Taking advantage of the absolutely gorgeous weather we've been having, we decided just yesterday to take the ferry into San Francisco again.
The first two pictures are of Mare Island which is right across the ferry terminal in Vallejo. Most of Mare Island consists of an abandoned naval shipyard and the housing etc. that went with it. The island is supposed to undergo a revival. There's a beautiful golf course, new housing developments, a college and various other things in addition to all the old buildings left from its heyday. Some of the old houses are being renovated and are really quite beautiful and rather pricey.
Next is the Bay Bridge, one of the two bridges into San Francisco (the other is the Golden Gate). Traffic there is always bad and today was no exception. There was an accident leading into the city (we could see the flashing lights) that had traffic backed up for many, many miles.
Next is the Bay Bridge, one of the two bridges into San Francisco (the other is the Golden Gate). Traffic there is always bad and today was no exception. There was an accident leading into the city (we could see the flashing lights) that had traffic backed up for many, many miles.
Next is the tower of the Ferry Building, followed by pictures of the inside
- gourmet food stores, high end specialty stores and various restaurants.
Outside, there's a farmers' market on Tuesdays and Saturdays (didn't get any good pictures) and on the weekends there are arts and crafts booths (I always find something). This time, there also was entertainment in the center divide provided by a drum corps.
One of the old trams, I think the cable cars can be found at Pier 39 (another touristy destination) and go into the center from there.
This is the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge which ends at San Quentin.
It obviously was a good day to be out on the water because we saw hundreds of sailboats.
We managed to fill up the big shopping bag I'd brought along (reusable, of course) and will have to use an even bigger one next time. It's probably that humongously big bread from Della Fattoria.
5 comments:
Great pictures, and an interesting trip!
Mare Island isn't abandoned, it's been sold to a developer as part of BRAC. It hadn't built anything since 1970.
Mare Island's first commander was David Farragut, known for "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!"
You're right, Marilee. The island isn't abandoned. But most of the shipyard is and there are more abandoned and falling down buildings than otherwise. Development isn't going as well as planned. Could be because the new houses are being built much too close together?
I am envious -- your day looked wonderful!
We had such a short time in SF (the one time we were there)...
Oh man... so much of it I miss (walking to the Ferry Bldg or the Embarcadero on lunch break, the little booths set up by artists, the bridges - from a distance) and then a bit of it I don't (traffic and crowds).
Thanks so much for sharing your photos!
I don't know a lot about the development, but BRAC hit hard here near DC, so I know most of the bases/posts that are closing and being sold.
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