Tuesday, March 31, 2009

San Francisco 49 miles Scenic Drive -6

Turn the corner of Union Square, the 49 miles Scenic Drive leads you to China Town. China Town of San Francisco is one of the world biggest size and population. Chinese people living in China Town, San Francisco are mostly Cantonese. My wife is a Chinese, but she is originally from Beijing. So, she has difficulty communicating here. It is interesting to see 2 Chinese people found their languages are different and suddenly start speaking in English. The first picture left is the Gate to China Town. Despite of Japan Town, China Town has sense of living. I can hear baby crying in upstairs in souvenir shops or fighting shouting out loud in the second floor of a restaurant. Generally, I need to admit that China Town has more energy than Japan Town.

The picture right is taken from my car driving Grant Street across China Town. In addition to sightseers, there are always Chinese people selling and buying meats, vegetables, fruits, etc... I respect the power of Chinese people who spread around the world and build their own cities. Wherever I visited, there was no place where there is no Chinese Restaurant. Europe, South East Asia, Australia, etc... there are always Chinese people living there not stationing like most of Japanese these days. Another thing is that Chinese overseas help each other and system is established. Japanese should look up to them and try to copy them, instead of trying to sell expensive staff to visitor Japanese.

Coming out of China Town, route goes up hill and bring you to Coit Tower in Telegraph Hill. Although there was history when some broadcasting was made from top of this Hill, Coit Tower was built as city planning and add another beautiful architect to the city. Mural in the Tower is something you must see. The mural, partly showing European (mostly Spanish) living, shows living of Native Americans. Climbing up the hill to the Coit Tower is not exactly on the 49 miles route, this place is popular spot. The problem is traffic jam en route to the top, and difficulty in parking. In addition, wind is almost always strong, so it is not easy to stay long here.

The last picture below today shows Lombard Street, world crookedest road. I imagine that the slope here was too steep to build straight road and made a road like this. Actually the road next to Lombard is so steep that it looks like a cliff diving when I try to drive down. My mother screamed when I drove down there.

Related posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/03/san-francisco-49-miles-scenic-drive-5.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/03/san-francisco-49-miles-scenic-drive-4.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/03/san-francisco-49-miles-scenic-drive-3.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/03/san-francisco-49-miles-scenic-drive-2.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/03/san-francisco-49-miles-scenic-drive-1.html


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Monday, March 30, 2009

San Francisco 49 miles Scenic Drive -5

Leaving Japan Town, right at Post Street, 49 miles Scenic Drive is now taking you to one of most famous and popular place for visitors. That is Union Square. Union Square is basically shopping center for visitors and residents. There is Macy's on South of Square, Neiman Marcus on South West corner, and Bloomingdale on Market Street. Also there are shops such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Gucci, etc... There are world class hotels nearby. They include Westin St. Francis, Grand Hyatt, Clift Hotel, Villa Florence, so on and so forth.


The history of Union Square is deeply related to Civil War. This park is named "Union Square" because pro-Union Army campaigns were held here and this square was noticed as Union Army supporting movement. In 1903, the square constructed monument of Victory of Admiral George Dewey's victory of the battle of Manila Bay. This Victory monument "Victory", was modeled from the likeness of a local heiress, Alma de Bretteville Spreckels. This Victory tower is as show in the picture left.

Today Union Square is literally "heart" of San Francisco. Every weekend, there are some ceremonies and event are held including Art Shows. The last picture below shows an Art Show in one weekend. This Square is famous for Macy's sponsored Christmas Tree and Christmas Decoration. I will revisit this when Christmas time comes.

Related posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/03/san-francisco-49-miles-scenic-drive-4.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/03/san-francisco-49-miles-scenic-drive-3.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/03/san-francisco-49-miles-scenic-drive-2.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/03/san-francisco-49-miles-scenic-drive-1.html


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Sunday, March 29, 2009

San Francisco 49 miles Scenic Drive -4

Since Japan Town is one of my favorite place, forgive me, readers, to park in the basement garage of Japan Town Buildings, and walk around a little bit to show you insight of Japan Town uploading some pictures taken in Japan Town.

First Picture left is the close-up shot of the 5 layer roof Japanese Style Pagoda. Instead of Japanese ones are all wooden built, this is all concrete architecture.
But it still is Buddhism Pagoda, carrying the message for love and peace.




This place is small square where the people working in Japan Town can take lunch out. Some times you can see Asian people playing Japanese style or Chinese style Chess. The picture right is main road go through Japan Town. The tower is built copying Japanese traditional Fire Watching Tower. There are Japanese Shops around here.

Picture below left is World War II Japanese American Monument on the same street as above. Each of 4 side of this stone shows 1. Immigration Started, 2. Building Base of Living, 3. Started to Enjoy Living Here, and 4. War destroyed their Living and Enjoyment. The message says "Please rest in peace. We will not make such a mistake again."



The last picture below left shows inside of Japan Town Buildings. There are many restaurant and shops and I cannot show them all here. Sushi, Sashimi, Benihana BBQ, Tempura, you name it you have it. The picture is the shop selling Japanese potteries and ceramics with traditional Japanese paintings and arts. If you are familiar with Japanese Potteries, it is Mashiko.

There are some shops and groups who are providing training for Japanese Dance, language, Origami, Drams, Musics, etc... Occasionally, these groups hold a booth in Japan Town Buildings and serve tea and talk with people visiting here. They are very friendly. It is great place to hear Japanese Accent English explaining Japanese traditions and histories.


