Monday, March 11th 2013
Slow morning. We walked to the train
station in Sunnyvale and took a local train to San Francisco. It was
just fine. Really nice and sunny day. We were wondering for a while
if we should walk or take a trolley to the Museum of Modern Art
(MOMA). We crossed the street and took the trolley (number 30). The
city around MOMA building was more than alive (pretty much the
downtown). It was more less our first “cultural” visit on our
travels. We do not really do museums or places like this one, but
this time we bought our City Pass and it was included. And … change
is good (sometimes). Some parts of the museum were closed (changing
the exhibits). For the most part, it was some what strange (still
some what interesting). Some pieces were just out right weird though.
There was a roof top with few “art” pieces and a cafe. The views
were pretty nice. On the neighboring building's roof (among technical
appliances) there was a figurine of Waldo. Funny. Oh well … Look at
the pictures J. took and/or the website of the museum.
Done. We stayed for a moment at Yerba
Buena park across the street (to eat our sandwiches). Nice. Sunny.
Water feature. People. We walked through the park back to the trolley
stop. We passed several people smoking pot (I guess Life is good).
The trolly ride to the marina area and Maritime museum. We got off
just above the Ghirardeli Square. Slow walk to the Hyde Pier. Many
people just lying all over the grass and enjoying the sun. We walked
on the pier and toured the tug boat Hercules. Last time we visited
this place, Hercules was not open. Smaller tug boat still being
reconstructed. Still, interesting. The views of the city, Alcatraz
and Golden Gate … and full sun. Enjoying the bay on the walk to the
former Bath House, now a museum (sort of). It was really nice
building (later we finally saw it looked like a ship). There was few
model ships and few posted information. Wasted space. The terrace,
the senior center in the building as well (and there a guy playing a
piano).
We were again hoping to meet J.'s
friend so we were planning to stay longer in the city. We were
walking along the bay to see Palace of Fine Arts. We went through
Fort Mason and got really amazing views of Golden Gate Bridge playing
with few clouds of fog. Otherwise it was sunny and the sky was blue.
It was unbelievable. There was a lot of people, but as we left the
Fort and walked along the street (and enjoying the houses overlooking
the bay) we stayed pretty much alone. After a longer while we had
enough and wanted to find a bus and found out that the Palace is just
behind the corner. Funny. We looked around just mousing through and
really enjoying ourselves. We sit down across the lagoon and were
looking at the Palace. We learned that J.'s friend had to work
longer, so there was really no chance to meet. J. spent half an hour
on the phone with another friend. After that we walked to the bus
stop and took the bus to the hippie town (Ashbury).
Well, we did not have any plan or idea
what we wanted to do or see in hippie town. It was a street full of
“goofy” shops and restaurants. I thought it looked like Hippie
Memorial went commercial. Many “hippies”, homeless people and
tourist. J. went into two shops, but we did not have any desires to
eat there or do any shopping. So, we walked to the tram station near
by and waited. And about 25 minutes on the tram to get to the
Caltrain station. Train at 7.30 (local, all the stops). Tired.
Sunnyvale. Walk home. End of the day.
