San Francisco. City of San Francisco (United States of America) Description of the city of San Francisco

It seems to me that in order to understand what San Francisco is, before leaving you should definitely listen to the track of the same name by Scott McKenzie, which at one time became the anthem of the hippie movement. That relaxation and the mood that the song creates is what you need to take with you to SF. Scott speaks the brutal truth about the people, the positive vibes, and the streets of the city. San Francisco once became a city of hippies and, perhaps, has retained this atmosphere throughout. Well, don’t forget that in California there is complete legalization with all the ensuing consequences. Kind people with flowers in their hair are what you will meet there :)

And by the way, don't believe people who say it's okay to call San Francisco "Frisco." This is not entirely true. Locals don’t really like this nickname of the city, of course, they won’t reprimand you, but it will most likely show them your low level of awareness of the city’s culture. It's better to just say SF.

How to get there

Taking into account the fact that we live on another continent, and the dereships no longer fly, all that remains is the plane. If you are from the Russian region, then, of course, it is more profitable to look at flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg. Early booking cannot be overemphasized here. All the prices that I will give below were looked at two months in advance, but this is not enough. If possible, it is better to choose air tickets four or six months in advance. In general, the logic is clear and works with any air tickets, perhaps :) You can monitor prices so as not to make a mistake.

By plane

There is only one international airport in San Francisco, so if you fly from Russia, you will land here.

There are several options for getting to SF.

• You can buy a ticket directly from Moscow/St. Petersburg to San Francisco, which will cost you about 35 thousand rubles round-trip per person (subject to booking two months before the expected date).
• Or buy a ticket from Moscow/St. Petersburg to New York (about 23 thousand rubles/round trip per person), and then move from New York to San Francisco (about 11 thousand rubles).

The second option is good and will allow you to save money, but only if you plan your movements wisely. It is advisable that you arrive and depart from the same airport so that you do not have to waste time/money/nerves on moving. And also, when arranging your flight connections yourself, take into account unforeseen circumstances, for example, from time to time there may be flight delays at San Francisco airport due to heavy fog. Again, prices vary and depend greatly on the date of booking. Flights are operated by large Russian companies: S7, Aeroflot. If a transfer is planned along the way, then with European carriers: AirBerlin, AirFrance, Lufthansa, etc. Flight time including connections can be 20-30 hours. Here you can see the schedule and prices.

How to get to the city center

The airport is located 21 kilometers from the city center. You can easily get there by metro if your flight is not too late, or rather does not fall between 12 midnight and 4 am; during other hours, trains run at intervals of 20 - 30 minutes, depending on the time of day. You can board this type of transport right on the territory of the airport in the international terminal, on the third level, where the landing platform is located. Travel, suppose to the center, the main street of the city, Market Street, will take about 40 minutes and cost 8.95 USD.

The subway connects to the BART network of underground electric trains, which will take you to the suburbs of SF. Maps and timetables can be found online or on the subway.

There is another option - a bus. It runs 24 hours a day and stops at the first, second and international terminals. The cost of the trip is 6.50 USD. The journey by bus will take about 50 minutes, excluding traffic jams.

A taxi will cost 40-50 USD. But if you don’t have bulky luggage with you and you didn’t arrive late at night, I still recommend the metro - it’s convenient, fast and cheap. Although, due to safety reasons, it is better to take a taxi if you have a late flight, and the journey from the airport to the city center will only take you 15 minutes by car.

Clue:

San Francisco - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 11

Kazan 11

Samara 12

Ekaterinburg 13

Novosibirsk 15

Vladivostok 18

When is the season? When is the best time to go

I would compare the weather and climate of San Francisco with St. Petersburg - humid, foggy, cool. Despite the proximity of the ocean, you won’t be able to swim in SF. Even in the hottest month, September (yes, September is considered the warmest month there), the water temperature does not rise above 14 degrees Celsius. Agree, an invigorating mark. But if you don't mind cool ocean water, then why not.

But in general, I would advise visiting this city between July and October.

San Francisco in summer

There is a funny saying floating around the Internet: "The coldest winter I've ever experienced is a San Francisco summer." Honestly, I don’t know who exactly it belongs to, but the author clearly knew what he was talking about. The average temperature from June to August is 16 – 17 degrees.

Above, I compared the weather in Northern Fleet with the weather in St. Petersburg - this is my subjective feeling, the average temperature in summer is really the same. And even the average annual precipitation is approximately the same. True, in San Francisco from June to September there is about 0 mm of precipitation, which cannot be said about St. Petersburg.

San Francisco is still one of the hottest states. But the island location of the city and the cold currents of the Pacific Ocean greatly influence the climate. It’s even interesting if you remember how hot it is in Los Angeles almost all year round.

The heat given off by the land and the cold from the water meet to form the fogs for which San Francisco is so famous. But at the same time, these factors make the climate mild with a slight temperature difference, so the seasons in San Francisco do not have clear temperature boundaries.

Of course, when San Francisco is relatively warm, there are a lot of tourists in the city. Many establishments and the museum increase their opening hours on summer days.

San Francisco in autumn

The rainy season begins in October and continues until April. The highest rainfall occurs between November and February. The average air temperature in San Francisco in September is almost +18 degrees (this is the warmest month in the city), October and November are +17 and +14, respectively.

September in Northern Fleet is considered the best month in terms of weather. Usually in the first month of autumn there are still many tourists, then their number declines.

San Francisco in the spring

In the spring months, the temperature stays at +13 to +15 degrees. As you can see, the air temperature remains approximately the same all year round.

Of course, you can visit SF in the spring; there are few tourists at this time, but you won’t be able to experience all the beauty of the city either.

San Francisco in winter

There is almost no snow in San Francisco, as well as negative temperatures. Average winter temperatures are +11 – +13 degrees. In almost 150 years, snow fell in Northern Fleet no more than 10 times, and the maximum snow cover reached only 9 centimeters, and this was at the end of the 19th century. The city has never seen anything like this before.

I think winter is not exactly the time when you should plan a trip to this city. The only plus is the minimum number of tourists.

Clue:

San Francisco - weather by month

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

Living in San Francisco isn't cheap. Some compare the cost of living to New York, or more precisely to Manhattan. Real estate prices are rising, the rapidly developing Silicon Valley nearby is attracting young people from the intellectual sphere, and they are purchasing apartments in the city. And since the income of a specialist in these professions is quite high, prices for everything around him are rising. The most expensive item for a vacation in San Francisco will be housing. You can book it at and compare prices.

• SOMA area. Above, in the screenshot, I marked the area SOMA, which means South of Market. Market street is the most popular street in Northern Fleet; it can be considered the center of the city. Rent in this area is not cheap, but on the other hand, both attractions and public transport routes are very conveniently located. There are also a huge number of housing options. A lot of young people gather in this area; the area is considered bohemian. There are a huge number of bars and establishments with any format. The price per night in a hostel or hotel may vary. As usual, early booking will save your money, and also, if you constantly monitor housing offers in SF, you can get a very good discount or short-term promotion. The minimum cost of accommodation per person that I managed to find in this area is about 3,000 RUB, and ad infinitum. But again, for this little money you don’t count on “royal conditions” - you’ll have to tighten up :) But that’s okay, the main thing is that you’re in the Northern Fleet! By the way, some hostels even include breakfast.
• Bernal Heights. The Lower Circle is a little further out from the center but offers excellent accommodation in Victorian style homes. The area is located on a hill, as its name suggests, so you will not encounter any problems with a view of the city. The area is also considered reliable in terms of security. There are no hotels here, but there are excellent apartments that you should try to book. You can try to find options from the locals. Very popular among travelers who prefer home comfort and style, as well as a tranquil environment in the area. Perhaps this will be suitable for older tourists or those people who will live in Northern Fleet for a long time. Usually such apartments are offered for five people or more. Then it will be profitable and justified. Therefore, if you are traveling with a large group, consider this accommodation option. Perhaps it will be the most successful for you. You can find apartments for 2500 USD per month (and of course, more expensive). If you divide this amount, for example, among five people, you get 500 USD per month from each person. Quite an acceptable price tag for a city with the highest real estate values ​​in.

