10 May 2016

San Francisco – a ramble through the Mission, Noe Valley, the Castro, Fisherman's Wharf, the Marina and Little Italy: 10 May 2016

                          Click on an image to view the full-size photograph
A beautifully renovated 19th Century House. The building is now being used as a four-unit apartment building. 


The map shows the path of the ramble. The route consists of five different activities:  
1. A walking segment in the Mission District, Noe Valley, and the Castro District. 
2. Then, a streetcar segment when we took an F-Market Streetcar from its terminus in the Castro District to its terminus at Fisherman's Wharf. 
3. Next up, another walking section as we walked from Fisherman's Wharf to the Marina District
4. Then a quick bus ride on a 30-Stockton MUNI bus from the Marina District to the Little Italy/Chinatown area. 
5. Finally, we walked to the Montgomery Street BART Station in the Financial District for the walk's conclusion. 

The total approximate miles traveled was 15.4 miles. Approximately 7.5 miles of the 15.4 miles were traversed either on the streetcar or the bus. Thus, we walked about 7.9 miles (12.7 kilometers). The cumulative elevation gain was approximately 1,100 feet (335 meters). 
After we had exited BART at the Mission-16th Street stop, we headed directly to the intersection of 18th Street and Guerrero Street, the location of Tartine Bakery. We consumed delicious pastry, drank some hot coffee, and were then ready to tackle our upcoming adventure.
Here is a downtown San Francisco skyline scene as seen from Mission Dolores Park. The park encompasses nearly 16 acres, and it is a favorite destination among San Francisco's many parks. 
During 1906 and 1907, the park served as temporary housing quarters for more than 1600 families made homeless by the 1906 earthquake. The camp ceased operation in 1908. 
In the late 1800s, part of the park was a Jewish cemetery. Available land in San Francisco is finite. Public housing and the necessarily associated structures became scarce as the population increased. The City of San Francisco eventually banned all new burials within the city limits. Some years later, the city required all cemeteries to cease operation. Human remains of more than 100,000 people were removed and transported to Colma, California where they were reburied. 
Other than Mission Dolores Park, the vast majority of the former SF cemeteries, located mainly in the Richmond District, are now sited with houses, apartments, stores, and schools.
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, a pediatrician and philanthropist, purchased a house in the Upper Mission District in 2012 for 10 million dollars. The building, hidden from the sidewalk, is challenging to view from the street. Here is a picture of the house taken from the sidewalk. From what I understand, the couple is still living in Palo Alto. 
We are cranking up 21st Street and heading for Sanchez Street. When we reach Sanchez Street, we will drop down to 24th Street, which is the main shopping area of the Noe Valley District. Then we turn up on Castro Street and ramble through the Castro District. This view is from Sanchez Street, looking north down Church Street. 
The Davies Campus of the California Pacific Medical Center, as seen from Corona Heights Park
Here is another view from Corona Heights Park. In 1899 George and Harry Gray established a rock quarry and brick factory in what is now known as Corona Heights Park. The brothers were not known to be ethical businesspeople, and in 1914 George Gray was murdered by a former employee who was owed $17.50 in back wages. The massive earthen scars from the rock quarry/brick factory are visible. 
A view of the iconic Castro TheaterPatty Duke is the current featured Hollywood movie star as she appears in "The Miracle Worker" and "Valley of the Dolls." She died a few weeks ago at the age of 69, and the theater is featuring her movies as a tribute to her talents. 
 Roger is standing in front of Market Street Railway streetcar #1052. It was constructed in 1948 by the St. Louis Car Company. The streetcar will soon begin its trip to Fisherman's Wharf. We will board this streetcar and travel approximately 5 miles to the terminus of the F-Market route. We will then continue with our walk and go to the Marina District. 
Our streetcar driver is having a short conversation with the driver of Streetcar #1080, which is right behind us. 
We are on the streetcar rolling down Market Street as we pass the San Francisco Mint. 
We are still rolling down Market Street. Here is a picture of the intersection of Market Street & 5th Street. 
A view of the beautiful, eye-catching Sentinel Building, located on Kearney Street at Columbus Avenue near Jackson Square. Construction of the building started in 1906, before the earthquake. The building had its first occupants in 1907. The Sentinel Building is San Francisco Landmark #33. The current owner of the building is Francis Ford Coppola, the father of Sofia Coppola, the well-regarded movie director. 
This photo shows the iconic Transamerica Pyramid Building. Construction commenced in 1969, and the building was ready for occupancy in 1972. 

