DAY: 4 Last Day in San Francisco

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This morning I took it slow, caught the bus to the most spectacular place in San Francisco, the Palace of Fine Arts! I had never heard of it and was absolutely misled by the name. I thought it was an art gallery. Not so, it turned out. This beautiful, beautiful structure was erected for the Panama-Pacific Exposition of 1915. Like the Eifel Tower, it was only meant to last one year. It lasted a little longer than that and when it started to fall apart, San Franciscans refused to accept it. Money was raised to take it down to its foundations and rebuild it properly with a metal frame and concrete. It looks like something you would have found in ancient Rome. And next to it there is a lovely lake with ducks and fish and turtles and all sorts of birds. I am glad I went early as when I was leaving, the tour busses started showing up. I had a quiet, peaceful hour.

I then hopped on the bus and went to China Town. Well, China Town is China Town. Seen one, seen them all. Lots of cheap stuff, but also some wonderful jade and crystals and large brass statues and figurines. But mainly cheap stuff.

 Had me some lunch and made my way back to put my feet up for a bit and back and get everything sorted for tomorrow. Sometimes you just need to stop and breath. That's me this afternoon, stopping and breathing.

So, this was San Francisco. When I got here I thought: “Meh, just another big city, dirty and too many people. And it is chilly, windy and expensive. And there are so many homeless people on the streets!" Then I learned about the 7.8 earthquake of 1906 and the fire that destroyed most of the city, and I went to Alcatraz and I though: "It sure has an interesting history!" (And the people speak English in a way that is easy to understand, which is a plus.) And then I did the bridge walk, Sausalito and the Haight and I am in love, I think....

 Wouldn’t want to live here and doubt it will go back on the bucket list, but it’s been great! I enjoyed being here and will be leaving with fond memories. 

My bag is packed for tomorrow so I can get going nice and early as I need to be at the bus station at 8:30 for the 9am departure to Los Angeles. It is an 8 hour bus ride. Should be good though. Paid for a seat upstairs right in the front. A seat with a view!

Ka kite ano arohanui mai from San Francisco!

PS: Don’t know if I will be able to blog tomorrow night…. 


                                                             The Palace of Fine Arts
By King of Hearts - Own work (none of my photos did it justice)

The gate to China Town






Some random photos from around San Francisco

The Transamerica Pyramid

An Asian street light, a Methodist church
and a modern office block all in one picture!






City Hall: The gold is supposedly real 23.5 carat gold leaf 

Check out the steep street! 







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