click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney
It was always a land of Oz to me -- I was young. And I had been warned of the wickedness -- especially in that area just south of Market Street known as Skid-Row. Today they call it SOMA (South of Market Area), home of the "dot-com" bust a few years ago.
click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney
I was also warned to steer clear of the Embarcadero area, so naturally, as soon as I was able it was first on my list to explore. I had seen plenty of foggy TV waterfront murder-mysteries and crime-thrillers filmed in this area -- and there I was, imagining I was part of the scene.
click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney
Piles of goods were moved on and off boats in what seemed to be organized chaos. A belt-line railroad serviced the docks, and these tracks (in photo above) lead towards the old engine round-house.
San Francisco was the major west coast port but eventually San Francisco could no longer accommodate larger container ships and shipping moved across the bay to Oakland.
click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney
And although shipping has vanished, San Francisco still bends a lot of elbows. Ting, ting... Glug, glug...
click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney
And we dream of former days. When sailing a ship must have been more like flying a kite. When men went down in ships while their mates waited patiently, praying for their safe return.
A toast to the San Francisco of old... Ting, ting... Glug, glug...
CLICK for what I call my BIG site.
1 comment:
cheers!
i don't always leave a comment, but i always look and i very much like what i see every time.
Post a Comment