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June 21-22, 2025 Marti Eicholz The Odyssey pulls up anchor on the shores of Catalina Island and sails against intense winds and on chilly, choppy waters for San Francisco, seven square miles of fog-shrouded magic, on the coast of central California, at the entrance to San Francisco Bay, stretching thirteen miles side-to-side and forty miles top-to-bottom. Knowing that San Francisco experiences cool, foggy summers (unpredictable microclimates), due to its location near the ocean, we dress in layers to stay comfortable. As The Odyssey cruises into San Francisco Bay, we are treated to stunning views of the city skyline, the awe-inspiring, unmistakable symbol of San Francisco, a modern marvel, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz before arriving at a state-of-the-art facility, James R. Herman Cruise Terminal, Pier 27 on the northern waterfront, nestled against the backdrop of the bustling city and the serene waters of the bay, and housing 88,000 square feet of amenities.
San Francisco has a rich history marked by Spanish colonization, the Gold
Rush, earthquakes, and significant cultural movements. Spanish explorers
established a presence on June 29, 1776 (soon to be 249 years ago), founding
Mission Dolores and the Presidio, naming the settlement Yerba Buena, meaning
“good herb” and renaming it San Francisco in 1847, honoring Saint Francis of
Assisi. The 1848 Gold Rush transformed San Francisco, leading to massive
growth, becoming a major port, an international hub, attracting diverse
populations, and making it the largest city on the West Coast at the time.
Levi Strauss invented denim jeans during this era for miners who needed
durable yet comfortable clothing, quickly becoming a fashion sensation, a
staple in many wardrobes worldwide. A devastating earthquake in 1906 caused widespread destruction to the city’s wooden buildings, leading to a fire that burned for days. The World’s Fair (Panama-Pacific International Exposition) in 1915, highlighted the opening of the Panama Canal and San Francisco’s recovery from the 1906 devastation. A beautiful piece of Roman Greek style architecture, The Palace of Fine Arts, was built for the World’s Fair, a favorite venue. Admire this impressive neoclassical building as you walk under its picturesque rotunda, wander the grounds, and visit the lagoons where ducks, swans, and geese call home. At the end of the 19th century, over forty thousand Victorian-style houses were built in San Francisco. The earthquake destroyed some. A lot of the houses remain and those are called Painted Ladies. During World War II, San Francisco was a key embarkation point for troops and supplies heading to the Pacific Theater. The city is famous for cultural significance, the role it played in the Beat Generation, the Hippie movement, and the LGBTQ rights movement. Summer of Love in 1967 was a major cultural movement that brought thousands of people, including hippies and counterculture figures to San Francisco. Close to Pier 27 is the Ferry Building, a port of entry and transit hub, marketplace, and farmer’s market. Merchants, shops, wine bars, restaurants line the historic building’s hallways, making it a one-stop shopping experience. Pier 39 is part of Fisherman’s Wharf, a once stomping ground of Italian fishermen, now a popular attraction with seafood restaurants, souvenir shops and the sea lion colony. Watch the sea lions lazing around, dipping, diving, barking at each other, sunbathing, and posing for photos. A lively atmosphere. The “City by the Bay” has incredible views, edgy neighborhoods, and beautiful open-air spaces. My shipmates are anticipating a quintessential experience, taking a scenic ride on a cable car (a historic tram), the only National Historical Monument that moves, cables pulling cars at a constant speed of 9.5 MPH… Walking or biking the red-orange Golden Gate Bridge, an engineering marvel, initially planned to be painted black and yellow by the U.S. Navy to look like a bumblebee, spans 1.7 miles, connecting the city’s northernmost point to Marin County. The striking “International Orange” color was chosen by the architect, becoming an iconic symbol of the city… Immersing in Asian culture by visiting the oldest, bustling Chinatown in North America, dating back to the Gold Rush era, and with the largest Chinese enclaves outside of Asia. It is bright, clean, beautiful, and authentic with dim sum restaurants, temples, unique shops, markets, typical architecture, and brimming with vibrant energy. The fortune cookie, associated with Chinese restaurants, was invented in San Francisco. Next to Chinatown is Salesforce Park, a giant living roof with dancing fountains, grassy lawns, six hundred trees, and many plants. Discovering the charm of North Beach (Little Italy), a historic neighborhood, the center of Italian American culture, vibrant nightlife, and literary past. In the 1950s, it was a major gathering spot for the Beat Generation writers and artists. City Lights Bookstore and the Beat Museum are landmarks, reflecting this period. Experience the unique atmosphere with its many sidewalk cafes, Italian eateries, bakeries, bars, clubs, and live music venues. Stop by tiny Washington Square Park, overlooking St. Peter and Paul Church where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio took their wedding pics after tying the knot at San Francisco City Hall. Driving down or walking down Lombard Street, the most crooked street in the world, features eight hairpin turns lined with beautiful landscapes, flowers, and historic homes, offers picturesque views. Sailing 1.25 miles to glimmering Alcatraz, once a military fort, later a notorious federal penitentiary, offering hot-water showers to prevent prisoners from getting acclaimed to colder climates and attempting escape. No prisoners escaped, “The Rock.” Al Capone, a famous inmate with a musical side, started a band called “Rock Island,” playing the banjo. Today, Alcatraz is a National Park. The name “Alcatraz” means “pelicans” or “strange birds.” Explore all in one California Academy of Sciences, housing a natural history museum, aquarium, planetarium, and rainforest. Our itinerary doesn’t allow time for day trips to walk through Muir Woods, where ancient redwoods tower above peaceful forest trails, Wine Country, Yosemite National Park, but maybe next time around. San Francisco, the thirteenth largest city in the United States, is full of interesting facts and quirky details. Golden Gate Park, a vast urban park with gardens, museums, and a Japanese Tea Garden is larger than NYC’S Central Park. The city is built on more than fifty hills, offering stunning views and unique architectural challenges. The city has a rich literary history. Famous writers, the Beat poets like Jack Kerouac, and Allen Ginsberg found inspiration here. Robert Frost, a great poet was born in San Francisco. The Victorian Tanner House at 1709 Broderick Street is known as the TV series “Full House,” a real San Francisco residence. In 1952, Buena Vista Café introduced the US to Irish coffee. The city has more furry friends than human children (10,000 more dogs than kids), showing adoration for four-legged companions. The city’s fog is nicknamed “Karl the Fog” due to a Twitter account which personified the fog with a whimsical, humorous, inspired character Karl the Giant from the movie Big Fish. With over three hundred coffeehouses within its city boundaries, it is a coffee lover’s paradise. During the Great Depression, not a single bank in San Francisco failed. Ghirardelli chocolate was founded in San Francisco by an Italian chocolatier in the mid-19th century. San Francisco, a global center for technology and finance, played a significant role in the early environmental movement. The city has a world-class network of parks and plazas, a robust public transit network, leading academic and research institutions. San Francisco boasts a diverse population and a thriving arts and culinary scene, specializing in signature foods like Dungeness Crab pulled fresh from the ocean, Mission Burrito bursting with flavors in every bite, and Sourdough Bread, a tangy delight. Having lived in San Francisco for several years, I can say, “It is a hilly place.” Any walk you take doesn’t shy away from steepness, stairways leading to incredible neighborhoods and downtown attractions like meandering through SF’s Russian Hill, Telegraph Hill, North Beach, Coit Tower, perched in Pioneer Park atop Telegraph Hill with a 210-foot-high tower, and other hidden gems, jaw-dropping views, and world-famous sites. Part of my heart will always rest here. |
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