Previously. On the 6th day in San Francisco, I sampled the city's cultural and tourist trap offerings.
I jumped on the F line old thyme buses that roam the city streets to head to the Fisherman's Wharf with all the other tourists.
I liked the bus's interior lights.
Trees. It looks like Southern California warm out there, but it was a cool nearly all the time, day or night, in San Fran. So if you go, pack a jacket and some sweaters kids.
The wharf! Or "Yuck" as every local said when I mentioned this place. Whatever. It's a PART OF SAN FRANCISCO. TIMES SQUARE IN YOUR FACE.
One of the few views unobstructed by tourists.
The weather was nice that day.
Alcatraz in the background, and uhm, bird poop in the foreground.
The famous bridge.
Alcatraz was really one way for most of the inmates, except for some.
And then the highlight of the day: A sea lion!
Correction: Sea lions! A whole lotta them and they were barking up a storm too.
Who's watching who? Whom? Huh? What?
Although I was mesmerized by this woman's jacket for awhile. I was wondering whether she won it in some Dr Pepper promotion or...if she purchased it.
This scene is kinda sedate. What could make this more exciting?
A ROCKET BOAT WOULD! YELLOW-ORANGE EXTREME FLAMES IN YOUR FACE BITCHES!
These birds are unimpressed with the whole scene.
This fella is itchy.
Help, I'm falling and I can't get up. SPLASH!
One last view.
While I was roaming this two-level pier stocked with souvenir shops selling bric-a-brac and seafood restaurants with identical menus and claims to San Fran history, I noticed this curious sign that suggested a photo from this location would be ideal. I thought it was a quirky one-time thing.
And then I spotted another. This one is sponsored by Shells Vacation Club. It dawned on me that these might be essentially hidden easter eggs placed all over the pier. And I wanted to find them all. Kind of like a Pokemon Waldo.
Photo spot!
Photo spot! (I actually kind of do like this photo...)
Sea lion skeleton.
View of the sea lions resting from the second level.
I came across this notice affixed to the door of a closed shop there. No surprise, I was wondering what the fuck a Russian-centric gift shop was doing at this place. Not sure nesting dolls would be a hot item for tourists there.
Photo spot!
Photo spot!
I don't know why these things seem like such a rip off to me.
I was in full tourist mode so I had to order the clam chowder. Like I said there were like 10 restaurants there and to me they seemed identical. So I ended up just choosing a random one.
Done with the wharf, I took one of the famous trolleys back. Destination: SFMOMA aka the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Wood seats in the car.
I came mainly because I wanted to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit that was temporarily showing here. I had studied a bit of her in college but never had an opportunity to see her work in person.
This was hanging inside near the entrance. Not sure who created this.
I'm just going to post with minimal if any commentary the photos of the pieces I liked and was allowed to take photos of. I got yelled out countless times by security guards there though.
I love this.
Tony Bennett was also roaming the museum with a couple assistants or something. The guards were all very excited to see him. I was too, although frankly I didn't recognize him when I first saw him. It was only when one of the guards excitedly whispered to me, "Mr. BENNETT!" I could only snap this photo of him.
I really want this photograph.
Vanish.
For JH
Museum entrance.
Always. You ALWAYS double down.
Installation in progress.
Hilarious.
As soon as I walked into the Frida wing, I snapped this photo. Immediately after, I got a "NO PHOTOGRAPH" warning from a guard.
As a great surprise, the museum also featured a nice collection of contemporary pieces from Chinese artists. Check them out:
Right after I took this photo, I got yelled at again by a security guard informing me that NO photographs are allowed AT ALL in this special exhibit. Haha. I can't believe I was able to photograph so many of them. And I wasn't hiding it either. As you saw above, I was walking up close and getting details. Ahh, ignorance can be bliss sometimes, especially when it pertains to rules.
The End