Related posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/03/san-francisco-49-miles-scenic-drive-3.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/03/san-francisco-49-miles-scenic-drive-2.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/03/san-francisco-49-miles-scenic-drive-1.html


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http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
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Saturday, March 28, 2009

San Francisco 49 miles Scenic Drive -3

Next area where this 49 miles Scenic Drive takes you after leaving San Francisco City Hall is Japan town. As many cities, San Francisco city area is full of one way road. Geary Street in down town goes to west. Turn left at Geary Street and drive several minutes, you will start to see Japan Town's Main Buildings consisting of Kinokuniya Building, Miyako-mall, Kabuki Theater Buildings. First you will see to your right from Geary Street is Japanese Style Pagoda with 5 layer roofs as the picture above left.

Since all the Japanese Americans lived here were brought into camps in World War II, and most of them did not come back here. Now not so many Japanese American family are living here. This place is for historical monument and Japanese restaurant and souvenir shops. But for Japanese and Japanese Americans this place is still convenient place to eat Sushi and buy Japanese staff.

There are several historical monument in this area right picture shows all the Japanese and Japanese Americans' hope for Peace engraved on the wall of in the square of 5 layer roof Pagoda.

There are some interesting views in the area. It may be the few places in US where road names were shown both in English and Japanese as shown in the last picture below left.

Related posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/03/san-francisco-49-miles-scenic-drive-2.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/03/san-francisco-49-miles-scenic-drive-1.html


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San Francisco 49 miles Scenic Drive -2

Great things about this San Francisco 49 miles Scenic Drive is the fact that you can start from anywhere in the city where you find the sign and start to follow. Also if you do not have time any more and want to stop following the scenic drive sign, you can quit it any time. So, I did not know it has starting point and ending point. But it does. The starting point is around San Francisco City Hall. Since I posted City Hall's picture from front, this time I am posting another picture of San Francisco City Hall as left above.

This area is like San Francisco's cultural center. East side of the City Hall, there is Asian Culture Center whereas many Asian Cultural Exhibition and Theatrical Art Performance are held. When I took this picture right, they were showing Japanese Traditional Kabuki Play. In the building, there are Chinese Arts Exhibition permanently set. It also shows history of Asian Americans which is very interesting.

City Hall does marriage ceremony service. So, in the weekend, there are couples who marry in the City Hall and take pictures in the park front.

Now it is about the time to follow the sign "49 miles Scenic Drive" to drive to Japan Town as next interest point.

Route continues from here to Japan Town, then to Union Squre following the sign board like below picture.

Related Post:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/03/san-francisco-49-miles-scenic-drive-1.html


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Thursday, March 26, 2009

San Francisco 49 miles Scenic Drive -1

When you are visiting some place for sightseeing, you will get information, you will plan schedule where to go when to go, then you go. For the people who are living there, they know a lot of good places to visit in the area where they live. But, they never go to these places. For example, I was born and raised in Tokyo. Tokyo has a lot of sightseeing point, such as Tokyo Tower. My father took me to Tokyo Tower, when I was 5 years old. Since then, I have never visited Tokyo Tower. I think it is natural difference between visitors and residents.

I have a little bit different situation living in San Francisco. Because this is not where I was born and raised. When I was visiting San Francisco before 1997 when I started to live. I used to plan and schedule the places I visit. So, I have plenty of information of sightseeing in San Francisco. Since started to live, I have not had much of time to visit these places unless I have visitor either from Japan or China. This time, since my mother in law is visiting us, my wife and I took her to several places. One of sightseeing we did was "San Francisco 49 miles Scenic Drive".

H
ave you heard about it? As I continuously say in this blog that San Francisco is romantic place. It is lovely place that entire city is like big theme park. "47 miles Scenic Drive" is to enjoy almost all of good places in this city. I have tried to this scenic drive several times, but have never done from the beginning to the end. This time we did.

Please refer to the map above and I would like to take you to this trip in several articles. It may not be so easy to follow in the map above, but the blue line shows this scenic drive route.

49 miles Scenic Drive Sign close to Starting Point, City Hall
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Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Meet "Small Spring"

Although San Francisco, Bay Area does not have real severe winter, it still have winter. San Francisco winter is cold and dump. It is windy as well. There are several storms bring hails in this season of Feb - Mar.

So, I feel very happy when I feel warm sun shine embracing the area and see flowers start to gloom. Peaches and Plums first, then Cherry, and then Dogwoods starts to open their own flowers.

In my high school English text book, I roughly remember that somebody famous wrote "Spring is Shy Season... One day leaps out, next day hide away..." It looks really like it. One day warm, relaxed, and next day it goes back to cold and humid condition.

Still it is becoming warm and spring like day by day. It started to appear small humble garden of ours. I took several pictures and I wanted to share with you, today.

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Sunday, March 22, 2009

San Francisco is not just delicious, it is humorous -3

One of San Francisco's my favorite place is "City Hall" and its area. There I see not so many sightseeing people. Basically they do not need to go to San Francisco City Hall, I guess. But the building is beautiful and the park in front of it is wide open area where I can relax and enjoy sun bathing when weather is nice. Inside of the City Hall's main building is also historical and beautiful. Very high ceiling and all European style decoration. Like my wife and I always visit there for business reason do not enjoy much. But when you visit to San Francisco, you should visit there, too.

Left picture is the main building of San Francisco City Hall and the park front. In the weekdays, there are many people come out of their offices and enjoy lunch out in the park sitting in the grass.

This area is also cultural center of San Francisco. There is central library of San Francisco on the other side of the City Hall. This library is abundant on Asian Cultural books and materials. Next to this library is exhibition hall for Asian Cultural Association. There were some exhibition on Japanese Kabuki (Theatrical Art) going on when I visited there last time.

Please take a look at the picture below. I smiled when I found this one.

Related Posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/03/san-francisco-is-not-just-delicious-it_22.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/03/san-francisco-is-not-just-delicious-it.html

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