Both areas are relatively safe, but do not forget about simple precautions. I wrote more about this below :)

If you notice that there are housing options on the map in the Mission District, I still would not recommend choosing this one, the area is not very safe. Below I have described what troubles may await you there.

The Castro district is chosen by representatives of the LGBT community. In general, it all depends on your attitude towards them. Well, one more thing, Castro borders on the above-mentioned Mission District, so the crime situation there is almost the same, although Castro is still calmer.

What are the prices for holidays?

As I wrote above, the most problematic part of the holiday is paying for housing. But the joy is that SF is an amazingly picturesque and relatively small city; you can walk through it in a couple of days without much effort, thereby saving money.

The transport system is also well developed here - buses, metro, trams. Everything is convenient and accessible, the price per ticket is about 5 USD, depending on the type of transport. The Uber service works, which is now developed in our country, so it’s worth using it actively, it’s a proven and comfortable way to order a car, and most importantly, it’s economical. If you use a regular taxi, then for 5 kilometers you will have to pay 10-12 USD + tip (don’t forget), then if you use Uber, you will pay 3-5 USD less from the main price.

In some student hostel you can find a bed/space in an eight-bed room for about 50 USD/day, and it will be near the main Market Street. It can, of course, be more expensive - it all depends on your capabilities.

Food in stores is more expensive than on the East Coast. For example, a liter of milk costs about 1.5 USD, a dozen eggs (12 pieces) - 4.20 USD, a kilogram of chicken breast fillet - 11.90 USD. On average, prices are 2-3 USD higher depending on the name of the product.

If you don’t plan to cook, then, of course, there are McDonald’s and other eateries where you can buy a hot dog and something else like French fry for 6-8 USD.

Clue:

Cost of food, accommodation, transportation and other things

Currency: Euro, € US Dollar, $ Russian Ruble, Rub

Main attractions. What to see

There is an expression that says (my free interpretation, but something very similar): “if you are sad, San Francisco will cheer you up, if you are dead, it will revive you.” Probably because nothing is impossible for this city! It is impossible to come there and not be impressed by its beauty, landscape, ocean, houses, unique trams, streets and people.

We often see its panoramas in films and videos, because this city is very photogenic. I dreamed of getting here from across the Golden Gate Bridge and, perhaps, I was not original in my desire. There are crowds of tourists in San Francisco, but the city does not seem alien and distant, like, for example. There is something special about it that is very difficult to describe. But I will try to find words and talk about the places that leave the best memories.

The great thing is that San Francisco has tons of free attractions that you can visit just by walking the streets. But, of course, having money has never hurt anyone :)

And I also want to say - it’s quite windy in Northern Fleet, and almost always. Even in the hottest sun, a light jacket (windbreaker) will not hurt you. In the evening, around 6 o'clock, it becomes cool in the summer. I would advise putting a light hat or scarf in your bag - it will come in handy.

Top 5

This list can be called subjective, so be it. But you will get incredible sensations from these places. The list of attractions in SF can be expanded to double digits, but perhaps these are some of the most attractive.

• Golden Gate Bridge. It seems to me that no comments are needed here. Just come and see it with your own eyes. I'm sure it will impress you.

• Pier No. 39. Just take pictures and be touched by the sea lions that come out of the water to bask in the sun.

• Twin Peaks. An excellent natural observation deck with a stunning view of the city. In addition, this attraction is absolutely free.

• The most crooked street is Lombard Street. The slope of the hill is 27%, the curved road helps to smooth out this slope. By the way, the street is on Russian Hill. During the Gold Rush there was a Russian cemetery here, which was later moved. Most likely, the buried people were sailors and entrepreneurs from Fort Ross (a Russian fortress that existed in California in the early 19th century).

• Chinatown. The largest Chinatown in North America.

Beaches. Which ones are better

When I was describing the weather and climate, I mentioned that in San Francisco you are unlikely to be able to swim, unless you are a walrus :) The water is cool, about +14, even in summer. Of course, if you want to sit on the sand (the beaches are sandy with small grains of sand) and look at the horizon lost in the distance, then there are places for this. Accordingly, there is no infrastructure. So you will have to sit on what you took with you. By the way, drink and eat too.

Swimming in the ocean is somehow not customary in San Francisco. It is more convenient to go to the more southern part of California.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

San Francisco is a city of contrasts. For all his swagger, he is very cultured. This is confirmed by the incredible number of museums. I’ll tell you a little about the most interesting ones, in my opinion.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)

If the names Warhol, Kahlo and Dali mean anything to you, you will definitely like it here. Get ready to look at contemporary art, you will have to use your imagination and immerse yourself in the world of beauty.

Address: 151 3rd St, San Francisco.

Opening hours: the museum is closed on Wednesday, on Thursday from 10 to 21, and on all other days from 10 to 17. From May 27 to September, the museum is open until 8 pm.

Entrance fees: adults - 25 USD, people over 65 - 22 USD, teenagers (13-18 years old) and children under 12 years old - free admission.

Walt Disney Family Museum

The magical world of Disney attracts more than just children. All adults love and know his characters. There is a wonderful atmosphere of fairy tales and magic here.

Address: 104 Montgomery St, San Francisco.

Opening hours: the museum has a day off on Tuesday, but the rest of the week it waits for its visitors from 10 to 18. Here is the museum’s website.

Entrance tickets: 30 USD - for adults, after 65 years - 25 USD, students with a valid ID - 25 USD, children (6 - 17 years old) - 20 USD.

The Exploratorium

Visual physics. You can not only view the exhibits, but also test them. The exhibitions demonstrate natural and physical phenomena. Very visual and educational.

Address: Pier 15, The Embarcadero & Green St., San Francisco.

Opening hours: Monday - closed, all days except Thursday from 10 to 17, and on Thursday from 10 to 17 and 18 to 22.

Entrance fees: for adults - 29.95 USD, for pensioners over 64 and children from 13 to 17 years old - 24.95 USD, and for children from 4 to 12 - 19.95 USD.

Cable Car Museum

If you are interested in finding out how the symbol of the city appeared and why it became so widespread here, you can visit the museum of cable trams.

Address: 1201 Mason St, San Francisco.

Opening hours: every day from April to October - from 10 to 18, from November to March - from 10 to 17. Admission is free.

Parks

In total, there are more than 200 parks in San Francisco. The most famous park is Golden Gate Park.

• Golden Gate Park. The park is quite large, even larger than Central Park in New York, so if you decide to explore the park well, you will definitely need a bicycle. However, in the summer until October, a free bus runs through the park. Once upon a time, the entire territory of the park was covered only by grass and sand dunes, but now the park consists of thousands of artificially planted plants and trees. The park has several different gardens, the most famous of which are the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden and the Striebing Arbotherium Botanical Garden.

• Lafayette Park. Located on a hill with stunning views of the city, as well as Alcatraz Island.

Tourist streets

It seems to me that you cannot visit San Francisco and not visit Market Street. Most likely you won’t be able to pass by, because SF is not a big city. Locals call it a square. Its length and width are 11 km, which means that the area of ​​the city is only 121 km^2.

This is perhaps the main street of San Francisco, its length is about 5 km. It's better to take a walk to see everything better. There are shops, cafes, restaurants, quaint buildings, parks; There are regular and cable trams, crowds of passers-by are walking, and street musicians are performing. Walking along it means getting to know the character and atmosphere of the city itself.

You can also visit the Castro area. This is the largest area of ​​the LGBT community in America (and probably in the world). The concentration of minorities per square centimeter is off the charts. If you are not interested or are not mentally prepared to see same-sex people walking hand in hand or something else, then it is better not to go there in order to maintain moral balance. Located: from Market Street to 19th Avenue. There are many gay bars and other establishments here.

