Would you believe it – we are disappointed.

Maybe we have travelled too much and we are hard to impress?

Better stay home for a while!

Anyway here we are at the Bridge.

and at the Haight Street Market – right in the middle of the Hippie movement  – nearest thing to Brunswick Street we have seen so far.

Love the new hat!

The City is a mix of “the ordinary” (strip clubs, bars and diners and the usual retail offerings in downtown – cheap shoes are good here),

 

“old icons” (the trolley cars, the waterfront (Pier 39) and the Golden Gate bridge)

 

 

 

Carousel at Pier 39

 

 

Sea Lions at the waterfront – taken from the ride we took — in the big yellow boat below – $10 for 30 minutes.

The “great” American economic system seems to have left a very large number of it’s own people behind here – or maybe there are more of them that have come here in hope and have given up. Whatever the reason, the presence of hundreds of homeless men and women of all races on the streets surrounding the downtown area is very confronting. We haven’t seen it in New York or Chicago – maybe because of the location of our apartments. If this is the free market at work (without a sensible safety net) we don’t like what we see — note for Tony and Joe!

A significant piece of contemporary art in the Museum of Modern Art captured our feelings pretty well.

Two young girls living in a cardboard box – surrounded by tear drops. (We needed the guide at the museum to explain it to us!)

Another piece below needs no explanation !!?? Actually let us know if you have any idea what the artist was smoking at the time!

We have explored the place thoroughly and walked our socks off – although the buses and trams are a bargain – flat fare of 75c (for seniors) – the trolly cars are for tourists and at $6 for a one way ride it is a “must do” activity (but be prepared for a 30-60 minute wait to get on.

One night we ate at “Johns Grill” scene of the filming of “The Maltese Falcon” – Humphrey Bogart starring. Here’s Linda with the Falcon.

On our last day we ended up at the Maritime Museum building on the Waterfront – The building belongs to the San Francisco Yacht club and is their viewing point for the Americas Cup Races. Here is Linda in the crowd at the Museum viewing the display  of photos of recent races – not sure what is going on here. Anyway it is a lovely Art Deco building with a super view!.

 

Alcatraz  was the one major “attraction” we didn’t visit.

Well thats it for now – on our way to Yosemite National Park.