Bliss Near The Bay
San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden gate, one-mile-wide strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
December 18, 2013
Eugene, Oregon, United States
We got to our hotel in Springfield, Oregon very late last night. We were caught in a traffic jam near Olympia in Washington state because of an accident on Highway 5. It took us almost six (6) hours to cross the twenty miles traffic-choked highway.
Today, Bert drove 440 miles to Vallejo, California. It was a spur of the moment visit to my cousin Theresa whom I have not seen in more than twenty five years. I was very excited to see her and wished that we could stay longer. She took us to a sumptuous Thai restaurant near her house. We chatted till the wee hours and tried to catch up on everything.
Morning was a physical drag but we have to forced ourselves knowing that we need to be in SFO and return the car and then board our ship. We sat down for breakfast with Tere and then hit the road again.
Driving on Highway 80 from Vallejo, minutes passed and soon we saw the Golden Gate Bridge spread before us along the Golden Strait, the mile wide,three mile long channel between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. It's hard to missed. The bridge is a two mile long suspension bridge colored a perfect red. Before the bridge was built, the only practical short route between San Francisco and what is now Marin County was by boat across a section of San Francisco Bay. It's mysterious when covered with fog, beautiful when bathed in sunlight, and remains possibly one of the most photographed American landmark.
Today, it carries six lanes of vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. In search of the garage where we are going to turn in our rental car, we headed to the traffic-choked Embarcadero center. I'd be happy to explore the area later, but first we need to return the car. After about twenty minutes of staking out different street corners, we are triumphant and found our destination. From my car window, photo ops are framed by Alcatraz, the terra cotta roofs of the Presidio and the Trident and other bay-front restaurants. Brand name waterfront behemoths rule the hotel scene, along with sometimes cheaper boutique properties. At Union Square, morning sunshine filters through trees. Google techs walks by, cafes, art galleries, wine bars and shops spills over with energy. Women with sunglasses and designer jeans compulsively checks their I phones while men fidget with their Blackberries and I pads. These are the City's bourgeois . There are also lots of transvestites and tourist and panhandlers and cyclist and together they make this town of inclines and constant chill more beguiling.
The Street Performer Program creates opportunities for musicians, magicians, and performers to engage and perform in one of San Francisco's most visited places.
Inspired by this beautiful surrounding minus the spilling fog, I suggested we walk at the Wharf. I would like to stroll the grounds,and see the sea gulls and seals.
The sounds of horns interrupts me. It yanks me back to the reality of being here, the art of living well exemplified by the flourishing food scene.
Something that people may not know is that San Francisco sometimes feel like an overwhelming place, crowded with choices. It is a hyper -city of food and cuisine and fast track ideas. Tony Bennet was right when he wrote and sang the song "I Left My heart in San Francisco". Better get used to hearing it from me!
Comments
Great - keep them coming! Are you a professional journalist, Charlotte? Your descriptions are very professional sounding...fantastic!! From dmarek, on Dec 20, 2013 at 09:04 p.m.
You are having the fun vacation I WISH I could be having right now!! So live it for yourselves AND me too!!!! xo be safe and so so happy From Marcelle, on Dec 21, 2013 at 04:02 a.m.
Our sons went to Stanford and now live in the east bay of SF so we are familiar of this famous "bourgeois" city. Even then, we read its description with a new interest for you painted it with delightful words and keen observation. Thank you for sharing, Charlotte! From Kim Landhuis, on Dec 21, 2013 at 01:40 p.m.