What to see in 1 day

Let's assume that you will be ready to go on an exciting walk around SF at 9 am. So, let's begin:

• 9 am - you are already standing on Twin Peaks and exploring the sleepy but beautiful surroundings. Here, of course, you need to pay attention to the weather. San Francisco is often foggy, so if the haze is thick, you risk being unable to see anything. But provided that the weather is excellent and the sun is shining brightly, admiring the views of SF will take from 20 to 40 minutes. Don’t linger too long, there is a lot of interesting things ahead!
• 10.30 am - walk along the pier. Be sure to check out Pier 39 and look at the cute fur seals drying their skins on floating pantons.
• 11.00 am - rent a bike, right there from any agency located along the piers and go to the Golden Gate Bridge. You can drive across the bridge and find yourself on the other side of the bay in the town of Sausolito. The bridge actually connects this small city and San Francisco. You can also take a walk there, and if you don’t have the energy left for the trip back, use the ferry, which will take both you and your bike. They go quite often.
• 15.00 - Now you can go to China Town and eat some real Chinese food.
• 17.00 - take a walk along Market Street.
• 18.30 - you can choose a wine or beer bar to get acquainted with the establishments of SF.
• 20.30 - go to a nightclub.

Instead of any event, you can plan a trip to Alcatraz; below I have written how to do this. But in general I highly recommend getting there. The excursion there will take 2-2.5 hours.

What to see in the area

• Fort Ross. It is located 80 kilometers from San Francisco; to get there you will have to go by car. There are also bus routes, but it will take you 4 hours and you need to go with two transfers, so it’s better to go by car. Fort Ross is a Russian settlement that was formed in 1812 and functioned until 1842. It was intended for trade and fishing. It is now a California Historic Landmark. Tours are available around the area. The house of the last Russian commandant has been preserved, the rest of the buildings are reconstructions.

• . The same one where Jack London's hero Martin Eden lived. The guy went to San Francisco and back by bicycle, if you want you can repeat his route, but it’s probably better by car or subway. The distance from the Northern Fleet is about 20 kilometers.
• Yosimite. Of course, I understand that it’s about 300 kilometers away, but this is Yosemite! I think this national park-reserve needs no introduction. To travel there you will need a car and a whole day to spare, or maybe even a day, so that you can stay overnight without any problems.

Nearby Islands

Well, of course it's Alcatraz! I don’t know anyone who hasn’t heard or doesn’t know about this island. You should definitely plan a trip to see him. But there is one caveat - this is a very popular destination, and the ship (or boat, in general, a ship:) goes to this island strictly on schedule and not every day + the number of seats is, naturally, limited.

Therefore, if you are interested in getting there, make sure to book early. If you can do it in about a month, do it. Otherwise it will be very offensive, but even if you cry, nothing can be done. I speak from my own experience. But I didn’t even think that a trip there should be a separately planned event. So learn from my mistakes - please plan this excursion in advance.

Well, Alcatraz is famous for the fact that one of the most legendary mafiosi, the famous Al Capone, served his time there. That is, the level of trust in this prison was so high that the authorities decided to imprison the most important gangster in America in those years.

Food. What to try

If you are a true gourmet and love to eat new, unusual dishes, you are in heaven. Giant portions, steaks of different roasts, authentic national cuisines, eateries with budget but delicious food and expensive restaurants. You can find everything you want in SF.

Budget

• Miyako Old Fashioned Ice Cream. Unprecedentedly low price tag and divine taste. Here you can eat ice cream, frozen yogurt, sandwich and hot dog. It looks like a shabby eatery, but if you give up on this, you will lose a lot in gastronomic terms. Large portions of everything. For a meal for one, 5 – 6 USD is enough. Perfect place. Address: 1470 Fillmore StSan Francisco, CA.

• Molinari Delicatessen. Address: 373 Columbus Ave, North Beach, San Francisco.

• The Codmother Fish & Chips. Address: 496 Beach St, between Jones and Taylor, San Francisco.

• Super Duper Burgers. Address: 721 Market St, San Francisco.

Mid-level

• Brenda's French Soul Food. Address: 652 Polk St, San Francisco.

• Zazie. Address: 941 Cole St, San Francisco.

• Hakkasan San Francisco. Address: 1 Kearny St, San Francisco.

• The House. Address: 1230 Grant Ave, San Francisco.

Expensive

• Don of The Bimini Twist. Address: 188 King Street unit PH7, San Francisco. Tasty and expensive, they serve the freshest seafood: lobster, cod, oysters. The menu is varied, there are even soups. Prices from 20-100 USD.

• Seven Hills. Address: 550 Hyde St, San Francisco.

• Boulevard. Address: 1 Mission St, San Francisco.

• Kokkari Estiatorio. Address: 200 Jackson St, San Francisco.

Holidays

There's always some kind of movement going on in San Francisco. Stars come here to give concerts, hold marathons, fairs, festivals and parades.

For example, on July 7 there will be a festival dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the hippie movement. The purpose of the festival is to remember the original culture of this era. The entrance is free.

Since SF is the most popular city among the LGBT community, festivals of various minorities are held here. Scheduled dates from July 24-25.

Safety. What to watch out for

As in all of California, in San Francisco there are a lot of homeless people, beggars and drug addicts, and the degree of their drug intoxication varies. Sometimes a person may be under "grass", and sometimes under something really heavier. In any case, you should not walk alone in the dark (after 10-11 pm), and also in company - it’s better not to take risks. At night, marginal elements, of which there are plenty in the SF, take to the streets.

Overall, the experience is better than Los Angeles in terms of safety, but there is some discomfort. For an evening walk, I would choose the main street of the city - Market Street, but I would not stay on it until late.

During the day, there is no question of safety. And the streets are full of good-natured people who will be happy to show you and give you advice if you suddenly get lost.

I’m just leaving this photo as an example - I was late for the right train. At 11 pm there was not a soul in the subway, it was creepy.

In the photo below I noted areas of the city where there is a high crime rate. I don’t recommend appearing there in the evening, somewhere after 10 pm.

• The Tenderloin. There are a lot of homeless people and drug addicts here. The area is classified as quite dangerous at any time of the day. Robberies and harassment are also not uncommon.
• Mission District. Not as dangerous as the first number, but can become unpredictable after 9 pm.
• Golden Gate Park. A wonderful place for walking during the day, but not comfortable for spending time in the evening. But I don’t think anyone goes for a walk in the park at night in their city either :)
• Western Addition. They can break into a car or rob you in the middle of the street. He is not known for more serious crimes.

In general, I think you should never forget about basic safety rules and they will definitely help you anywhere in the world.

Things to do

I think it won’t be difficult to keep yourself busy and entertained in one of the largest cities. If you don’t get tired of walking, non-stop exclamations of admiration for the city, and you still have energy for shopping and nightlife, then you can turn around in San Francisco :)

Shopping and shops

Of course, there are giant malls here that occupy an area the size of a square hectare, but I would pay attention to the original shops, like Thrift shops or second-hand shops (thrift stores), as we used to call them. There you can find unique items priced up to 10 USD. There are things of different quality and condition - the price will depend on this. I bought a couple of vintage items and everyone pays attention to them because they are so cool! And they are not at all like the mass market, with which everything is littered both in Russia and in America.

Most of them are in the area of ​​​​the intersection of Ashbury and Haight streets.

This area is known for the fact that at one time it was from here that the spread of the hippie movement began. It is still considered a very bohemian area. Victorian houses, many thrift stores with completely different and sometimes downright strange things (bongs, latex suits, colored parkas), as well as cozy coffee shops.

These are the “outfits” you can find in those shops :) Very extravagant, it seems to me.

It is also full of esoteric shops and art galleries. All this absorbed those times when “flower children” walked the streets and led a relaxed lifestyle.

Well, here are a couple of addresses of ordinary, giant hypermarkets with clothes.

• Westfield san francisco centre. Opening hours 10 am - 8.30 pm. Address: 865 Market St, San Francisco, CA.

