Financial District, Nob Hill, Grace Cathedral and the Fairmont Hotel

 

The impressive stairway and dome of City Hall, San Francisco

Zeotrope Studios in the foreground. The Transamerica Pyramid can be seen in the distance.

A mansion on Nob Hill; resident of one of the wealthiest railroad moguls.

The Mark Hopkins luxury hotel on Nob Hill.

Apartments of the rich and famous.

Th historic Brocklebank Apartments seen in Hitchcock's film Vertigo and featured in the novels of Armistead Maupin.

Grace Cathedral, Nob Hill. The choir in rehearsal.

The artist in residence has suspended 40 km of coloured ribbons from the vaulted ceilings. The ribbons reflect the light from the stained glass windows giving a beautiful display.

 

The famous Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. The hotel of choice for presidents, royalty and others of note.

Scenes from the lobby.

One of the many bars. A trough at the base had flowing water to wash away the cig butts and other detritus. The sound of gurgling water would have made me visit the bathroom more than usual.

The rooftop patio for cocktails on balmy nights.

Hotel staff busily setting the tables for Mark's farewell dinner. SF will miss him.

 

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San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge, Park, DeJong Museum and North Beach

THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE:

Great day exploring the bridge and environs. Even more spectacular up close.

A view from Fort Point, a building still standing from the Civil War. Famous location shot for one of Hitchcocks most famous film, albeit with star absent.

This shot includes a star of some note.

The sea under the bridge is a popular surfing spot. Pleasant time watching the boys "hang ten".

My first encounter with a native American animal (excluding the Folsom St Fair and previous trips). Ferocious and predatory and similar to that seen in Namibia and Botswana.

DE JONG MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS:

Stumbling on this was a great surprise. Located in Golden Gate Park the design is modern and the building surface is clad with unprotected copper which is perforated and textured to give the impression of light through a tree canopy. The copper is taking on a patina which makes the building blend even more with the surrounding gardens.

The entrance has a stunning mural created by the artist Gerhard Richter. The mural shows strontium titrate molecules pulsating under the electron microscope. The pulsating molecules cause a blur and its disorienting to look at. I want this or something similar for my condominium.

The highlight was this exhibition. Unfortunately no photographs were allowed. Stunning jewelry and other pieces made of diamonds, sapphires, gems, silver, gold and lapis lazari. A multi-millon dollar display of Bvlgari pieces including those that once belonged to Elizabeth Taylor and other celebrities.

Conventional art elsewhere in the gallery but also modern and ...

...uncoventional like this coffin in the form of a cocoa pod. I want to be interred in this.

 

GOLDEN GATE PARK AND THE NATIONAL AIDS MEMORIAL GROVE:

The memorial grove is a moving dedication to victims, surviors, friends and families. A quiet reflective place.

"Circle of Friends. Lives Touched by AIDS. Donors to the Grove. Those who have died. Those who loved them".

A memorial stone, amongst many, with this one in memorial to those who worked in the pornography industry.

For goodness sake Uri, chop down some of those trees on your property and put them to some use.

 

NORTH BEACH DISTRICT:

This is the "Little Italy" of SF. Packed with restaurant, coffee bars and delicatessens.

I sat in the sun and drank coffee and ate baked almond croissants. I drank coffee out of "soup" bowls and was told this was a common occurrence in Italy. Is that right Pietro?

You can store the body, park the car, arrange the funeral and withdraw money to pay for it, at this establishment. The Green Street Mortuary also arranges a music procession to accompany the coffin throught the streets. Sometimes musicians from the San Francisco Symphony orchestra help out (I'm not joking).

A focal point of the area is Washington Park and the statue of Benjamin Franklin. When it was erected the plinth had water coming out of the base to discourage homeless men and other riff raff from consuming alcohol in the vicinity. As you can see, it has not worked for this man. The Church of Saints Peter and Paul is nicknamed the "marzipan church" by locals due to its resemblance to a cake. Sorry don't get it. Marilyn Munro and Joe DiMaggio posed on its steps after their civil marriage ceremony at city hall just to give the impression it was all legitimate (just abit of trivial for you).

 

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San Francisco

 

The Willows Bed and Breakfast Inn, 17th St, Castro. Typical city terrace building with ready access to asian takeway.

The famous Castro Theatre and the return of the B grade horror flilms - The House of Wax and the Creature from the Black Lagoon (but in 3D).

Daniel Libeskind's design for the Contemporary Jewish Musem. The modern design contrasts to the other half of the building which is a renovated red brick building that was once a power station.

 

Shows the highly reflective surface and 'night blue' colouration to Libeskind's "cube".

Trolley car on the way to Fisherman's Wharf. Tourists queued for miles.

The new Westfield Shopping Mall; kitsch and pseudo-Italianate in design.

The contrasting skyline of San Francisco; modern versus the old.

 

THE MISSION DISTRICT

A great walk is along Dolores St and the more wealthy area of the Mission district. In addition to churches and parks, the area has some of the oldest and best preserved buildings in the city.

The Mission (foreground) and Mission Dolores Bascilica. The Mission is the oldest building in San Francisco and was built in 1791. The Bascilica was rebuilt following the Great Fire of 1906.

The stately victorian terrace homes and apartments lining Dolores St.

A close up view of one of the homes showing the ornate decoration. Beautiful shades of blue and white paintwork.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Panoramic view of the city skyline from an advantage point at Dolores Park. Families enjoying the sunshine on the Sunday.

Further vista of the city and park.

Stately mansions along Liberty St, all different in style and all well preserved. A closer view of the "yellow" house.

Paul and Pietro's alternating "coloured and plain" tile step design.

Ornate window decorations, tastefully painted woodwork and overgrown gardens.

Said to be one of the most beautiful homes of the era at the corner of 21st and Guerrero Streets (#900). Three different perspectives shown above.

A further view of neighbouring homes along Hill St. These "stick-style" Victorian homes were built in the 1870's and 1880's.

The gingerbread cottage Casa Ciele (which means "stay-here" in Spanish).

Elaborate topiary and espalier forms a natural "fence" to this home in the Mission district.

 

FOLSOM STREET (LEATHER AND BONDAGE) STREET FAIR:

Once a year, the Folsom Street Fair kicks off and is well attended by locals and visitors alike. Most of the images shown are self explanatory

Classes and workshops in bondage and submission. And how to tie knots.

Sexy lesbians including this specimen dressed in leather.

 

HAIGHT-ASHBURY DISTRICT:

The intersection of Haight and Ashbury Streets is ground zero for the hippy and flower children of the 60's. Home to Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead and Jimmy Hendrix, amongst others, the area is dedicated to the counter revolution. If you cannot buy the music, retro clothes or ''bongs' you need then you are hard to please.

Anyone for an electric guitar, Jimmy Hendricks style?

 

ALAMO SQUARE:

Not far from the Haight-Ashbury District is Alamo Square. A beautiful park lined by different coloured buildings. Perched high on a hill, the skyline of the financial district can be seen in the distance (on a fog free day that is).

Just to prove I was actually there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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