Distractions, reflections

Since we were in the Bay Area, I arranged for a meeting with a colleague in his office in downtown San Francisco.  We packed out of the hotel to drive into the city, and traffic was lighter than expected.  Thus, we had an hour to see some local sights.  The San Francisco Ferry Building was right down the street.

I’m not sure what I expected to see in a ferry building.  With people passing through on the way to catch a ferry to the other side of the bay, I guess it’s more than a bus terminal, but less than an airport.  Coming through the front door, the hall extended both left and right.  I turned right.

A ferry rider arriving a few minutes early could stop by the artisan bakery for a selection of specialty breads.

Meat has become fashionable again.  A salumeria — cured meat delicatessen — is in keeping with the times.

The refrigerator cases with complete pieces of meat remind us about animal origins.

Taking advantage of a conference in Santa Clara, we arrived at the San Francisco International Airport after noon, picked up a rental car, and drove … the opposite direction, north, into the city.  I lived in San Fran for a few weeks in 1982, and have visited frequently, so I know the local sights relatively well. Our first stop was Pier 39.  The carousel is a hub at the pier.

We had saved our lunch hunger for the Pier Market, ordering the local specialty: seafood.  In addition to a view of the open kitchen serving meals, the hostess had given us choice seats overlooking the bay.

After lunch, we walked out onto the pier for sightseeing, as do thousands of tourists every day.

The sea lions entertained us.  Most just lie on the docks and sleep.  When one wakes up and honks, a few others join in.  With a slight shift in position, one sea lion falls into the water, and then swims around to squeeze into another spot.

There’s plenty of other tourists around with cameras, so we just asked one to snap this group photo with Geovanni, Kia, Nancy, Stephen and myself.