• Crocker Galleria. From 10 am to 6 pm all days except Saturday - 10 am - 5 pm, and closed on Sunday. Address: 50 Post St, San Francisco.

Bars. Where to go

The opening hours of bars in SF raises a certain question. Almost all close at 2 am. And this is practically the maximum time, although it may be assumed that then people go to a club or some other establishment.

There are, of course, a lot of beer bars, but I think we have plenty of them too. But wine ones are not so common. Moreover, it is famous for its wine. And if you haven’t tried it yet, you should definitely do it.

In America, you are allowed to drink at the age of 21; they will not sell it to you before that. Americans are very conscientious and law-fearing.

• Whitechapel. A real cocktail bar where bartenders can make a drink especially for you according to your mood. They also have an impressive bar menu, you can choose and get acquainted with the assortment, you can also have a snack or drink wine/craft beer, but there are only a couple of items. A serving of cocktail will cost approximately 12 USD, but it all depends on the composition and may cost more. Address: 600 Polk St.

• Heart. This is not only a wine bar, but also a restaurant, as well as an event space and an art gallery. The list turned out to be bohemian, in principle, everything is so. Address: 1270 Valencia St., San Francisco

• Bacchus. A small, cozy wine bar located on Russian Hill. Quite a popular place, so you may have to wait for a spot at the counter to become available. Open seven days a week from 5.30 pm to midnight. The price tag for wine depends on the wine itself, somewhere from 10 to 28 USD per glass. Address: 1954 Hyde Street, San Francisco.

• Pause wine bar. A classic wine bar with an impressive bar list and menu to match the wine. open every day except Sunday from 4.30 pm to midnight. By the way, this establishment became one of the best in the city in 2016. Address: 1666 Market Street, San Francisco.

Clubs and nightlife

There are a lot of clubs in San Francisco. Walking along Market Street, you can turn into any one. I think they will delight you with their color. But here are three proven ones.

• Ruby Skye. Quite a popular club. The building was formerly a theater built in the 1890s. Open from 8.00 pm to 3.30 am, except Sunday. Admission is free, but depends on the events taking place at the club. On event days 25 USD. Address: 420 Mason St., San Francisco CA.

• Mezzanine. Cool musicians and DJs perform here in various formats. You can hear indica and RnB. The performances are always live. Entry is strictly over 21 years of age. Regarding the dress code: in general, Mezanin invites guests to look however they wish. But there are exceptions for special events. They say no to caps, sportswear, swimsuits. Address: 444 Jessie Street, San Francisco, CA 94103.

• Infusion Lounge. The club is decorated in Asian style, by one of the best designers in Hong Kong. World-class DJs play, the club is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 9 pm - 2 am. There is a dress code, the same as in regular clubs. You cannot come wearing glasses, sportswear, flip-flops, etc. Price list for an average check is from 31-60 USD. Address: 420 Mason St, San Francisco.

Extreme Sports

Wind surfers love San Francisco because of its winds. Walking along the Golden Gate Bridge, you can look at the ocean and see a fearless surfer trying to cope with the elements, but perhaps such adrenaline is not available to beginners. Therefore, extreme sports enthusiasts can rent a bike and try downhill racing, while at the same time improving their downhill skills. Well, this is, of course, a joke.

Those who love boat trips can ride on the ocean on a yacht with a professional crew. Address: Pier 39, Pier 39 Concourse, San Francisco.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

A ton of photos with views of the city and yourself against their background! Because there are really a lot of iconic places here that we see in TV series, films and celebrity videos.

But I think this is funny: buy postcards, for example, with a picture of a landmark you like and send them home to your address, or to your parents/friends. While the postcard gets to the addressee, it collects a bunch of stamps/stamps of the post offices it ends up with. It’s interesting to look at its journey, the main thing is not to be upset that the postcard travels more than you :)).

How to get around the city

By the way, San Francisco has the most developed public transport system in almost all of America. It is convenient to use the metro, trams, buses, and there are even commuter trains, which are quite popular. Although, it seemed to me that on the East Coast the train is not considered a profitable and convenient means of transportation. And, in general, passenger rail transportation is poorly developed.

Taxi. What features exist

Perhaps the most profitable taxi app right now is Uber, so we feel free to use this benefit in San Francisco.

If you catch or call a taxi the old-fashioned way, then do not forget about tips, which amount to approximately 10-15% of the fare, and also ask before getting into the car whether the driver accepts cards. Otherwise, an unpleasant situation may result. It's better to have some cash for such cases.

Trams

San Francisco is famous for its cable cars. The development of this network is connected with the difficult landscape of the city. Cable trams appeared at the end of the 19th century and still exist today, but they now serve more of an aesthetic function. A ride on such a “moving symbol of the Northern Fleet” will cost 6 USD, while on a regular tram it costs 2.25 USD.

Metro

A very cool, understandable and convenient thing in SF. The map is quite simple, and the variations of transfers and interchanges are convenient and allow you to come up with any route. From metro trains you can transfer to underground high-speed electric trains BART, which connect Northern Fleet with the suburbs and even with Oklad. The cost of the trip starts from 1.85 USD and depends on the destination. The schedule is very convenient; during the day trains run at intervals of 10 minutes; in the evening the waiting time increases.

Buses

Of course, there are also buses in SF. But for some reason the population prefers the metro or trams to them. Bus travel costs 2.25 USD.

You can buy a pass that will cover travel on the metro, bus, tram, trolleybus, and even cable tram for only 15 USD per day. There is an option to buy a pass for three and seven days - 23 USD and 29 USD respectively.

Transport rental

For freedom of movement in San Francisco, you can rent a car. Rental companies offer a wide selection of cars for different preferences - family, economical, small city cars, etc.

Here you can compare prices from different companies.

The company with the highest rating and best reviews is Alamo. There are several company offices in the city, which is convenient. You can leave your rental car at any of them. On average, a car will cost 30-35 USD per day. But don't forget about gas and a deposit. To rent a car, taking into account all additional expenses, you need to plan about 100 USD. After the car is returned safe and sound, your deposit will be returned.

Russian rights are listed in America, so this should not be a problem.

Travel notes, day 13

My main rule is to avoid tourist attractions. I have never been to the Eiffel Tower and I don’t regret it at all, although I have been to Paris a dozen (or more) times. The worst thing you can do when you arrive in a city is open a guidebook and start following its advice. Separately, it must be said that you cannot visit tourist restaurants. Most of the restaurants and cafes that guidebooks recommend to you will turn out to be passable, boring, overpriced crap. See where the locals eat!

In San Francisco, the city is very clearly divided into two parts. Places where tourists gather and places where there are none. The second is a real city with its inhabitants, traditions, and rapidly changing views. But if you still want to look at tourist San Francisco, here it is. I walked through the most popular places especially for you.

01. Let's start the walk from the city center. As you know, in American cities the meaning of the center is a little different than in ours. If here or in European cities everything is most beautiful and interesting in the center, then in the USA it will be more of a business district. The business district is a handful of skyscrapers. There can be a lot of them, as in Manhattan in New York, or very few, as in Los Angeles. Often people come to such a center and are disappointed, because the most interesting places in American cities are usually not where the skyscrapers are. San Francisco is no exception. There is absolutely nothing to do in Downtown.

02. The main problem here is the homeless. They filled Market Street, the main street of the city (analogous to our Tverskaya). Often homeless people are mentally ill, they behave inappropriately and frighten passers-by.

03. The center is quite dirty.

04. Some Russophobic graffiti;)

05. And these are no longer homeless people, these are fans waiting for their idols...

06. Apparently, they have been waiting for a long time.

07. Pierce the Veil. Never heard of this one. It turned out that the guys are from San Diego and play post-hardcore. And because they're from San Diego, three of the four band members are Hispanic. There are also many such fans.

