
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We
stopped to look at some San Francisco water color paintings by a Chinese
artist who was selling them on the street and ended up buying a couple.
Lena is negotiating prices here with Won Hun Low (or whoever).... |
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Of
course, no visit to San Francisco would be complete without going to see
LOMBARD STREET, the "Most Crooked Street in the world." |
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I asked
Lena if she wanted to drive our car down Lombard just to say that she had
done it, but she preferred I be the “designated driver” for that
trip! |
