The Palace of Fine Arts
A perfect sunset in San Francisco is a rare and wonderful thing. Viktoria and Rajeev braved the city on a blustery fall day, and we were rewarded with such a breathtaking evening.
The Palace of Fine Arts is one of my all time favorite locations.
I could visit hundreds of times (and I have!) and still find something new to appreciate. It feels like a major tourist attraction and city secret gem at the same time. The structures were built for the Panama–Pacific International Exposition in 1915 as an art gallery, and were completely neglected after the exposition. It had been used by the US military as a garage to store jeeps and trucks during World War Two, and later limousines to drive around world leaders during the creation of the United Nations.
Years of neglect and vandalism lead the city to demolish almost all of the original building, to be reconstructed in 1974.
Today it is home to a variety of wildlife, including swans, turtles, and migrating waterfowl. It is enjoyed by everyone who strolls through, enjoying long shadows cast by beautiful columns, beautiful statues and murals, and vibrant display of lights illuminating the dome after sunset.
After strolling through the magnificent Palace, Vika and Rajeev changed clothes to watch the last of the sunset at the Crissy Field beach. This spot, just a 5 minute walk, is one of the best spots to see our red bridge in its entirety. The park is filled with surfers, dog walkers, and families enjoying the view.