---------------------
"A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera.” Dorothea Lange 

"Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important." Henri Carter-Bresson

"There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer." Ansel Adams

"The important thing is not the camera but the eye." Alfred Eisenstaedt

The first volume of the San Francisco Bay Area Photo Blog contains galleries of photographs posted on the Internet between 2002 and 2011. Click Here to view those photos.

 These photographs were taken with a Sony camera.

Question or comment? I may be reached at neil@mishalov.com.

30 April 2016

San Francisco – from the Outer Sunset District to the Financial District: 30 April 2016

I decided to walk through San Francisco on Saturday. I started the ramble in the Sunset District and headed north along Ocean Beach. Then it was up to Sutro Heights to visit the site of Adolph Sutro's Mansion. After which, I headed east on Geary Boulevard and California Street to Montgomery Street, where I concluded the ramble. The weather was perfect.

Click on an image to view the full-size photograph
Street art in the Outer Sunset District as seen on the side of a house on Irving Street.
A map of the route. The approximate distance traveled was 9.6 miles (15.4 kilometers). The approximate cumulative elevation gain was 777 feet (237 meters). Mile markers are displayed on the GPS-generated track. 
This graph shows the elevation changes encountered during the hike. Click on the image to see the full-size chart.
An apartment building on Irving Street. 
A view of the Cliff House and Seal Rocks. This picture was taken from the Ocean Beach pedestrian walkway. The glorious Marin Headlands are in the background. The view is looking north. 
A picture of the third of five Cliff Houses built on the same site. This photo was taken in 1896, the year the third Cliff House has been constructed. Interestingly, the photograph was taken by a camera held in the air by a giant kite. After the kite was at an appropriate height and the camera was facing the preferred direction, the camera's shutter was activated by a person on the ground. He or she pulled a wire which was connected to the kite and attached to the camera. 
You had only one opportunity to take a picture. After the photo had been taken, the kite was reeled in; the camera was removed from the kite. The camera was then taken to a 'dark room' where the exposed image became visible after the film was submerged in three different liquid chemical baths. 
Taking airborne pictures of terrain and manmade objects in the late 1800s and early 1900s was very popular. 
The third and most beautiful of the five Cliff Houses was destroyed by fire on 7 September 1907. 
The Cliff House and Seal Rocks as seen from Sutro Heights Park. The park is on the National Register of Historic Places. Here are some old photos that were taken at Sutro Heights Park
A game of volleyball on Ocean Beach. 
Looking south, towards Ocean Beach. Montara Mountain is visible. The photo was taken from Sutro Heights Park. You will not see anyone swimming in the ocean and very few people wading in the water. There is a good reason for that. Ocean Beach and most beaches in Northern California can be deadly to humans if people venture into the water or are too close to the water and a rogue wave pulls them in. The ocean's violent and powerful rip currents have pulled many thousands of people out to the ocean from Ocean Beach. The frigid temperature of the water can disable a person within a few minutes. Most of the people pulled out into the ocean have drowned, unfortunately. 
Another photo of the Cliff House and Seal Rocks. The Marin Headlands are in the distance; the view is looking north. 
statue of Diana the Huntress. She is located on the site of the old Sutro Mansion. She and her animal friend are looking a little tired, but please remember that they have been at this location since 1886. 
A picture of the Diana the Huntress statue was taken in 1886 at the same location. One of the many gardeners who maintained the gardens looks at the camera. 
A photograph of Diana the Huntress is seen from the rear. 
This San Francisco firehouse was built in 1928 and is located on 41st Avenue at Geary Boulevard in the Outer Richmond District. It is Firehouse #34, whose primary function is to serve as one of two San Francisco Coastal Rescue Units. The firehouse is not far from Lands End, and there are many locations in Lands End from which a careless or foolish person can lose their footing and fall off a cliff. 
A picture of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral on Geary Boulevard in the Richmond District. 
A four image panoramic photo looking east towards downtown San Francisco. The photograph was taken from Masonic Avenue. 
On Geary Boulevard in the Richmond District
                                                                ...........
"A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera.” Dorothea Lange 

"Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important." Henri Carter-Bresson

"There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer." Ansel Adams

"The important thing is not the camera but the eye." Alfred Eisenstaedt

The first volume of the San Francisco Bay Area Photo Blog contains galleries of photographs posted on the Internet between 2002 and 2011. Click Here to view those photos.

 These photographs were taken with a Sony camera.

Question or comment? I may be reached at neil@mishalov.com.

05 April 2016

Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco: 5 April 2016

The Conservatory of Flowers, a San Francisco treasure, is located in Golden Gate Park. It has been at the same location since 1879. It is, in fact, the oldest public glass and wood greenhouse in North America.
We did a little ramble from 9th Street and Irving Street through Golden Gate Park, stopping at the Conservatory of Flowers and the MH de Young Museum. We then walked through the North of the Panhandle neighborhood, past St. Ignatius Catholic Church and the University of San Francisco. We finally cruised through Alamo Park, the Western Addition, and had a bite to eat in Japantown. After this, we boarded the Muni Metro 38 bus on Geary Boulevard and disembarked at Powell Street. Donna joined me on this ramble.

Click on an image to view the full-size photograph.
The Conservatory of Flowers.

The approximate distance traveled was 5.6 miles (9 kilometers). Mile markers are displayed on the GPS-generated track. 
The Conservatory of Flowers. 










Here is a view from the enclosed glass tower of the de Young Museum. The California Academy of Sciences is the building with the earthen roof cover. The large buildings behind the California Academy of Sciences are part of the University of California, San FranciscoSutro Tower overlooks the scene. The view is looking south. 
St. Ignatius Church sits on top of Ignatius Heightsa 354-foot high hill (108 meters). It is the tallest structure in the area and is a true San Francisco landmark. 
This is a Victorian house in the Western Addition neighborhood.
Here is a view from Alamo Square Park
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera." Dorothea Lange 

"Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important." Henri Carter-Bresson

"There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer." Ansel Adams

"The important thing is not the camera but the eye." Alfred Eisenstaedt

The first volume of the San Francisco Bay Area Photo Blog contains galleries of photographs that were posted on the Internet between 2002 and 2011. Click Here to view those photos.

   Either a Sony camera or an Olympus camera was used to take these photographs.

Question or comment? I may be reached at neil@mishalov.com  

03 April 2016

Circumnavigating Briones Reservoir: 3 April 2016

The last time I circumnavigated Briones Reservoir was about 25-30 years ago. I thought this would be an appropriate time to do it again. When I last did Briones, I ran around the reservoir; this time I walked around the reservoir. Both adventures were enjoyable.

Click on an image to view the full-size photograph.
Briones Reservoir's earthen dam is visible.

Briones Reservoir is approximately 8 miles east of Berkeley, as shown on this map of the area.
A map of the route. The approximate distance traveled was 13.5 miles (21.7 kilometers). The approximate cumulative elevation gain was 1,843 feet (562 meters). Mile markers are displayed on the GPS-generated track.
This graph shows the elevation changes encountered during the hike. 

Briones Reservoir.

This photo, looking southwest, was taken from the top of the Briones Reservoir's earthen dam. 

Bear Creek Trail.
Donna joined me on this ramble. 
-----------------------

"A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera." Dorothea Lange 

"Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important." Henri Carter-Bresson

"There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer." Ansel Adams

"The important thing is not the camera but the eye." Alfred Eisenstaedt


The first volume of the San Francisco Bay Area Photo Blog contains galleries of photographs posted on the Internet between 2002 and 2011. Click Here to view those photos.


Question or comment? I may be reached at neil@mishalov.com.