Walking by the history of San Francisco, in eight sections.
Mural by Mona Caron
July 6th, 2017
Category: Chrono
San Francisco is… taking the best wedding photos
The three most renowned photographer assistants in the whole of Fisherman’s Wharf, Glaukus, Icarus & Rufus, working as a team. Today, they help with a wedding photo session.
Okay guys, are you ready…?
Glaukus: ”Hold her hand… Perfect…” *click*
Icarus: “Now, look at each other…” *click-click*
Rufus: “Pose… Great…!” *click*
Glaukus: ”Hey, mate… MATE!” “Where d’ya think you’re goin? Come back ‘ere, you’re not done yet…!
How to take great wedding photos @ The Embarcadero, Pier 39
July 5th, 2017
San Francisco is… doing the Seagull Dance
In a exclusive performance brought to you by Icarus, live from the spectacular Pier 41.
*Round of applause*
Thank you ladies & gentlemen, hope to see you again soon in one of our shows! And with a flap, a swish and a whoosh, Icarus flew away.
July 5th, 2017
San Francisco is… a walk at Pier 39
Starting with a fair warning!
Meeting Glaukus, Le Poseur →↓
Paparazzi are not welcome →↓
If warnings and crowds do not scare you off, chances are you’ll make it to the other end of the pier where, depending on the season, you may be able to observe sea lions relaxing on their floats. Usually, there are hundreds of them, but in June and July most head south to breeding grounds on the Channel Islands, although a handful of lazybones, do remain. 
Walking along the Embarcadero, from Pier 39 to Fisherman’s Wharf and the Maritime Museum, then back to where we started, at the City Hall. Across the street, the Davies Symphony Hall was beginning to glow.
July 5th, 2017
San Francisco is… taking (the) steps
There are many ways to reach Coit Tower on top of Telegraph Hill. You can take the bus, your car or get on your feet for some excellent aerobic exercise – whatever works best. But the most scenic of all, must be ”The Steps”. There are numerous steps on different sides and levels of the hill, leading to the tower; the views here, are from The Greenwich Steps.
Another perspective of Coit Tower and the neighbourhood surrounding the hill. How amazing would it be to live there, don’t you find? Although, a bit of an ordeal when it’s your turn for that last-minute shopping…
Greenwich Steps
July 5th, 2017
San Francisco is… Coit Tower & The Views
So what if the line went round and round, forming a complete circle at the base of the tower. There was so much to see during the hour we waited to reach the lift that, for once, I didn’t feel the pain. For the entire ground floor is adorned with floor to ceiling murals painted in 1934 by a group of artists employed by the Public Works of Art Project, a precursor to the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
They depict life in California during the Depression, with emphasis on the theme of industry and commerce and distinctive touches of leftist political ideas, clearly evident; like on Bernard Zakheim’s “Library” which depicts fellow artist John Langley Howard reaching for a copy of Karl Marx’s ”Das Kapital” (spelled here ”Das Capital”). Touches one is familiar with in Europe, but rather unusual in the States. Perhaps it is true, after all, San Francisco may well be a very European city.
The Tower & details the Murals
Industries of California
Ralph Stackpole
Industries of California
Ralph Stackpole
Newsgathering
Suzanne Scheuer
Library
Bernard B. Zakheim
City Life
Victor Arnautoff
City Life
Victor Arnautoff
Scientist-Inventor
Mallette Harold Dean
City Life
Victor Arnautoff
City Life
Victor Arnautoff
Banking and Law
George Harris
California
Maxine Albro
The (360°) views
You can buy tickets on-line in advance and skip the lines. But where is the fun in that?
July 5th, 2017
San Francisco is… apparently very European
Beautiful, romantic, stunning, cool, surprising… people used many different adjectives to describe the city when I asked around, ahead of the trip. But the one remark on -almost- everyone’s lips was that San Francisco is ”the most European of all Californian cities”. How true was that?
