Translation by Otávio Bernardi
Starting out our first part of the San Francisco trip, let’s check the itinerary of the first day:
Pier 14: set beside of the Ferry Building, this pier is little known by tourists and brings and incredible view of the city, to the famous Cupid’s Span statue (by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen) and Bay Bridge. Used a lot by the fishermen, this pier has a series of metal plates with parts of the poem “The sea and the hills”, by Rudyard Kipling.
Ferry Building: at its founding, it was a wood warehouse and quickly became a meeting point for travelers and sailor that arrived from the Ferry. Time passed and the warehouse got small for the number of people that visited it, and with this in mind, the construction of the building started in 1896, finishing two years later. Its clock tower was inspired by the Seville Cathedral’s tower. When the Bay Bridge (1936) and Golden Gate Bridge (1937) construction ended, the Ferry wasn’t used as much. Twenty years later, with the spike in population and vehicles, the Ferry was brought back as an alternative of transportation. After the 1989 earthquake, which damaged most roads in the city, the Ferry became, once again, the main method of coming and going. In 2002, the market went through a restauration process to maintain its characteristics from the original design, and to this day is still one of the most crowded markets in town. The building has two floors, the first one being filled with restaurants and stores and the second one functioning as the administration and hall of events. You can find different kinds of cheeses, wines, breads, coffees, among other delicacies, and enjoy the weather of San Francisco Bay. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from 10am to 2pm, there’s the Farmers Market, the famous street market.
Pier 7: an incredible view right beside the sea and on the other side, the Transamerica Pyramid (Complex of two buildings, squaring an entire block of downtown San Francisco, with the most expensive rent in the world; including 48 floors and 18 elevators, being only two of them at the top; over 853 feet tall – San Francisco’s highest building; the construction started in 1969 and the first occupiers only moved there in 1972, those being banks and investment firms).
Fisherman’s Wharf: built in this area in 1853, the first harbor of San Francisco, that quickly turned into an important center for marine products. Also known as Fisherman’s Docks, it’s marked by the past, from destroyed buildings ruble from the earthquake and the fire of 1906. Many touristic attractions were only built in the last decade. Here you’ll find: Fisherman’s Wharf, the Museum of Madame Tussauds, Pier 39, Pier 45, Hyde Pier, Maritime Museum (with historical ships, a visitor’s center, a sea museum and library/research center), Grirardelli Square, and even more. If you want to learn more about it, check the official site.
Pier 39: a merchant and entertainment center built in 1899, an until this day, one of the most visited spots in San Francisco, where you can find Sea Lion Center (showcasing the life and preservation of sea lions), a 7D Experience cinema, a two floors carousel, a mirror maze (Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze), Hard Rock Café, Aquarium of the Bay, Lefty’s, Musical Stairs (a staircase that emits different sounds as you step on it), the traditional Boudin bakery, and other restaurants and attractions. Located on the same area of Fisherman’s Wharf. After the 1899 earthquake, the sea lions made Pier 39 their home, being the main attraction on this dock. From here, you can also take a look at the Island of Alcatraz Prison and the Golden Gate Bridge. (PS: the stores and restaurants are open from 10am to 9pm.).
We are going to cut the post of the first day in half, so it doesn’t get too long.
Stay tuned for the second part, coming soon. I hope you enjoyed our first step into San Francisco and don’t miss the next post of Let’s Travel the World!
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