Saturday 17 May 2008, San Francisco, CA

Having walked the two-and-a-half mile route north along Powell Street to Pier 39 (all piers with odd numbers run north from the Ferry Building opposite the Justine Herman Plaza; all piers with even numbers run south from this point), we again become 'tourists' and wig out, this time on a city tour.

City Tour
The tour, by motorised ('z'ed?) trolley bus, took in the FISHERMAN'S WHARF area, positively awash with restaurants (predominantly seafood, surprisingly!), and other tourist-oriented mercantilia.
After that we went via COW HOLLOW, with the driver recounting tales and facts about the history of these fascinating places.
From there we went to the PALACE OF FINE ARTS and the EXPLORATORIUM for our first stop-off. Quaint and individual houses form the 'urbia' of this parkland region.
From there we went to FORT POINT, just underneath the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE - this time the heat from the interior valley mixed with the chill air from the Pacific to create San Fran's (see, I'm almost a local!), movable air con - the bridge was around 80% shrouded in this vaporous 'fog'. We stopped off for about 15 minutes in the bracing chill breeze to take photos of the evanescent monolith above us.
Our next stop-off was VISA POINT adjacent to the on-ramp of the bridge itself. Again another 15 minutes to capture this shy but revealing beauty.
Onwards from here through PRESIDIO, the army camp, down CALIFORNIA ST and through PACIFIC HEIGHTS - the most select neighbourhood in the city with average property prices starting at 2-3 million and rising despite the credit crunch.
From here we travelled towards the JAPAN CENTER which, due to a cultural event which closed a number of proximal roads, we had to skirt around.
From here to CHINATOWN, we travelled past what are colloquially known as the 'VICTORIANS'

Victorians
Victorian architecture is composed of a number of different styles classified on the basis of their different application of form, technique and material. Each style is unique though often combined. Some of the major styles are:
Italianate - built during the 1840's and 1850's, these houses have features such as a flat roof, overhanging eves, decorative paired brackets and cornices, square cupola and a wood frame and arcade porch topped with balustrated balconies.
Gothic Revival - built between 1840 and 1880. Inspired by the cathedrals of medieval Europe they have steeply pitched roofs. Exterior window moldings are arched, forming a point at the top. Other features include grouped chimneys, pinnacles, shaped parapets, asymmetrical floor plan, veranda, one story porch and leaded glass. These were supposed to be built from stone but the American habit of buildings out of wood led to 'Carpenter Gothics'.
Queen Anne - regal and fancy, these houses are famous for their flashy embellishments and colours, very popular during the 1880's and 1890's. Queen Anne's have a steep roof, shingled insets and slanted bay windows. They often have a turret or tower. Flourishes include lots of gingerbread, spindles, ornate cornices, brackets, and lead or stained glass windows.
Stick - includes square bay windows, flat roof lines and free-style decorations, turned, square, or round columns and false-fronts to make them look taller.

From here we travelled along the street that saved San Francisco (VAN NESS AVENUE), of which, both sides - houses and businesses lining VAN NESS - were dynamited to act as a fire break to overcome the great fire which broke out after the 1906 earthquake.
We then travel past UNION SQUARE where our hotel is, and up through the CHINATOWN GATE and onto the FINANCIAL DISTRICT.
Through CHINATOWN we hit NORTH BEACH district, run around TELEGRAPH HILL and under the COIT TOWER to rejoin the EMBARCADERO which skirts this promontory, and returning to PIER 39.

Data
Journey: 25miles (+ walking)
Time: 160mins
Temp: 76

After this we visited the COIT TOWER, WASHINGTON SQUARE (a bit like Hyde Park with artists' wares under the trees), onto the FINANCIAL DISTRICT for some shots of 'The PYRAMID' onto SUTTER STREET (that name again!) and finally to UNION SQUARE for a Taiwanese-American cultural twinning event with live music, ethno-diverse foods and the usual array of gifts and trinkets.

Evening
Lost to the repeatedly diminishing-return of not finding any bars, liquor, fresh fruit juice or smoked almonds!