A Morning in San Francisco

Click on a photo to enlarge it.I saw a picture online of the TransAmerica Building in San Francisco that was taken from Pier 7. I thought the pier itself looked charming, with its wooden planks, tall lamp lights and curved iron railings. I decided I had to check it out for myself. After two weeks of clear, gorgeous weather, a storm was forecast for Monday, so I took off for the City early Sunday morning, thinking it might be the last chance to catch some blue sky for awhile. I went early hoping to get a parking space close-by and to have the pier to myself. I didn't want tourists in my shots. I got the parking space and the pier, but fog was still hanging over the City. In the first few shots I took, the spire disappeared into the mist. I waited. Eventually the fog thinned a bit, but not enough for the shots I had envisioned. Sometimes you just have to make do. In this hot, I like the way fog hangs over Coit Tower in the distance.

I walked back to my car and continued up the Embarcadero to Fisherman's Wharf. Most of the charm of the wharf has morphed into an overcrowded, tacky, tourist trap that attracts visitors and repels locals. I was only going to drive through, but it was still early enough and cold enough that the hoards had not yet arrived. I found a parking space on the street and pulled in. On one side of the street are colorful, kitschy souvenir stores, crowded so close together that merchandise spills out onto the sidewalk. Interspersed among the tee shirt, postcard, and sea shell shops are the museums (wax and otherwise), plus many Kodak yellow camera shops. Just in case you are not lured in by the gaudy displays of valuable merchandise, many stores also have a barker to let you know he has the perfect lens for your camera.

You can see more of this side of Fishrman's Wharf on my Flickr site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/suebrazelton/
On the bay side of the street are all the restaurants,
including the sidewalk seafood bars.

The wharf is not all tourist attractions.
It is also the home of many working fishing boats.

By the time I had my fill of the wharf, the fog had lifted. I headed back to Pier 7. Can you believe it? The same parking space was available. I had my blue sky, and although people were now walking and jogging on the pier, I got the shots I had come for.

I set my camera on the bench to get this last perspective.

I love San Francisco. It has so many photo worthy sectors. The problem is that it is always crowded. Trips to the City have to be well timed to avoid commuter traffic on weekdays and tourists on weekends. I shall return.