San Francisco Bay, San Francisco

Entering the city of San Francisco from the Oakland Bay Bridge on highway 80 can be an exhilarating experience. From the upper level of the bridge, you can see different boats crossing below, and the famous Alcatraz on the far right, after you cross the tunnel of Yerba Buena Island. You can then go to the shopping district of Union Square downtown located at 333 Post St or browse your way at Chinatown located at 747 Grant Ave. The real magic is at night when the skyline of San Francisco is transformed into a myriad of colorful lights. My favorite spot to take pictures at night is from the I-280 fwy before entering the Oakland Bay Bridge.

The Bay is just fascinating and beautiful from all angles. The surface can be smooth and blue looking like a tropical paradise (as long as you stay out of the cold water) or greenish and choppy or grey and leaden. The bridges add man-made elegance or sometimes practicality, and then there is the mesmerizing skyline of the City. Ship traffic is always fascinating with anything from city-like container ship to small sailboats with the elegant ferries crossing swiftly in between all this traffic.