The flight from Seoul to San Francisco is about 10 hours. Singapore Airlines usually offers the best deal on the direct flight, along with good service and suprisingly edible food. Plus, they always oblige in getting me drunk. I've taken their cross-pacific flight six times now, and everytime I've had myself an entire aisle of seats to lay across; three seats, armsrests up, that's the way I like to....um....sleep. But I wasn't so lucky this time. There were just a few empty seats in the entire plane, and sitting beside me was a 60-or-so-years-old California couple coming back from a 'spiritual retreat' in India". Everyone else in the back of the plane was likely as thrilled as me when their new friend from the retreat came over, and while propped up over some other passenger's seat, proceeded to blab on for over hour. Thank goodness for earbud headphones that seal-out environmental noise.
After the sleepless flight, I collected my bags and rental car and began the 100km trek north to Santa Rosa, sister city of Jeju City (Korea). Since I had my good camera with me, and the sky was a deep blue with those big poofy California clouds, I decided to stop off at a Golden Gate Bridge vista point--a place that I can't recall ever stopping at. What better than to take sleep-deprived photographs and then drive some more, eh?
Three views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
A small patch of California Golden Poppies, the state flower, were growing in the vista point area. There were also bumble bees feeding off the nectar.
The U.S. military previously maintained fortifications in the bridge area. Here we have a photo of what looks to be officers' housing that was sold off to civilians. The next photo shows the entryway to what was once was the "Guest House for Enlisted Personel," but is now abandoned.
Below the bridge on the San Francisco side is Fort Point, previously fitted with over a hundred cannons protecting the bay from intruders. Speaking of protection, now we just, uhh, we just...ummm, cross our fingers?
The famous prison island of Alcatraz sits out in the bay. I've sailed by it, ferried by it, driven by it, and looked at it hundreds of times. But unlike today's tourists and the prisoners before them, I've never set foot on the island.
Nice shots. I particularly like the opening one and the third small one of the bridge.
Oh yeah, and the bumble bee kicks ass. But, despite you mentioning that there were bees there, I didn't notice it in the picture the first time around.
Look forward to seeing some more shots from CA.
This made me homesick!
By the way, thanks for the link. I gave you one right back. Take care.
Great pictures... Alcatraz is really somethin' else, and the history was interesting as the narrators brought us through the cells and compounds.
I miss CA! Was there for 7 months.