The title of today’s post is from a 1967 song sung by Scott McKenzie. The full title of of the song is neither “San Francisco” or “Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair”, but both. The song was produced and released by John Phillips (who also wrote the lyrics) and Lou Alder to promote their Monterey International Pop Music Festival in June of that year. The video below was recorded at the festival itself.
My introduction to San Francisco was the epic car chase in the film Bullitt starring Steve McQueen. You can visit the RJSmith’s excellent website to see details of all the locations used in the filming. If you have 10 minutes you might like to watch probably the greates car chase of all time.
We havent come across a specific Bullitt tour, but we do know that currently there is a Dirty Harry Tour operating and there are general Movie related tours that will take you to some of the places seen in the video clip above. The San Francisco Movie Tour company for example operates a tour that allows you visit 50 plus film locations that includes various locations from the film Bullitt plus the spot at the Golden Gate Bridge where Kim Novak jumped into the water and Jimmy Stewart saved her in Vertigo, the house where Robin Williams’ family lived in Mrs. Doubtfire, the high school attended by Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries, the sniper’s perch from Dirty Harry and many more.
For many visitors, a trip to San Francisco wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Alcatraz Island. Just a 15 minute ferry ride from pier 33 will take you to the island which is surrounded cold water and strong currents which make it almost impossible to escape. The not only is home to a former federal prison, but a military fort, a military prison and was occupied by native Americans for a period of time. In the picture above you can see very clearly the lighthouse, which was the first built on the west coast of the United States.
For 29 years the island was home to the federal prison that held some of the most notorious criminals in American history, who included gangsters such as Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud (the “Birdman of Acatraz”) and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. Today you are allowed to get off the island. The authorities state that no-one ever successfully escaped from the island though 36 tried.
The island and its facilties are managed as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The area is not one continuous area but a collection of areas and is one of the largest urban parks in the world. It attacts over 15 millions visitors a year. Included in the area is the Presidio, which is located on the northern tip of the San Francisco peninsula. This area was fortified in 1776 when New Spain was established, it passed to Mexico in 1820 and then to the United States in 1848. It is from here that you can get an amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The bridge is the most photographed bridge in the world as well as for many years being the tallest and longest suspension bridge in the world. It was opened in 1937 and has provision for bicycles and pedestrians so if you fancy a one long walk at a height of 245 feet (75M) above the water then its possible. The colour of the bridge is officially called international orange and was chosen to compliment its surrounding as well as enhancing its visibility in poor weather.
Phew I am exhausted. We will be back to visit more of San Francisco on another occassion. In the meantime contact Maggie today to organise, your flights, accommodation and tours.
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