Sunday, 24 August 2014

If you don't know me by now.

Today is a fulfilment of a lifetime ambition which was to ride the trams in San Francisco. 

As soon as we had had lunch after the morning tour we hopped on this one. 


I got chatting to the driver who informed me there was an older tram with British type controls three behind him so after we got off we let this one


and this one 


go past. 

Then as expected this Milan tram turned up. 


We rode it the full length of the line, from Fishermans Walk to Castro. 



Just before we got to Castro we had to get off. The service had terminated short because the yellow tram pictured earlier had broken down. We got a free show of the rescue. 

A Mexican tram had to be driven wrong end back to the stranded tram. 


By now quite a queue had formed. 


Then it was time to attach a towing bar. 



Here is an unusual picture of two trams  facing each other with poles set in opposite directions. 


Finally the rescue could be performed. 

The trams went off down a branch rarely used and never in public service. 






All the trams display their original location and livery. 

We travelled back on a Washington DC tram. 





Next we turned our attention to the Cable Car trams. 


This was our first, on the California Street line.

Then went on the steeper Powell-Hyde line. On this line they have a hand operated turntable at each terminus to rotate the tram. 




We queued for about thirty minutes to get on it, but managed to get prime positions, hanging from the running board on the front offside corner. 
It was an exhilerating ride. 

The queue at the Hope terminus was over an hour so we came back a quicker way on this. 


As we have purchased a three day travel pass we should get to play more tomorrow :-). 


Every kind of life.

Zane, the cowboy we met in Grand Junction told us that in San Francisco we would see every kind of life and he wasn't exaggerating. It's the place we have both felt least comfortable on the streets and see glad to be back in our hotel. However we have had a good day and seen loads. 

First up it was a coach tour of the city. 

Round the first corner we passed this. 

 
This is the view down the street. It's amazing. 


The first stop was Lombard Street, the famous S bend one. Luckily our walk was down it rather than up. 



We spotted Alcatraz from here. 

 
And this is the house where James Stewart lived in Vertigo. 


This is where Mrs Doubtfire lived. It is in Pacific Heights. 


Next it was a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge. These photos were taken on the way. 







We stopped at the other side for another photo opportunity. 






After this we went up Twin Peaks which is one of the highest points in San Francisco. 




The tour dropped us at Fishermans walk and finally time for the first food of the day. 

Alison had a clam chowder served in a sourdough bread bun. I had a chilli dog!


The rest of the day was spent mostly on public transport which I will cover in another posting. 

We finished the day in Chinatown with a lovely banquet meal. 


Only one more full day to go then back to reality.