1886 Square-Rigged Balclutha

The three masted, steel hulled ship carried cargo all over the world, requiring a crew of about 26 men to handle her complex rigging of 25 sails. It was launched in 1886 by the Charles Connell and Company shipyard near Glasgow, Scotland. It carried goods around Cape Horn 17 times. She eventually worked under Hawaiian registry and then in Alaskan waters for the Alaska Packers Association, being retired in 1930. She appeared in the film Mutiny on the Bounty, barely avoided being scrapped for metal during Wold War II, was purchased by the San Francisco Maritime Museum in 1954 and restored. It was transferred to the National Park Service in 1978. For additional history on this ship, go to http://www.nps.gov/safr/historyculture/balclutha-history.htm.
To the right is the 1890 steam-powered ferry Eureka.

San Francisco Architecture - Old and New

 
It always amazed me to see historical buildings surrounded by modern skyscrapers. The St. Patrick Catholic Church was dedicated in 1872. About a block away is the W Hotel with its modern style.














Here is the church again, against another modern building.












Another old building, surrounded by modern construction.

San Francisco Architecture - New

There are some amazing new buildings in the city too.

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is in the foreground.

San Francisco Architecture - Old

The architecture of the old homes in San Francisco is amazing.

Each rooftop indicates a different style.

Golden Gate Bridge

Views of the bridge from our tour boat.

Alcatraz Island Views

San Francisco Skyline

A view of San Francisco as we returned from our bay tour.

Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco, part 2

Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco, part 1

The Japanese Tea Garden in the Golden Gate Park offers a very serene environment for reflection.

San Francisco Night Views

We took a tour that brought us through the city in the early evening. We caught a glimpse of the lights on the "Bay Bridge." We were treated to a great view of the city and another view of the lighted bridge.

Sausalito Ferry Views

On the ferry from Sausalito back to San Francisco.

We got a close-up view of Alcatraz Island,

and San Fracisco.

Walking the Golden Gate Bridge

As our tour bus approached the Golden Gate Bridge, our tour guide gave us the option of walking over and catching another bus on the other side.

Half of the group decided to do it. Even though that was not something on my "bucket list," I am glad I did it.

The 1.7 mile span is a popular place for walkers, runners, and bicyclists. And the views were awesome.

San Francisco Trolley

Old Saint Mary's Church, San Francisco

The cornerstone for this cathedral was laid in 1853 with the first mass being the Christmas Midnight Mass of 1854. A larger cathedral was built in 1891 and Saint Mary's became a parish church. The church survived the 1906 earthquake but was gutted the next day by fire. Only the exterior brick walls and bell tower remained. Renovation was completed in 1909. It serves Chinatown and Nob Hill today.