Sightseeing in San Francisco, Part II
Chinatown, the Wharf, Around Town
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There's just so much stuff to do in the city, that we barely scratched the surface. We hit most of the popular locations, and only covered about a third of the city in a week. One could probably spend a few days just exploring what Golden Gate Park alone has to offer.

Apart from downtown (Union Square, Civic Center, and the Financial District), the wharf, and Chinatown, popular neighborhoods include North Beach (heavily Italian influenced), the Mission District, the Castro, SOMA (South of Market), Russian Hill, and Cow Hollow (Union Street area).

We hope to return to the city and take another bucket-load of film to help complete the collection.

The Chinatown gate, at Bush and Grant Streets.

Another "artsier" view of the Grant Street gate.

Theresa does her "tourist pose" with one of the gate's fu dogs.

A view up Grant street. Grant is lined on both sides with eateries, antique stores, tourist traps, Chinese markets, and specialty stores. Most of the businesses patronized by the locals are on Stockton Street, one block west. Grant's shops are geared more toward the tourist population, although a few good restaurants can be found there.

This is the corner of Grant and Sacramento. To the right is the "Floating Sushi Boat Restaurant." Cute idea, and not too expensive, but the sushi's not the best. The Victorian architecture common to San Francisco has been adapted again to incorporate Chinese elements, particularly via the addition of balconies and pagodas on upper-floor temples.

One of the local businessmen has translated Theresa's name into Chinese characters and is carving them into an agate stamp.

Along the Embarcadero and Market Street, the "F" rail line runs. The line uses restored PCC (President's Conference Committee - a depression era project) street cars, gathered from old SF stock and Philadephia's old streetcar system. The PCC design was used in cities all over the US, and the F-line cars are painted in their livery colors. This is car 1059, restored to the Boston Elevated Railway's colors. There's even a yellow-and-grey Baltimore Transit Co. car.

This is Hyde Street, as seen from the Maritime Museum pier. Hyde has one of the steepest grades in the city - 20%. Riding a cable car on this street is like a slow-motion rollercoaster.

Hyde Street from the reverse angle, headed down toward the Wharf and the Bay. Click on the picture for an enlarged version. The view coming over the top of Russian Hill is incredible, and the photos just don't do it justice.

The "Balclutha" is one of the ships on display at the Maritime Pier. This open-air museum exhibits ships and materials from San Francisco's maritime industry, from large sailed vessels to steam-powered ships, tugs, and small yachts.

Here's another view of the Balclutha's masts and rigging.

Rob adopts the tourist-photo pose on the railing at Pier 39.

Sea lions catch some quality snooze time. Despite the fact that these buggers stink to high heavens, plenty of tourists flock to see 'em. Suggestion: try to stay upwind, if possible.

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