08. Queue...

09. Major shops and shopping complexes are also concentrated on Market Street.

10. The historic streetcars I'm talking about travel along Market Street in the Castro.

11. Be sure to take a ride!

12. This is the main thing to do here.

13. Market Street ends at the Embarcadero!

14. This is one of the most pleasant places in the city, especially if you are lucky with the weather. The embankment with former piers, warehouses and other port buildings stretches for almost 10 kilometers. Market Street ends at a building similar to our river station.

15. Inside there is a wonderful market with a lot of shops. You can drink excellent wine here.

16. Or buy it with you, then carefully pour it into a paper Starbucks cup and walk around drinking wine;) Everyone does this (except me).

17. Cool bottles, each hand painted!

18. Nice dog tag.

19. Cheese shop. Well, where would we be without snacks?

21. Mushrooms are considered a delicacy here!

22. And then you can go out to the old pier and eat everything!

23. Homeless

24. A lot of people in San Francisco skateboard! They ride on bike paths and reach incredible speeds, especially down hills. I didn't think a skateboard could be so fast. Fortunately, smooth roads allow you to ride it without fear of falling into a hole.

25. The service workers union Unite Here (which mainly includes women and people of color) is calling for a boycott of two hotels in San Francisco - Hyatt and Le Meridien. They have a blacklist of hotels all over America on their website; Sheraton and Hilton are also on it. In addition, the union advertises its FairHotel program, with the help of which a hired worker can supposedly find a “decent” hotel that is willing to pay him a decent salary.

26. The Embarcadero embankment is not an ocean embankment, but an internal one, running along the San Francisco Bay. From Spanish, embarcadero literally translates as “pier.” There are actually a lot of working piers here. There are ferry crossings across the bay, there are tourist tours (for example, you can swim to Alcatraz), some have their own private piers. By the way, there used to be water in this place, but then the Americans reclaimed the land from the sea by building a dam and laying a road on top of it. The street begins near the Giants baseball stadium and ends at Fisherman's Wharf. This is where the famous Pier 39 is located.

27. You can always find beautiful cars here.

28. Yachts

29. And old ships.

30. This is Telegraph Hill. San Francisco, like Rome, Moscow, Jerusalem and all other famous cities with a couple of exceptions, is built on seven hills. So, Telegraph Hill is considered one of the 7 “original” hills on which the city arose. Now there are already 44 of them. Once upon a time there was a semaphore here that transmitted signals to ships entering the bay. Then a real telegraph appeared in the city, but they did not change the name of the hill. In the 1920s, the hill became an elite area because creative bohemians liked to hang out here. In 1933, the 64-meter Coit Tower was erected on the hill. It was built in honor of Lilly Hitchcock Coit, who became famous for developing the fire service in San Francisco.

32. And here we come to the most touristic place in the city - Pier 39!

34. The pier is famous for its sea lions and views of Alcatraz. You, of course, saw him in the movies and in all the photographs from San Francisco. At first it was a fort, then a military prison, then it turned into a federal prison for especially dangerous criminals, but in the 60s it was disbanded. While they were deciding what to do with the island and infrastructure, Alcatraz was captured by the Indians. Instead of living peacefully in the new territory, they went on a rampage and were eventually expelled from the island by the authorities. In the early 70s, Alcatraz was turned into a museum, and now it is one of the main points of attraction for tourists. Ferries do not go there from Pier 39, you need to go to Pier 33.

35. During the day, the crowd crowds all the empty seats on Pier 39. It is impossible to see anything. But early in the morning, at dawn, it’s quite nice and calm here.

36. There are also few lions during the day.

And this is what this place looks like at dawn.

These are California sea lions. They are considered very smart animals, so they often perform in dolphinariums, circuses and all sorts of water shows. Some sea lions serve in the US Navy. For example, they know how to find sea mines, and in the Persian Gulf they are even trained to catch enemy divers.

37. Yachts

38. Just a poster about Jesus’ love for people

39.

40. In about 20 minutes from Pier 39 you can go up to Russian Hill and there you can look at another calling card of the city - Lombard Street.

This is what it looks like from above:

41. Lombard Street has the unofficial title of “the most winding street in the world.” The serpentine was needed to reduce the natural slope of the hill of 27%, which turned out to be too steep for almost any type of transport (and there is no cable tram). Recommended downhill speed is 5 mph (8 km/h).

42. There are crowds here too.

43. But there are gorgeous views. Poor people living on this street... There are thousands of tourists here around the clock! Everyone is taking pictures, running across the road, making noise.

44. The Russian Hill area, which arose on one of the “original” hills of San Francisco. They say the hill was named that way because settlers who arrived here during the Gold Rush found an old Russian cemetery on the top of the hill (do they still remember Fort Ross and the Russians in California?).

45. Old skyscraper

46. ​​Well, the cable tram (literally “cable”). Another attraction.

47. Mostly tourists ride it. The best way to climb the hill if you don't want to walk. The fare costs $7. Locals prefer buses and trolleybuses, and uphill - by car or by foot.

48. Like me, the cable car is considered one of the most dangerous transportation systems in the United States based on the number of accidents per mile and per year. From 2003 to 2013, 151 people were injured in 126 accidents involving cable trams. From 2011 to 2013, San Francisco paid out $8 million in about 50 injury-related claims.

49. Passengers are allowed to ride on the running board.

50. There are now only three cable car lines left in San Francisco. At various times, its fate was influenced by electric trams, buses, as well as the 1906 earthquake.

51.

52.

53. Bus depot

54. What about the Golden Gate Bridge?

55. I didn’t forget about the bridge either!

56. The Golden Gate is just an hour's walk from Lombard Street, or you can get there by bus or car.

57. On this side of the strait there is a beautiful Presidio Park and several observation platforms.

58. Almost under the bridge is the 19th century Fort Point fortress. On the other side is the huge park Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

59. Drones are prohibited from flying near the bridge (

60. How to get to the bridge?

61. Of course, by bike! Just be careful, the entrance operates on schedule.

62. There are many bike paths in Presidio Park. All attractions and observation platforms are indicated on the map.

63. Tomorrow we will continue.

Previously on the trip:

“If you're going to San Francisco, don't forget to put a few flowers in your hair” - words from the famous song by Scott McKenzie, which has been the unofficial anthem of San Francisco for almost 50 years. This city is personified as the capital of the hippie movement and progressive youth.

State: California

Date of foundation: 1776, city since 1850

Population: 852,469 people

Nickname: Frisco, Fog City, West Paris

San Francisco is a picturesque sunny city located on a peninsula between the bay of the same name and the Pacific Ocean. Numerous attractions of San Francisco attract a huge number of tourists to the city, including the largest park in the USA, the most beautiful Golden Gate Bridge in the country and Alcatraz prison. The oldest cable car runs through the compact streets of the city, and Lombard Street is considered the most curved street in the world.

Lombard Street

Alcatraz prison

San Francisco is considered a pioneer of cultural innovation and experimentation, the home of the 1950s Beat Generation, the center of the 1960s counterculture, a hotbed of political protest, and the center of the American gay community. The population of San Francisco is represented by the most diverse ethnic groups in the United States.

Today, San Francisco is home to a huge number of cutting-edge high-tech companies, providing jobs to thousands of residents of this densely populated region.

The coastline of San Francisco stretches for almost 50 kilometers, so the city's climate can be classified as Mediterranean. Most precipitation here falls from November to March. Since San Francisco is surrounded by water on three sides, a distinctive feature of this area is the fog that often approaches the city from the Pacific Ocean.

History of San Francisco

The human trace on this land dates back to the 20th millennium BC.

The Spanish conquistadors who discovered California did not know about the existence of this peninsula for two centuries, since the fog approaching from the Pacific Ocean hid the peninsula from prying eyes. The first Europeans to discover this land were explorers traveling in a small group in 1769 from Mexico to Canada, led by Sergeant José Ortega. After 7 years, a small town was founded here - Yerba Buena. Later the city received its modern name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.

