California 2025 Trip--Day Four

We went to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to see it along with some stuff at the Presidio, a former military base (defending San Francisco) turned into homes and businesses and a state park. The span is held up by massive cables that only look small from a distance.

Size of the cables holding up the span

The San Francisco weather was typical, so we only saw most of the bridge.

Fog hid the top of the bridge

Route 101 cuts through the Presidio but part of it goes underneath. Above is a playground that was a lot of fun for the kids.

Playground with bridge almost visible in the distance

Joyful pursuit of the playground

Big rope swing

A different configuration

California gold-panning

Even less bridge visible!

Then we walked over to the offices of LucasFilm which has a lobby where visitors can see some props and things, along with the Yoda fountain outside.

Yoda fountain

A fan of Yoda

Not a fan of the Rebellion

Posing by R2

Getting R2 to send a message to Obi-Wan

Vader and me

Luke's lightsaber

Tribute to Willis O'Brien, special effects animator for King Kong

Classic posters

Luke's unfortunate incident on Hoth

Outside are several statues showing entertainment pioneers, including Eadweard Muybridge, a pioneer in motion pictures, and Philo Farnsworth, the father of television.

Muybridge, film pioneer

Farnsworth, TV pioneer

At the base of the LucasFilm grounds is a relaxing pond.

Far from the tech crowd

Just across the street is the Palace of Fine Arts, built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exhibition. It has the stately air of ancient European ruins without being in ruinous shape!

Entrance to the Palace of Fine Arts

Classical without looking like ruins

Domed rotunda

Inside the dome

Pic for a geocache

More decoration

Afterward we went to Japantown for lunch and shopping. We had some great soup at Marufuku Ramen. We also shopped for anime and manga stuff but did not find anything quite right. It was amazing to see the stores and the decor.

Chicken at Marufuku

One of the booths at the mall!

After naps and dinner, we went to San Mateo and had some boba and mochi balls for dessert. Yum!

Caramel waffle not depicted