California, part three (December 2017)

Written by ceddammit

It’s that time of the week! Throwback Thursday – when I finally get around to sharing photos from not-too-recent trips. This week is the final installment of my Christmas 2017 trip to California (part one is here). I spent the final two days of this journey in San Francisco.

While researching in preparation for this trip, I quickly learned that San Francisco has an excellent public transportation system. So on the night of my arrival, I did some driving on the insane hills the city has to offer, then turned in my rental car, walked to my hotel (only a block from the rental car return), and used public transport for the remainder of my stay. At the time, I believe I paid $35 for a three-day transit pass. This pass was good for all city buses, the cable cars, and the trolleys. Because, yes, there are trolleys in addition to the cable cars. In fact, the trolleys were one of the main reasons for my visit. As you may know by now, I am an art deco fan – and most of San Francisco’s trolleys were built during the 1920’s through 1940’s – the time period when art deco was the dominant style. Oh, look! Here they are now…

San Francisco trolley car
Some of San Francisco’s trolley cars were purchased from other cities.
Technically, they are called trolley cars because they are powered via trolley…
…the “trolley” is the device connecting the car to the overhead power line.
San Francisco trolley car
Trolley car doors from the inside
Are the trolley cars simulating Alcatraz?
Interior of a trolley car
San Francisco trolley car
Some of San Francisco’s trolley cars were purchased from other cities.
San Francisco trolley car
San Francisco trolley car
The back of a seat in one of the trolley cars
Interior of a trolley car
Interior of a trolley car
San Francisco trolley car
San Francisco trolley car
San Francisco trolley car

My first trolley ride of the day found me disembarking near the Bay Bridge, which you Nebraskans and Iowans may be interested to know is part of Interstate 80.

The west expanse of the Bay Bridge is a double decker…
…the lower deck carries eastbound traffic from San Francisco…
…to a tunnel that passes through the mountainous Yerba Buena Island…
…to the east expanse of the bridge, which bends to the right, continuing to Oakland.
One massive bridge pier
Remains of a dead pier
The San Francisco end of the massive Bay Bridge

I spent the bulk of the day riding around the trolley lines, admiring and photographing the variety of architectural styles I encountered along the way…

Pay no attention to the chef on the roof.
What happened to the steeple?
I was struck by the contrasting architectural styles in this view.
The Ferry Building (Port of San Francisco)
Inside the Ferry Building
Detail inside the Ferry Building
Ferry Building
Grace Cathedral
Boid
Humboldt Savings Bank
I was struck by the contrasting architectural styles in this view.
I was struck by the contrasting architectural styles in this view.
Every office is a corner office!
I’m not sure what this building is, but it looks Federal.
It’s not just the trolleys that are art deco
This photo was snapped from a moving trolley, so I didn’t get the best angle.
I wish I had gone around the block to find out what this building is.
Every apartment is a corner apartment!
More of the joy of art deco!
Shell Building
Detail of the Shell Building
Spectacular art deco at the main entrance of the Shell Building
No Comment

I didn’t completely snub the cable cars. Near the end of the day, I hopped on one to catch a ride back to the hotel, and snapped a handful of pics on the way…

The outside
The inside
The control mechanisms
The route

My last full day in California consisted mostly of walking all the way across the Golden Gate Bridge and back – a round trip of 3.7 miles. This was even more impressive than I had imagined. See for yourself…

After the Golden Gate Bridge, I just wandered around town, taking a few more pics of interesting buildings along the way…

The next morning I got one final use outta my 3-day transit card when I took a city bus to the airport, and flew home to Charlotte. But in the words of a former California governor, “I’ll be back!”

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