For more than half a century, this place was not given much importance, but the situation changed dramatically after the discovery of a gold mine here in 1848. The California Gold Rush sparked the rapid expansion of San Francisco. Thousands of gold miners who came to California in search of their fortune subsequently took root in the region. However, the gold rush brought not only wealth to the city, but also a wave of lawlessness. Gang groups began to form in San Francisco, gambling establishments and brothels began to open. In 1850, San Francisco was granted city status, after which local residents began to form vigilance groups to cleanse the city of criminals and restore order.

After the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, San Francisco continued its development. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the city's population was more than a third of a million people. Everything changed at the beginning of the 20th century, when San Francisco residents experienced the greatest disaster in the city's history. On April 18, 1906, a massive earthquake struck San Francisco, killing more than 500 people. Ten square kilometers of the city were wiped off the face of the earth. The fires caused by the earthquake could not be extinguished for three days. However, the residents of San Francisco persevered and, on their own, as well as with the help of donations from other states, restored the city. By 1915, the restored city hosted the world's first exhibition dedicated to the completion of the Panama Canal.

The first half of the twentieth century was a period of development of the city's infrastructure. In 1913, a dam was built on the Tuoloumne River in the Hetch Hetchy Canyon valley, in 1936, construction of the Bay Bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland was completed, and a year later, the famous Golden Gate Bridge was presented to the world, which became the hallmark of not only San Francisco, but throughout the USA.

With the growth of industry, emigrants began to arrive in the city. In 1930, a large longshoremen's strike took place in San Francisco, which became the largest labor uprising in US history.

With the outbreak of World War II, the city's industry became even more powerful. This period also saw the forced removal of several thousand Japanese American residents of San Francisco to internment camps.

In the 1960s and 70s, San Francisco became a center of youth counterculture, a major site of student protest against the Vietnam War, and a center for the protection of the rights of sexual minorities.

The year 1979 was remembered for the high-profile murder of the mayor of San Francisco, George Mascone, the first openly gay leader of the city. That same year, San Francisco elected its first female mayor, Dianne Feinstein.

In 1989, residents of San Francisco experienced another powerful earthquake. However, despite this, in the next decade the city made huge strides in its development: government buildings were renovated, a museum of modern art, a main library and an art center were built.

Work in San Francisco

Due to its location, San Francisco has been the most important port center in California throughout its history. San Francisco is home to the main branches of the country's leading banks, insurance companies, the Pacific Stock Exchange, a branch of the Federal Reserve System and the US Mint.

Since the San Francisco metropolitan area is part of Silicon Valley, the IT and biotechnology industries are very developed in the city and its suburbs. Hundreds of the world's leading high-tech companies with offices in this region attract tens of thousands of IT specialists from all over the world.

Sports in San Francisco

San Francisco is represented by major league teams in all popular sports in the United States:

• Baseball (MLB) – San Francisco Giants
• Football (NFL) – San Francisco 49ers
• Basketball (NBA) – Golden State Warriors

Golden Gate Park

Founded in the 1870s, Golden Gate Park is the largest urban park in the United States. The total area of ​​the park is 412 hectares. The park contains many gardens, artificial lakes, waterfalls, nature reserves, beaches, campsites, 43 km of walking paths, 12 km of horse riding trails. This park receives more than 13 million visitors annually.

Tourism in San Francisco

Despite the huge number of high-tech companies located in San Francisco, the city's main economic sector is tourism. San Francisco's natural beauty, mild climate and large number of attractions attract more than 17 million tourists to the city every year. San Francisco is one of the ten most convenient cities in North America for hosting a variety of conferences, exhibitions and trainings, which also attracts a considerable number of visitors.

One of the most unique features of San Francisco is its collection of diverse ethnic neighborhoods. The most famous of which is Chinatown - the largest Chinese district outside of Asia. Chinatown is home to many oriental bazaars, temples, and restaurants.

Images of San Francisco landmarks can often be found on postcards or desktop monitor wallpapers. This sunny city will definitely surprise you with its changing geography - winding streets and green hills, will delight you with the bright colors of parks and squares, the diversity of vegetation and the gentleness of the surf. Plunging into the atmosphere of San Francisco, it will seem to you that life here flows in an eternal stream of carnival.

TRAVEL NOTES

SAN FRANCISCO

PART 1: VICTORIAN HOUSES, MARINA AND PALACE OF FINE ARTS.

01. We continue to explore the American continent with AutoTour. Traveling along the Pacific coast almost from the very border with Mexico, every day we saw new cities that were different from each other and discovered a completely different California. Today will be no exception. Welcome to San Francisco!

02. We stopped for the night in the neighboring city of San Jose, just 50 miles from San Francisco. Few people know, but San Jose is larger in population than its famous neighbor and is the third largest city in California. We enter San Francisco via the giant bridge from Oakland San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, which runs across the bay. The journey is paid and its cost depends on the time of day.

03. The bridge consists of two parts, which are separated by a tunnel that goes straight through Yerba Buena Island. The total length is more than seven kilometers. The western section of the bridge consists of two levels. You arrive in San Francisco along the upper part, enjoying a good view, and back - for free along the lower, non-picturesque level. In my opinion, everything is extremely fair.

04. The eastern part of the bridge combines traffic in both directions on the same level and is the widest bridge in the world. The bridge opened in 1936, six months before the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge. By the way, initially cars only traveled on the upper level of the bridge, and trains and trucks traveled below.

05. The bridge is indeed quite long and has a dense flow of cars. Therefore, you need to take care in advance not to miss your congress. This is how hilly San Francisco appears to our eyes. Look how densely the mountains are dotted with small houses.

06. We go to the Embarcadero embankment - one of the main transport and pedestrian streets of the city. There are always a lot of tourists and local residents walking here; they have been allocated a wide pedestrian zone, which is not inferior in size to the roadway. And there are palm trees and palm trees everywhere, this is California.

07. Remember how convenient San Diego and Los Angeles turned out to be for motorists? In San Francisco, you need to forget about it and switch to two-wheeled transport without any questions asked. The limited space of the peninsula on which the city is located does not make it possible to build wide overpasses and highways, parking is expensive by Californian standards, and STOP signs are installed almost every 100 meters.

08. Therefore, we leave our cars in a private parking lot and go on foot to explore the city. The first thing that catches your eye in San Francisco is the incredibly diverse and colorful architecture of small houses. I doubt that you will be able to find two buildings similar to each other.

09. It is unlikely that any other American city will be able to tell such an extensive history of architecture. Time passed, and the city did not cease to adopt new and varied trends in the construction of houses.

10. Since the middle of the century before last, houses similar to Italian cottages and villas have become most popular. Unfortunately, most of them burned down after the 1906 earthquake. Also, many houses of that time were built using redwood trees from neighboring forests.

11. In the 1920s, there was a demand for uniqueness, which gave rise to monotonous assembly line production and the sharply increased income of the middle class. The idea was that each object would be endowed with its own soul and would be deprived of the factory mark. This trend is fully reflected in the construction of new houses.

12. Most houses are covered with plaster, which traditionally takes on every imaginable pastel color. You get the impression that different varieties of delicious ice cream are lined up in front of you: vanilla, pistachio, peach, chocolate. Very tasty houses.

13. In the 1930s, the effects of the Great Depression and the spread of uniform international styles gave birth to the minimalist style in San Francisco. The architects drew inspiration not from the country's historical heritage, but from simple forms of industrial technology.

14. In the 1950s, the era of space exploration began, and, of course, new houses tried to embody an unearthly appearance in their appearance as much as possible. During construction, the most advanced methods of space planning and construction were used, with great preference given to glass.

15. New styles continued to appear, but there was absolutely not enough space for them. Not only the city center, but also all surrounding areas were completely built up with houses. Therefore, modern buildings can often be found on distant hills and mountain slopes. But from there there are excellent views of the city and the bay.

16. San Francisco has always been a center of radical change. From civil rights and women's rights to the sexual revolution and rock 'n' roll, this spirit of freedom continually produced a vibrant mixture of views, people, art and styles. And this diversity has always suited the city very harmoniously, leaving its special unique charm of free San Francisco on the streets year after year.