After only one day, my European antennae were tickled by some of the Pacific Heights mansions, the Italian trams and vintage cable cars, the shifts in temperature and clouds. But these were just a few highlights, my first impressions. What is San Francisco really like?
A walk Downtown and the adjacent, city-within-a-city, Chinatown will help us find out. By the way, the Chinese population of San Francisco represents the single largest ethnic group with 21,4% of the population, concentrated mostly in Chinatown (source). One of the many faces of San Francisco, the least ”European” one of all. 
July 5th, 2017
San Francisco is… history on wheels
My persistent feeling of déjà vu, when I first saw these museums on wheels rolling up and down the roads of San Francisco, increased tenfold once we boarded one; I was sure I’d been there before. It didn’t take long to notice familiar touches: the beautiful wooden details, the elegant curves, the Italian signs… and that’s when I remembered.
It was on a trip to Milan in Italy, a lifetime ago, that I had first boarded an identical streetcar (or tram to us, Europeans). I remember distinctly standing behind the driver, fascinated by the mere fact that the steering wheel and brake lever, which seemed to have time-travelled from the roaring 1920s, actually still worked. Little did I know that, thirty years later, I would ride again on one of these gems – in San Francisco, of all places. For this street car happened to be one of the fleet of Italian cars acquired from Milan, specifically for the F Line. For all I know, it could have been the same one.
The ”Milan” tram in colour ⇒⇓
PCC streetcars are painted in honour of the many cities that operated them.
No. 1076 commemorates Washington D.C. ⇒⇓
And, finally, the iconic cable cars. Although part of the city’s public transport system, they are always packed with tourists, which seem to render them a no-go zone for locals, at least during peak hours. ⇒⇓
July 6th, 2017
San Francisco is… three weddings in the City Hall
And that’s only the ones we witnessed during the time we spend in the City Hall – just over an hour. Looking at the vast open space of the central rotunda with the grand staircase, I’m not surprised they are on a tight schedule. Who wouldn’t want to get married under this magnificent dome! Marilyn Monroe and Joe Di Maggio did it in 1954. A number of gay couples were finally able to wed in 2004 when Gavin Newsom, then mayor of the city, made history by issuing same sex marriage licences. On the day we visited, the rotunda echoed with cheers. It was a happy day. 
Completely destroyed in the Great Earthquake of 1906, reconstruction began in 1913 and the new building was ready in 1915, in good time for the World’s Fair of the same year. Designed by architect Arthur Brown, Jr. in the Beaux-Arts style, it suffered severe damages yet again, when struck by another earthquake in 1989. Repairs and reinforcements were completed ten years later, making the building earthquake proof. I’m just glad we didn’t have to find out how resistant the structure has become.
July 5th, 2017
San Francisco is… Bullitt!
We watched Bullitt in preparation of the trip, just a few days before departure, so I was very excited to have spotted one of the filming locations very close to Alamo Square where we were staying. A brief 35 minute walk via Divisadero St. and its rather wonderful mansions, or 1.6 miles according to my web map. What could be easier? Well, walking 35 minutes uptown hilly Manhattan, that’s what. For I still had to get to grips with the steepest streets I had ever encountered in a city, the very same that sent the cars flying in ”one of the most exciting car chases in film history” (skip to 3:15 and buckle up).
We did make it, with a few extra huffs and puffs, to the gorgeous mansion atop the hill, where police detective Lieutenant Frank Bullitt (Steve McQueen) meets District Attorney Walter Chalmers (Robert Vaughn) at a reception at Chalmer’s residence.
A break for some extra cheesy pizza to treat ourselves, because what comes up must come down… and then all the way up again.
Walking towards the mansion in the corner of Divisadero St. & Vallejo St., down to Lombard St. at Cow Hollow for a pizza and then back to Alamo Square Park to watch the 4th of July fireworks.
July 4th, 2017
The Humble Fabulist 