Soccer Kid

Nathan played soccer with our local Parks & Rec league this fall.

He loves it, and as it turns out, he's pretty good, too.

San Francisco Day 5: More Architecture

We had to be at the airport by noon on this day, but Brian had a couple of meetings to attend in the morning. So I headed out for one final excursion, this time to the Pacific Heights neighborhood, which is supposedly where the upper crust live. I would believe it. Again, I couldn't get enough of the lovely, unique architecture and detail.

We had a fabulous trip to the Bay Area and look forward to taking the kids and going again someday.

Day 4: Marin County & Napa

On our fourth day, Brian ditched his meetings, we rented a car, and early in the morning, we headed north.

The view of the Golden Gate Bridge before we crossed it into Marin County:

Only in the Bay Area:

We drove through the quant town of Sausalito but didn't take any noteworthy pictures. Our primary destination was the Muir Woods.

We got there early in the day, before school groups and other crowds arrived. It was pristinely quiet and absolutely stunning--a true heaven on earth. Being there was almost a spiritual experience, and I could have stayed for hours.

About the time we left Muir Woods, a number of buses pulled up. We were glad we arrived early. It is a place best enjoyed in silence, and for me, it was the highlight of the entire trip.

We headed up to Napa and to a winery recommended by several people. Unfortunately, we didn't arrive in time for the tour, but we did enjoy the spectacular views:

So we drove north another twenty miles, through a few quaint towns and past lots and lots of vineyards. We drove by the house in The Parent Trap but didn't see much. Finally, we arrived at another recommended vineyard and rode up to the facility.

Our ticket price included the tasting of a number of reserve label wines. At the first wine-tasting station, when we told the employee that we wouldn't be drinking, we were greeted with a fantastically surprised stare of amazement. The guy thought we were bizarre. Yes, why would anyone ever tour a vineyard, yet not partake? Indeed, we are bizarre.

We enjoyed more beautiful views of the valley.

It was an interesting tour….

One thing we really noticed: Those who own & run vineyards take their wine seriously. Very seriously.

We were given two complimentary wine glasses, which we left perched on a water fountain for some fortunate soul to find.

We headed back to the city but had one more stop for the day, at the Marin Headlands, on the north end of the GG Bridge. Again, more stunning views and more photo ops. (We took over 800 pictures on this trip!)

To the west, the Pacific Ocean and the Headlands:

To the east, the Bay, the city, and Alcatraz.

An old WW2 military installation, which guarded the entrance to the Bay.

San Francisco Day 3: Afternoon/Evening

After the Alcatraz tour, I made my way across town and back to Golden Gate Park. I spent the afternoon wandering the deYoung Fine Art Museum.

Inside the museum, my first stop was to see these two paintings. The artists were the grandparent's of a dear friend. They painted these during their internment at a Japanese-American camp during WW2. I was very moved as I studied these paintings, which depicted a taste of life in the camp.

Another painting I particularly enjoyed was this one. Unfortunately I didn't take note of the artist, but it reminded me of visiting the Mill City Museum in Minnesota.

Below--by Edward Hopper:

Before I left, I went up to the top level of the museum, in the tower overlooking the city. The top of the tower is wider than its base, and because of this, I felt very unsteady up at the top. I snapped a few quick photos and left.

I headed out to meet Brian in another part of town. I took the wrong bus a few times, missed another bus (because I was standing on the wrong side of the road), and my phone died--taking my map with it. Fun times. But along the way, I did get to enjoy the lovely city center, including City Hall and the Opera House.

Eventually I met up with Brian, and we enjoyed a stroll with yet another gorgeous view:

On our way back to the bus, we walked around the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts, which serves no purpose except to be beautiful. I also loved seeing the unique, pristine homes in this neighborhood.

San Francisco Day 3: Alcatraz

On the third morning of our trip, while Brian was at his meetings, I took a tour of Alcatraz--a fascinating place. The ferry ride out to the island had gorgeous views of the Bay, the city, and these two bridges on either side.

Approaching the island.

It was said by the prisoners that the worst punishment of "The Rock" was psychological--being so close to San Francisco, seeing the city and hearing the sounds of freedom, and yet being so very trapped. A view of the city from the island:

Ruins of the warden's home.

A great deal of vegetation grows on the island, both wild and cultivated, preserved as a tribute to the families who lived there and grew their own gardens.

Below is the remainder of the play yard that was used by the children who lived on the island. At the prison's height, about fifty lived there with their parents, their fathers working at the prison in some capacity. Each day the children would ferry to the city for school. They hardly realized they grew up in the shadows of the country's most notorious prison.

Clothing issue.

A number of attempted escapes occurred during Alcatraz's history. The most notorious resulted in a three-day siege wherein one guard was killed. Here is how the prisoners attempted escape:

A memorial to the guard who was killed in this cell.

Marks from explosives used during the siege.

Visitation windows.

The library, now devoid of books. The average prisoner read twelve books a month, often nonfiction.

The recreation yard, where prisoners in good standing were allowed one hour a day.

Looking out from the steps going down into the recreation yard. Freedom…so close, yet so unattainable.

The dining hall (which apparently had the best food in the prison system) was considered the most dangerous room in the prison and was equipped with tear gas. Fortunately, no incidents ever occurred here.

Cell blocks.

At the end of this cell block were the solitary confinement cells. Al Capone spent some time in there, as did a few other notorious inmates.

Entrance to solitary confinement.

The only "successful" prison attempt was very Count of Monte Cristo-like. Three prisoners dug out holes in the wall behind their toilets and crawled out through those holes--

--and somehow climbed up pipes and through the catacombs of the prison--

--while their "dummies" lay sleeping in their beds.

The escape was "successful" because the three men were never heard from again. It is presumed that they drowned in the waters of the Bay.

However, I am entertained by the idea that they escaped to South America, where they lived out the rest of their lives in anonymity and freedom.