17. Regardless of the time of construction, all houses are very similar in terms of functionality. On the ground floor there is almost always a garage and utility rooms. The second floor is a full-fledged living room, usually with a large panoramic window, and above there are one or two floors of rooms or a rooftop patio.

18. Right here on the shores of the Marina Green area we came across a very unusual sports ground. It turns out that this is a pilot project by the National Fitness Campaign to implement a cool concept of next-generation public sports fields. Anyone can practice here absolutely free of charge using the special program “7 exercises in 7 minutes.”

19. This area has become especially convenient for runners, who can now warm up before jogging along the bay. The creators of the project want to convey to the population the importance of exercise and healthy eating in everyday life. As planned, such Fitness Court sites should become widespread. This is indeed a very correct and necessary project for a healthy city.

20. Parallel to the beautiful houses, expensive yachts and boats of local residents lined up in the same orderly rows along the embankment. Convenient parking across the street from the house.

21. Thanks to its convenient natural bay, San Francisco has one of the largest ports on the West Coast.

22. For lovers of luxury holidays, several yacht clubs are open here. Golden Gate Yacht Club has been in existence since 1939 and is the current winner of the America's Cup Regatta, which is recognized as the world's oldest international competition of all sports and has been held since 1848. The most prestigious national and international competitions are held annually in San Francisco.

23.Also, every year a section of the AutoTour across America route runs through San Francisco.

24. Was your yacht stolen? Call the police immediately! In the past, when mobile and landline telephones were not ubiquitous, such communication stations installed on many streets were used by the police and other city services. A direct line immediately connected police officers or firefighters to the control room.

25. Probably in no other US city have we seen so many cyclists and such a developed cycling infrastructure. The reason for the constantly growing popularity of this type of transport is the fairly compact location of San Francisco within the borders of the peninsula and the mild, warm climate throughout the year.

26. For both tourists and local residents, it is more comfortable and faster to get to attractions, to work or to the store by bicycle, rather than wasting valuable time on traffic or searching for parking. Although hilly, many areas of the city are quite flat and suitable for cyclists. Ideal road division - enough space allocated for everyone - pedestrians, bicycles and cars are happy.

27. Look, the bicycle lane has the highest traffic density. This is despite the fact that the length of bike lanes has nearly doubled since 2009 to more than 80 miles. According to statistics, approximately 16% of local residents regularly use a bicycle, and this figure is constantly growing. It is expected that by 2020, 20% of the entire population of San Francisco will ride a bicycle.

28. An incredible number of events take place in the city to increase interest in cycling. Up to 10 times a year on Sundays, car traffic is selectively blocked, giving the streets entirely to pedestrians and cyclists. Every last Friday of the month at six o'clock in the evening hundreds of cyclists organize bike rides. In addition, there are many different festivals and cool events.

29. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition made a great contribution to the development of cycling ideology. For example, anyone can install an application on their phone that will track their movements on a bicycle. Based on the collected data, the streets that most need bicycle lanes are subsequently identified. San Francisco loves cyclists.

30. Those who don’t want to pedal can ride around the city on this three-wheeled mini-transport. Rent will cost from $50 per hour. Inside there is a voice guide with a navigator. It's probably fun.

31. From the embankment you can clearly see one of the most famous prisons in the world - Alcatraz. Until 1934, Alcatraz was a long-term military prison with a fairly mild regime. The prisoners helped local residents with housework and were even allowed to build their own baseball field.

32. In 1934, Alcatraz was completely rebuilt, leaving no chance for prisoners to escape. The prison became federal and only the most dangerous criminals were sent here, including Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly and others. In the 29 years of operation of the prison, there is supposedly not a single successful escape.

33. In 1963, the prison on Alcatraz ceased to function, and in 1971 the island was opened to tourists. Now everyone can be inside the cells in the place of the most famous gangsters, bandits and murderers of the 20th century. You can get to the legendary prison from Pier 33 for just $30.

34. Almost along its entire length, the embankment is allocated for pleasant and convenient parks.

35. Here you can also see a very cool architectural structure - the Palace of Fine Arts. It was built back in 1915 during the Panama-Pacific Exposition, and is one of the few surviving buildings from that time.

36. The palace stands out very much from the surrounding landscape and will certainly impress every visitor. Although this monumental work of art was not always used for its intended purpose. Since 1934, there have been tennis courts, a military warehouse, limousine parking and even a fire department headquarters.

37. The initial structure was made of lightweight, fragile materials, and due to partial deformations in 1964, the Palace of Fine Arts had to be completely destroyed and restored. After some time, an interactive museum and theater with almost a thousand seats were opened here.

38. Many tourists and wedding couples walk among the Greek columns and rotunda. This atmospheric place can rightfully be considered one of the symbols of San Francisco.

39. Around the palace there is a large park with an artificial lake where swans and ducks constantly swim.

40. We return to the bay embankment and continue to our main destination.

41. No one can resist taking photos and selfies in front of the most recognizable bridge in the country.

Golden fever

San Francisco 1855

Like many mountain towns, the social climate in early San Francisco was unstable. This situation caused a great outcry in the US Senate, and a series of laws, the Compromise of 1850, fueled infighting over the issue of "brutal labor." In , and later in the year, the "Vigilance Committee" was created, which fought against crime, government corruption and violence against immigrants, but this committee may have created more lawlessness than it prevented. This popular movement lynched 12 people, kidnapped hundreds of Irish government officials, and forced the resignation of the city's elected officials. The Vigilance Committee was stopped twice by force, after which they decided that the city had been “cleaned out.” This committee later focused on Chinese immigrants, creating many riots in the Chinatown area. These riots led to the creation of legislation to weaken Chinese immigration to the United States by reducing the number of immigrants allowed in the city. The "Chinese Immigration Act" was passed in the year, and repealed only in the year.

Market Street

The city of San Francisco has been the seat of San Francisco County for up to a year. But because the city's population was greatly disproportionate to the population of the entire county, the California state government decided to break up the county. The border ran through the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, just north of the San Bruno Mountains. Everything south of the line became the new San Mateo County, centered on Redwood City, and everything north became the new incorporated city-county of San Francisco.

Period after World War 2

Geography and climate

San Francisco. Satellite image

San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco is located on the west coast of the United States, at the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula. The city's borders stretch greatly along the coasts of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. The city includes several islands: Alcatraz, Treasure Island and Yerba Buena. The city also includes the uninhabited Faralon Islands, located 43 kilometers away in the Pacific Ocean. It is often said that San Francisco is a square with a side of 7 miles (~11 kilometers).

San Francisco is famous for its hills. A hill in a city is an elevation greater than 30 meters. There are 42 hills within the city limits, some areas of the city are named after the hills on which they are located (Nob Hill, Pacific Heights, Russian Hill, Potreto Hill and Telegraph Hill).

Not far from the geographical center of the city, a little to the south, there are a number of hills with the lowest population density; here, the entertainment and information infrastructure of the city mainly prevails. On Sutro Hill there are towers for television and radio transmitters. Nearby are the Twin Peaks, some of the tallest hills in the city and one of the most popular tourist destinations. The highest hill in San Francisco is Mount Davidson, 282 meters high; a high cross was built here in 1934 (its height is 31.4 m).

San Francisco is located near two tectonic faults that cause frequent earthquakes. Small earthquakes occur periodically in the San Francisco Bay Area. The threat of strong earthquakes places high demands on the city on the strength of new buildings and forces the rebuilding of earlier buildings and bridges.

San Francisco's coastline limits the city's growth, so some areas, such as Marin, Hunter Point, and much of the Embarcadero area, have been developed using artificial coastal infill. The artificial island of Treasure Island was built from material recovered from the construction of the Bay Bridge. Such areas are very unstable in the event of earthquakes, as the 1989 earthquake illustrated when it caused severe damage in Marin County.

