After we finished our visit to Alcatraz this morning, we ate lunch and then met up again with the tour bus, which then took us on a city tour.
The tour began by going to Golden Gate Bridge, which, of course, we'd already seen from a vantage point the other day on a visit to Muir Woods. But it turned out that today's view of the bridge was much better than the other day. We were closer. What's more, today's weather was perfect.
Our tour driver told us that in the summer San Francisco typically has a week of fog followed by a week of sun followed by a week of fog again and then another week of sun. We felt very lucky to have this clear view of the Golden Gate. This city is so much colder than surrounding areas only 10 miles away. I think our driver said it was Mark Twain who said the coldest winter he ever endured was a summer in San Francisco.
The bridge is painted in 'international orange', the colour also of this railing in the foreground. Originally, the US Navy wanted the bridge painted black and yellow!
The bridge has several lanes. They don't always operate in the same direction but change morning and night and at weekends. I took a short walk onto the bridge itself in the time available.
If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.
Our tour took us to Lands End, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. A little round the shoreline to the right is the ocean side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Our driver said white pointer sharks stay in the ocean and don't swim past the Golden Gate. Not so sure the sharks know where the bridge is.
At Twin Peaks, this 'vista point' (what the Americans call a lookout) overlooks the city of San Francisco. Here, we are 900 feet above sea level.
Jean and I above San Francisco. This is our last evening here. We will take some very good memories away with us of our time here. Tomorrow, we fly to Las Vegas, the focal point of this blog.
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