Everybody decided to do their own thing this morning, with the Shinglers and ourselves choosing open-top bus tours (albeit different ones) and the Greenes making their own way to various San Francisco tourist spots.
What none of us realised is that today was the 111th anniversary of the Great Earthquake and fire of 1906 that destroyed most of the city. The guide on our bus related the events of that fateful day describing the fact that the quake fractured gas pipes causing fires, whilst at the same time causing the water pipes to leak, therefore there was no water to put the fires out. The final death toll was some 3,000 with about 250,000 people becoming homeless after the event. Close to Union Square in the centre of the city is a small monument where early this morning people gathered and laid a wreath in memory of those who lost their lives.
The civic centre of San Francisco resembles the Capitol building in Washington DC, but is bigger and grander in scale. Apparently federal legislation prevents any State Capitol building to be bigger than the Washington Capitol, but as San Francisco is not the capital of California they can get away with it.
The next stop on our bus tour was the headquarters of the counter culture, Haight-Ashbury and my chance to see the record store I almost found yesterday. Growing up in the Sixties with my love of West Coast music from bands such as Jefferson Airplane, The Doors and Spirit this area evokes great memories. Unfortunately the Summer of Love is but a distant memory to both me and this area, with the shops looking rather seedy. I decided not to go inside the store as I would be sorely tempted to purchase records which would be difficult to transport home.
The bus took us through the Golden Gate park and onwards to the bridge, which on an open top bus is VERY windy. After a short stop on the far side the bus made a u-turn and returned to the city. Interestingly San Francisco has something in common with Wales, in that you have to pay a toll on the bridge to enter both but it’s free to leave.
We returned to Pier 39 for a last chance to buy some souvenirs and take some more photos. Altogether the bus tour was a great way of getting to see all the best parts of the city, with a good guide to relate interesting tales.
Although the weather this morning was overcast with a hint or two of rain, as the day progressed the clouds cleared from the sky and the sun shone brighter. By the time the ship was ready to depart the sky was blue which meant the photos exiting San Francisco Bay were much better than those of the entry.
Two days at sea now before we return to Vancouver.
