Part Two...
We continue with the second half of our photos of the California Vacation 2008. So far we've been to Santa Cruz, the Intel Museum and the Tech Museum. Now it's time to visit the City by the Bay...
Last Update: 13 Sep 2008
When Kieran was not even three years old in the Summer of 1999 I took him on a special trip into San Francisco to do all sorts of things. (Photos from that trip are here.)

A father/daughter trip into the city was therefore long overdue, and so, leaving Kieran and Rosemary happily visiting Aunt Thalia and Cousins Billy and John, Daddy and Thalia Elizabeth headed... well, this photo illustrates where! In the background, the Bay Bridge, to the far left, one of San Francisco's historic trolley cars, and out of the picture to the right is the San Francisco Railway Museum. All this is just steps away from the foot of Market Street.

Though it was quite hot in the Bay Area on the week we visited, it was cool and windy in San Francisco-- a prime example of the "microclimates" of the region. From this shot, it's hard to tell it's July 10, 2008, with those ships in the Bay. Also note that we're not at sea level anymore...
And guess where we are now! That advisory sign above Thalia Elizabeth's head is the key... what street in San Francisco is known as "the crookedest"? Lombard, of course... more specifically the block between Hyde and Leavenworth.

We walked up Hyde -- and I do mean up Hyde!-- from the Fisherman's Wharf district to reach the crest of the hill. And although I've driven down Lombard many times, I'd never walked down, and so that was a first time treat for both of us.

Note that cars go that way, to the left. There is a sidewalk for pedestrians...
The street, in addition to having some of the most expensive housing in the city (and in San Francisco, that's saying something!) has some beautiful flower gardens. Here is an example.
And let the record show that the rest of Lombard Street is not exactly flat either!

We walked all the way back down Lombard Street to Columbus Avenue, turned right, walked some more...

...and ended up in Chinatown, as is rather obvious from the photo. Thalia made an interesting comment when I said that this was a place to purchase many things Chinese: "But everything's made in China now anyway!"
This photo is of a building on Columbus Avenue. I know what the campaign signs are for, but I am still not quite sure about "Enough with the plywood."...
The family was back together the next day, 11 July 2008, for another trip to San Francisco on our last full day in California.

There is a reason why the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most photographed objects anywhere. The weather can be just about anything (except severe) and you never quite know what you're going to find until you get there. It's always a surprise. We weren't disappointed.

We walked to the first tower of the bridge, and here's a sample view.
So how big are the cables that hold up the bridge? About that big...

Here's a closeup of the sign with some vital statistics.

After lunch in San Francisco's Sunset District, it was off to Moss Beach. We discovered this place last year, and in contrast to Santa Cruz's bustle and excitement, Moss Beach plays host to a quiet marine life refuge.

It's also a rockier coast typical of much of California's shoreline, as Kieran demonstrates.

We didn't see this sign last time! Cool!

And here are quite a few harbor seals, resting. They weren't here last time either.

Alphabetically, two consistent activities at the California Coast... climbing...

...and digging...

We end with a final view of the Pacific from Moss Beach, probably somewhat of an unspectacular image, but then again, can the ocean really be called unspectacular?

Did you miss Part One? Click right here!