Saturday, May 20, 2017

2017 CROSS-COUNTRY ROAD TRIP - 4-28-17 - SAN FRANCISCO - PART 2



Friday, April 28th, 2017
 San Francisco - Part 2

Moving on from the Aquarium we didn't go very far before wanting to get a photo of this wonderful crab topiary in front of Pier 39.  It was created by Jeff Brees who specializes in topiaries, using different varieties of moss and living plants.  

  
I saw succulents all over the crab's body, very cool!


A nice couple came by and offered to take our photo.  We returned the favor for them.


There was a bronze sculpture nearby that I loved, called "Guardians of the Gate" by Miles Metzger.  It shows a male and female seal with their pup, and I stayed for a while studying it. Fabulous! 


Here's another one of us after a very nice tourist asked if we would like him to take our photo.  People are very kind.  Behind us is the Hard Rock Cafe.  No we didn't go inside.  We were too busy looking at the sites, and also heading to Fisherman's Wharf.


Couldn't have said it better myself.



We did, however, stop at Ben and Jerry's for a waffle cone.  It cooled us down on this hot day.


I sat on a wall and enjoyed people watching.  There was a bicycle rental next to me and the operators would bring their customers around the corner to give some helpful hints and instructions on riding their bikes.  I heard all nationalities.  I also enjoyed looking at the flowers while I waited for Gregg.


I didn't speak up loud enough when I told Gregg I was going to sit on the wall, and found an empty space just out of site.  It was pretty noisy and the line took a long time.  He wondered around a bit with his two fisted waffle cones, and thankfully I popped my head up and gave him a wave before the ice-cream melted all over his hands. We both sat on the wall and enjoyed our treat.  The  pigeons were ever hopeful as they stared at us, while also scurrying around for waffle cone crumbs that others had dropped.  


This is a picture of the Old Port Gate.  I could find nothing more online apart from other photos, no history and I searched extensively.  I even asked Gregg if he could find something, but neither of us had any luck.  Maybe one of my blogging friends knows something that can be shared.


It is all boarded off and looks in need of serious restoration.  Hopefully this is in the plan.


We made our way to Fisherman's Wharf.  We passed several street performers.  There were also a few people with signs asking for money; one woman sitting on the ground, hers read, "Money for weed.  Why lie?"  That works, maybe?  Just as there are in many cities you see the homeless, and it looked like people were giving what they could.    

It has been many years since I came to the Wharf, and I only remember the one time - my memory is a wee bit fuzzy.  I thought I remembered seals here but of course I was wrong on that.  They were back at Pier 39.  


We didn't get any further than one particular boat and it grabbed my attention.  Two men, the captain of a boat out of sight below street level, and his first mate, were selling tickets for a ride around the bay.  Gregg looked down and politely declined.  I on the other hand said we should go.  Yes I surprised him. 


We had never taken a boat ride around the bay and this one time I was eager to get on that boat.  Gregg wasn't sure I could make it down the vertical ladder onto its deck, and it was a small boat compared to the ones we have taken in the past.  I said quite gleefully, no problem!  

With instructions from the first mate I began to climb down, backwards - there were about seven or eight rungs, felt like more.  Gregg was a tad nervous telling me to be real careful, having dealt with my klutzy nature for all these years, but I assured him I would be fine and I held on as if my life depended on it.  

At the bottom the first mate said now just take it one step at a time, this as I miscalculated and missed the last step.  Grabbing on tight I stretched my leg out as far as I could and neatly touched down, just as though I meant to do that.  "Or you can do it that way" said the first mate.  I didn't look at Gregg because I suspected he was rolling his eyes.  He made his way down too.  



We were the first people on the boat and waited for about half an hour before others bought their tickets.  Our seat was prime and we had the overhang that cast good shade. 


  
It didn't seem too long before Captain Jim and First Mate Anthony were casting off the Nautilus, and we were on our way....  


and I have to admit the old theme tune of Gilligan's Island popped into my head as we headed into the bay, and I mean that in the most positive way as I loved that show. This was not a six hour tour and would only last one hour.



I have decided it would be better to make this trip into a three part post, and the boat ride will be in my next one.  It will be the third and final instalment of our day out in San Francisco.





48 comments:

  1. wow and wow again on that crab. amazing to me.. ad it made me smile..

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  2. Great pics. So glad that you guys had someone take your pics! I love looking at pics of Calif. flowers cause I am so amazed that they have plants we don't have in TN.

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    1. Thanks Pam! There always seems to be someone offering to take a photo and we never miss an opportunity, and always return the favor. Part of the enjoyment for me is looking at the flowers we don't see in Virginia.

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  3. Hello Denise!:) Great atmosphere in your shots, and I love the two sculptures of the crab and the seals. Enjoy your weekend!:)

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    1. Hello Breathtaking, thank you, so happy you enjoyed my post. Enjoy your weekend too :)

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  4. Hello, I love the crab sculpture. Very cool. The flowers are beautiful. San Francisco is a beautiful city. Loved the photos, happy weekend!

