San Francisco: chocolates, motorcycles, art -- and a bridge

Written last night:

Dear Friends,

I planned to meet Leslie in Berkeley today, but she had to return to Tallahassee because of Hurricane Irma. I decided to take Amtrak Capitol Corridor (train and bus) to San Francisco anyway. (I'll meet you, Leslie, next time you visit your son on this coast!) I want to get comfortable with San Francisco. A year ago I thought this would be easy, but it has taken time. 

San Francisco was cooler than Sacramento — pleasant — and I did what I’d hoped: explored  the Ferry building food market (didn’t buy anything), had lunch at SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art). Walked to Union Square — lots of shopping — mostly chain stores like Bloomingdales and Nordstrom and Anthropologie (which I love, but was disappointed in this store’s displays and merchandise). I was going to go to Bloomingdales, but after the walk I was too tired to shop! At least I know where Union Square is. I passed a Vietnamese sandwich shop, where I want to eat next time. Then I followed my nose to SFMOMA nearby, had lunch in their busy, busy café (not the really over-priced spot). Had shrimp salad sandwich with onion and dill and avocado on rye toast. The highlight was an exhibit of Edvard Munch paintings, mostly self-portraits in oil on canvas. He’s famous for The Scream; the paintings I saw today were dialed down a notch, but still quavering with color and emotion. 

When I got up this morning I considered staying home. I’m glad I went! Zing had a day at Grateful Dog.

Love,

k

About 9 a.m., from the train

That brick building is the train station

Flat land west of Sacramento

Something makes me love this scene

It evokes the Everglades or Paynes Prairie outside Gainesville — two favorite Florida landscapes

Lots of motorcycles

Looks like jewels, but it’s chocolates

on display at the Ferry Building
I did not check the prices!

Flavors of chocolate

Bay Bridge 

from the Ferry Building

Love this mandala-like design 

on the window of Japanese Sweets 

on Market Street

Julie Mehretu, a favorite artist,

 has two giant pieces in the lobby of SFMOMA