Climate

A saying erroneously attributed to Mark Twain reads - "The coldest winter I've ever experienced is a San Francisco summer." San Francisco, influenced by California's Mediterranean climate, is characterized by mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. San Francisco is surrounded on 3 sides by water, so its climate is greatly influenced by the cold currents of the Pacific Ocean, which produce a mild climate with little seasonal temperature fluctuations. The city's average summer temperature is 21 °C, 9 °C cooler than Livermore, the nearest inland city. The record for the highest temperature in San Francisco is 39 °C, which was recorded on July 14 of this year. For comparison: the warmest month is September - 17.2 °C, which is colder than June in Moscow, although the latitude of the city south of Baku is at the same level as Ashgabat. However, average daily temperatures above 16 °C last from the beginning of May until the end of October. Daytime temperature in winter is about 15 °C. Thermometer readings in the city almost never fall below 0; the lowest temperature was recorded on December 11 of the year, when it dropped to −3 °C. The season from May to September is completely dry, the rainy season starts from November and lasts until March. Snow is a very rare occurrence in San Francisco, with only 10 snowfalls recorded this year. The city's heaviest snowfall was on February 5 of the year, when snow levels reached 3.7 inches in the city center. The last snowfall was on February 5th of this year.

Fog moving into Crissy Field Park

The combination of cold ocean water and high air temperatures on the California mainland leads to the creation of a unique phenomenon - the San Franciscan fog, which in the summer can envelop the city (especially its western part; in the eastern regions the fog is less dense) for days on end. Fogs are active in the city at the end of summer and from September to October. The fogs, hot climate of California and the influence of the ocean make San Francisco the owner of its own microclimate. The high hills in the geographical center of the city are responsible for a 20% difference in annual rainfall between different areas. They also protect eastern counties from the fog and cold conditions that prevail in Sunset County. For those living on the east side of the city, San Francisco is sunnier and drier.

The government of San Francisco consists of 2 equal branches. The first branch is the executive branch, headed by the mayor and other elected officials. The second branch is the legislative branch, it consists of 11 members making up the city council, headed by the president (in 2006, Aaron Peskin). The president is responsible for passing laws and passing the budget, although city residents have the opportunity to directly influence the legislative branch by voting. Members of the city council are elected as representatives of different districts of the city. If the mayor dies or resigns, his powers will pass to the president of the council, such an incident occurred in the year when George Mosconi was killed and his powers passed to Diane Feinstein. The city's budget for the year was more than $5 billion.

The federal government uses San Francisco to house various departments such as the U.S. Court of Appeals, the Federal Reserve Bank, and the Mint. Before disarmament, there were 3 military bases in the city: Presidio, Treasure Island and Hunters Point. The only thing they inherited from them was the Fleet Festival. The California Supreme Court is located in San Francisco, as well as a number of other state institutions. San Francisco is home to 30 diplomatic missions from around the world, including the Consulate General of the Russian Federation.

Demography

In San Francisco in 2005, the average household earned $57,496 on average, 5th highest among large US cities. Following the national trend of moving out of more expensive cities in pursuit of increased income, many middle-class residents have left San Francisco, affecting the percentage of children born. The city has 14.5% fewer children compared to other large cities in the country. In San Francisco, 7.8% are low-income households, a number lower than the US average.

Homelessness has been a "chronic problem" in San Francisco since the 1980s. The city has a higher number of homeless people per capita than any other city in the United States. The large number of homeless people has contributed to an increase in criminal activity. For example, in 2003, San Francisco had 5,725 violent crimes and 38,163 property crimes, more than the national average. Among the 50 largest cities by population, San Francisco ranks 32nd for violent crime and 38th for property crime.

Religion in San Francisco County

• Catholics - 180,798 and 49 religious communities
• Jews - 49,500 and 36 religious communities
• Muslims - 22,664 and 6 religious communities
• Scientologists - several tens of thousands of people
• United Methodist Church (Methodist Protestants) - 13,522 and 16 religious communities
• Episcopal Church (Protestants) - 6,295 and 19 religious communities
• All religious - 324,882 and 408 religious communities
• Total population 386,816

Russian San Francisco

There is a significant (about 20 thousand people) Russian-speaking community in San Francisco and its suburbs, many living in the Richmond area. This area is famous for its abundance of Russian restaurants and shops. The city is home to a Russian cultural center, founded in the year. The Consulate General of the Russian Federation dates back to the times of pre-revolutionary Russia, and has been operating in the prestigious Pacific Heights area for a year.

Education

San Francisco State University is part of the California State University System. It is located near Lake Merced. The university annually graduates 30,000 students and welcomes newcomers; teachers, many with advanced degrees, teach more than a hundred disciplines. City College of San Francisco, located in Inglisade County, is considered one of the largest colleges in the country. It educates approximately 100,000 students and offers a long training program. The Jesuit University of San Francisco was founded in 1855 and today is located in the Lone Mountain area. The university focuses on free-thinking arts and is one of the oldest universities established west of the Mississippi River.

The University of California, San Francisco is one of 10 campuses in the California University System, and the No. 2 employer in the city. The university is dedicated to biomedical research and graduates only medical students, ranking among the top 5 medical schools in the United States. The university has a KUSF medical center, which is one of the 10 best hospitals in the state. In 2003, the new 43-acre campus of KUSF opened, dedicated to research in human consciousness, biotechnology and the study of human behavior. The Civic Center neighborhood is home to Hastings College of Law, founded in 1878, the oldest law school in California and producing more judges than any other institution.

Many specialists in the fine arts studied at the San Francisco Institute of Arts or at the largest private Academy of Arts in the United States. San Francisco is home to the only conservatory on the West Coast, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, which teaches orchestral instruments. The California Culinary Academy, as part of the Le Cordon Bleu program, offers applicants training in the art of cooking and baking, as well as restaurant management.

Primary and secondary schools

San Franciscans have a wide choice of public schools, but in most cases they prefer to send their children to Lowell High School, the oldest school west of the Mississippi River, and to the small School of the Arts. Compared to 10% nationally, in San Francisco just under 30% of schoolchildren are enrolled in one in a hundred private or parochial schools. Of these 100 schools, 40 fall under the control of the Roman Catholic Church of San Francisco.

Among the many private schools, two schools can be distinguished: St. Ignatius Preparatory College and Sacred Heart School. Both schools are the oldest and most bitter rivals. Every year, schools organize the Bruce Mahoney competition, in honor of the memory of 2 schoolchildren killed during the 2nd World War.

Infrastructure

Roads and highways

Because of its unique geography, which often prevented road construction, and the results of the "road revolution" of the late 1950s, San Francisco is one of the few U.S. cities to choose the European arterial style of road layout instead of a large freeway network. Residents of the city continue to follow this course, choosing, after the Loma Prieta earthquake, to completely destroy the Embarcadero and part of the central highway, turning them into boulevards.

Several major highways pass through the city, connecting the north of the west coast with the south or the west coast with the center of the mainland. I-80 to New York City begins as it approaches the Bay Bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland, the only direct road link to the eastern shore of the bay. Interstate 101 connects San Francisco to San Jose (southbound) and Marin County (northbound via the Golden Gate Bridge). The CA-1 highway also passes through the Golden Gate Bridge. I-280, starting in the city, also connects it to San Jose. CA-35, which runs along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, enters the city along Skyline Boulevard in southern San Francisco. The busiest streets in the city are Geary Boulevard, Lincoln Way, Fall Street, Market Street and Portola Drive.

Public transport

Cable tram

In addition to intracity transport, San Francisco has a developed system of suburban communications. The city has a kind of subway, the work of which is provided by the BART agency. BART is a regional rapid transit system that connects San Francisco to the East Coast via the Transbay Tunnel and also has connections to San Mateo, San Francisco National Airport, and Millbrae. The Caltrain rail system connects San Francisco with San Jose.

The Transbay Terminal transport complex serves stations of a large number of bus service systems such as AC Transit, samTrans And Golden Gate Transit. The San Francisco - Emirville bus route is operated by the system Located 21 km south of the city, in San Mateo County, it is under the jurisdiction of the City-County of San Francisco. This is the center for