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    1. Thank you Eileen, it is certainly a beautiful city. Happy weekend to you :)

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  5. What wonderful pictures you took!! I think the giant succulent crab is the most spectacular. Oh my, the picture of both of you,,,it looks like the crab is just about to pinch and attack you!!! But the seals...I love how they are sculpted so smoothly, just like seals really are! Your beautiful blue flower is a Bachelor's Button. The Port Gate really does need repair, so sad it has all crumbled like this. so now you are not only adventurous, but brave!! I am a super klutz, and have busted my foot twice this month and am wearing a orthopedic boot. So never in a million years could I do this. But you managed so well!!! Hurray!! I am so much enjoying your adventures! Now, on to the boat ride!

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    1. Hi Ginny, he was an impressive sculpture. We could have fun with that photo couldn't we? I'm glad you enjoyed this post, makes me very happy. As for being brave? Well...Gregg might have another adjective, lol! I am very sorry to hear you hurt your foot, I knew we had a lot in common, lol! Heal quickly my friend :)

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  6. can't wait for the next installments, thanks for sharing, I was here a long time ago, time to go back!

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    1. Thank you Christine, you made me happy. Thank you for sharing that.

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  7. Hopefully some good will come for that Gate. The seal sculpture's my favourite of these.

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    1. I hope so William. The seal sculpture was really beautiful.

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  8. Oh my gosh! You are both the trip of a lifetime. I love all your photos! Thank you so much for sharing them with us.

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    1. Thanks Kay and you are so very welcome. I feel very lucky we were able to do this trip and I loved this one in San Francisco particularly. It is a fun and great city with so much going on. I look forward to visiting again one day.

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  9. This is the THIRD time, I have tried to comment here. TWICE, I have written my comment, and tried to Preview it. And they both Disappeared.

    So I will just Publish this. And if it shows, I will try my comment, again.

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    1. I never have a problem LC though I never preview before I publish them. Thankful that this one got through.

      Please remember that it sometimes takes me a couple of days to get back to my computer and publish comments. Not sure this is the case but I have published at least one of yours today, which was left either yesterday or maybe the day before.

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  10. OK, here goes.... Will not try to Preview it, this time....
    ..................................................

    Is that the area, where Kate Steinle was murdered???

    Murdered by an illegal alien...

    Who had seven felonies to his credit...

    and had been deported back to Mexico five times....

    but was still sheltered by the "sanctuary city" of San Francisco?????

    I personally would not step foot, into that city, or spend one red cent, there.<---My view.

    Luna Crone

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    1. I remember hearing about this on the news last year. I just looked it up and read all the details and did not realize it was near where we were walking. Sadly, this happened at Pier 9, a ten minute walk to the right as you are looking at Pier 39.

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  11. Hi Both, another interesting post, love the crab, some great images of your day out and about and the start of your boat trip, even if you tripped in the boat!!. All the best John

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    1. Hi John, it was so much fun. All the best from both of us :) Denise and Gregg

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  12. Hi Denise, It is so kind of you to take us along on your fun-filled journey! When I read this: "I sat on a wall and enjoyed people watching" I thought "yep - that is exactly what I like to do" Of course, I say I am just resting....LOL Take care, Jackie

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    1. You are very welcome Jacqueline. I 'rest' a lot when people watching, lol! Take care too, Denise :)

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  13. I love your great journey and nice photos

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  14. Denise, I certainly feel after reading this post and seeing the photos that I have taken a tour of Fisherman's Wharf with you and Gregg. Good thing he found you before that ice cream completely melted down. And, as for boarding the boat and going down those stairs, I would have been careful as well because I can be quite klutsy at times.

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    1. Hi Beatrice, glad you enjoyed the tour :) In years passed I remember climbing Jacob's ladders up the side of ships, and a vertical ladder up to the top of a shopping mall building. This seemed quite tame in comparison. However, at this stage of my life, was just as challenging ;)

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  15. Love that seal sculpture and am looking forward to your cruise.

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  16. I enjoyed your photos. Good that you got your ice cream cone in time before it started oozing down Gregg's hands.

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    1. Thanks Gigi, Gregg was my hero. He said he would save my ice-cream from melting by eating it, lol!

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  17. I love that crab, Denise! And I enjoy seeing the places you go as well as your personal photos. You are so photogenic! I hope you are having a great weekend. :)

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    1. Sweet of you to say Linda, I am very happy you are enjoying my posts. I am having a restful weekend which is very welcome. I hope you are having a great weekend also:)

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  18. An enjoyable read, Denise, though I felt a bit nervous when you went down the steps backwards - I would have needed to see where I was putting my feet! Yes, I know backwards is the only way - nevertheless.....

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  19. Beautiful city! And you two are enjoying it so much and sharing the greatness from your stops.

    Loved the bronze statue so much!!!!!

    Thanks Denise, for stopping by and saying hello at I'd Rather B Birdin yesterday.

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    1. Thank you Anni and I enjoyed visiting. Glad you enjoyed my post :)

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  20. Lovely series of pictures, Denise! So interesting aspects, the crab, flowers, different things seen by you! Lovely travel, indeed! Have a sunny Sunday and new week ahead!

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    1. Thank you Alexa :) Thank you for the sentiments also, I wish you the same :))

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  21. San Francisco is a great place to visit. We went on our honeymoon decades ago. Good for you for taking the boat tour.

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    1. I agree and it would make a great honeymoon city. Thank you, I sometimes surprise myself :)

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  22. Fabulous posts of San Francisco trip! Wonderful!

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  23. Another fabulous post.
    Just love the sculptures of the crab and the seals...

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thanks again Jan :) All the best to you too. Denise

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