Monday, August 07, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO - PART II - AUGUST 1982

SOME OTHER SIGHTS...

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THE JAPANESE TEA GARDEN

The Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park was created for the World Fair in 1894, and is the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States. Considered a wet walking garden, although it has a Zen garden as well, it is a perfect spot to spend some hours. Gardens are, in Japanese culture, one of the highest forms of art, as they are supposed to express in a very limited space, the essence of nature.


"BUDDHA - This one was cast at Tajima, Japan in 1790"


"PAGODA"


"SHINTO SHRINE"

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LOMBARD STREET

Lombard Street, America's crookedest street, is paved with bricks and has some beautiful Victorian mansions on its sides.


HITCH-HIKING: Give me a lift on the way down"


"WOW - Prepare for the ride"


"HALFWAY DOWN"


"FLOWERS - Almost done, with the chrysanthemums and other flowers in full bloom"

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PARKS


"GOLDEN GATE PARK - The ultimate haven away from urban chaos"



"AQUATIC PARK - Located at the west end of Fisherman's Wharf, the park includes historic vessels, a maritime museum, and a library"

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FISHERMAN'S WHARF

The traditional home of San Francisco's fishing fleet, Fisherman's wharf is overrun with tourists, and locals seem to hate and avoid it. However, some cynics say that secretly, everyone likes it a little, and looks forward to having out of town guests to profit from the opportunity to revisit it, without having to acknowledge the interest to go there. Amazingly, most of its attractions were built in the late 1960's: Ghirardelli Square, Pier 39... Furthermore, some of the best views in the city, and the sea lions are also there!

"THE CANNERY"



"RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS - fresh Dungeness crab..."

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VIEWS


"FROM THE EL CORTEZ HOTEL - Built in 1929, the El Cortez was a nice hotel at the heart of the Theatre district, quite close to Union Square, the cable car stop and many restaurants and shops. It seems that later it was named the Shannon Court. Recently, after an $11 million renovation, it is back to glory under the name of Hotel Adagio. However, Cortez is also back, as the name of the hotel's gourmet restaurant of Chef Pascal Rigo. It seems to have been named one of the "66 Hottest New Restaurants in the World" in an edition of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine"

2 comments:

Cergie said...

Coucou Gil,
J'ai pris la photo du bouddha dans le jardin japonais, ous y avons pris le thé. Bien sûr la Lombard street, nous avons failli y être à l'hôtel d'ailleurs, mais nous avons préféré aller près du quai du pêcheur, plus central
La conserverie bien sûr,mais elle est assez désertée pour le moment. En 4 jours nous avons vu beaucoup, beaucoup marché, avec mon mari et ma fille en guides et moi derrière !

(Je vais voir l'autre lien que tu m'as donné)

Anonymous said...

Cergie,
Le bouddha et la Lombard Street sont des «must»; tout le monde prend des photos...
C'est drôle que la conserverie soit desertée... :(