The transit system in San Francisco is probably one of the best in the world. Of course, I haven’t been around the world to test them all, but I just can’t imagine there being a better system. Buses, electric trolleys, cable cars, street cars and the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) give commuters several route options and gets San Franciscans out of their cars. Yes, there is a rush hour but, for a city the size of San Francisco, it’s really not that bad. There are several different types of passes to suit everyone’s transportation needs.
Our primary objective today was downtown, specifically Market Street, even more specifically Ross, Dress for Less. So, we checked the route, hopped on the #30 and headed downtown. We got off the bus at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and on our own walking tour, saw most of the usual sights. We climbed up Telegraph Hill to the Coit Tower, named for Lillie Hitchcock Coit who bequeathed it to the city. The top of the 210-foot tower is narrower than the bottom and some say it resembles a fire hose nozzle. Lillie had an affection for firefighters and as a schoolgirl attended fires as a volunteer. The view from the top of the tower is supposed to be quite spectacular but even from the base the vista afforded views of the “crookedest street in the world”, Lombard Street, and Alcatraz.
Our tour also took us to the Transamerica Tower, which, other than the Golden Gate Bridge is probably the most recognizable structure in the city. It stands 810 feet, contains 48 stories and is covered with crushed quartz which gives it its white façade.
Old Saint Mary’s, California’s first cathedral, is an incongruous 150 year old brick building on the edge of Chinatown and in the midst of downtown skyscrapers. The original church building survived the 1906 earthquake only to be gutted by ensuing fires.
Our walk around downtown was intermittently punctuated by thundering roars from the sky. The reverberation off the tall buildings made it difficult to tell from what direction the sound was coming, but craning upwards at the right place at the right time, we would occasionally catch a glimpse of the Blue Angels overhead between the buildings - some singles and some flying five in formation. It was a beautiful sight. It seems there is a combination of celebrations this weekend: it’s the start of fleet week, the San Francisco (baseball) Giants are starting the playoffs at home and Monday is Columbus Day. Talk about the right place at the right time.
Until tomorrow. . . .
No comments:
Post a Comment