Click on an image to view the full-size photograph
The map shows the path of the ramble. The route consists of five different activities:
1. A walking segment in the Mission District, Noe Valley, and the Castro District.
2. Then, a streetcar segment when we took an F-Market Streetcar from its terminus in the Castro District to its terminus at Fisherman's Wharf.
3. Next up, another walking section as we walked from Fisherman's Wharf to the Marina District.
4. Then a quick bus ride on a 30-Stockton MUNI bus from the Marina District to the Little Italy/Chinatown area.
5. Finally, we walked to the Montgomery Street BART Station in the Financial District for the walk's conclusion.
 |
| The total approximate miles traveled was 15.4 miles. Approximately 7.5 miles of the 15.4 miles were traversed either on the streetcar or the bus. Thus, we walked about 7.9 miles (12.7 kilometers). The cumulative elevation gain was approximately 1,100 feet (335 meters). |
 |
After we had exited BART at the Mission-16th Street stop, we headed directly to the intersection of 18th Street and Guerrero Street, the location of Tartine Bakery. We consumed delicious pastry, drank some hot coffee, and were then ready to tackle our upcoming adventure.
Here is a downtown San Francisco skyline scene as seen from Mission Dolores Park. The park encompasses nearly 16 acres, and it is a favorite destination among San Francisco's many parks.
During 1906 and 1907, the park served as temporary housing quarters for more than 1600 families made homeless by the 1906 earthquake. The camp ceased operation in 1908.
In the late 1800s, part of the park was a Jewish cemetery. Available land in San Francisco is finite. Public housing and the necessarily associated structures became scarce as the population increased. The City of San Francisco eventually banned all new burials within the city limits. Some years later, the city required all cemeteries to cease operation. Human remains of more than 100,000 people were removed and transported to Colma, California where they were reburied.
Other than Mission Dolores Park, the vast majority of the former SF cemeteries, located mainly in the Richmond District, are now sited with houses, apartments, stores, and schools.
Mission Dolores Park recently received a two-year, 20 million dollar renovation and it looks fabulous.
|
 |
| Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, a pediatrician and philanthropist, purchased a house in the Upper Mission District in 2012 for 10 million dollars. The building, hidden from the sidewalk, is challenging to view from the street. Here is a picture of the house taken from the sidewalk. From what I understand, the couple is still living in Palo Alto. |
 |
| We are cranking up 21st Street and heading for Sanchez Street. When we reach Sanchez Street, we will drop down to 24th Street, which is the main shopping area of the Noe Valley District. Then we turn up on Castro Street and ramble through the Castro District. This view is from Sanchez Street, looking north down Church Street. |
 |
| The Davies Campus of the California Pacific Medical Center, as seen from Corona Heights Park. |
 |
| Here is another view from Corona Heights Park. In 1899 George and Harry Gray established a rock quarry and brick factory in what is now known as Corona Heights Park. The brothers were not known to be ethical businesspeople, and in 1914 George Gray was murdered by a former employee who was owed $17.50 in back wages. The massive earthen scars from the rock quarry/brick factory are visible. |
 |
| A view of the iconic Castro Theater. Patty Duke is the current featured Hollywood movie star as she appears in "The Miracle Worker" and "Valley of the Dolls." She died a few weeks ago at the age of 69, and the theater is featuring her movies as a tribute to her talents. |
 |
| Roger is standing in front of Market Street Railway streetcar #1052. It was constructed in 1948 by the St. Louis Car Company. The streetcar will soon begin its trip to Fisherman's Wharf. We will board this streetcar and travel approximately 5 miles to the terminus of the F-Market route. We will then continue with our walk and go to the Marina District. |
 |
| Our streetcar driver is having a short conversation with the driver of Streetcar #1080, which is right behind us. |
 |
| We are on the streetcar rolling down Market Street as we pass the San Francisco Mint. |
 |
| We are still rolling down Market Street. Here is a picture of the intersection of Market Street & 5th Street. |
 |
| A view of the beautiful, eye-catching Sentinel Building, located on Kearney Street at Columbus Avenue near Jackson Square. Construction of the building started in 1906, before the earthquake. The building had its first occupants in 1907. The Sentinel Building is San Francisco Landmark #33. The current owner of the building is Francis Ford Coppola, the father of Sofia Coppola, the well-regarded movie director. |
 |
| This photo shows the iconic Transamerica Pyramid Building. Construction commenced in 1969, and the building was ready for occupancy in 1972. --------------------- "A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera.” Dorothea Lange "Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important." Henri Carter-Bresson The first volume of the San Francisco Bay Area Photo Blog contains galleries of photographs posted on the Internet between 2002 and 2011. Click Here to view those photos. These photographs were taken with a Sony camera. Question or comment? I may be reached at neil@mishalov.com. |
