Market Street Area of Union Square District of San Francisco

Above, a view of Market Street looking towards Powell Street Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It had been seven years since I last stepped foot in San Francisco, and the last time was generally just in the Japan Town area of the city. I was in San Francisco to take part in the "In The Footsteps of Godzilla" program at the Roxie Theater by the Japan Society of Northern California.

This time, I was in the area of 5th and Market Street which is home to the Powell Street cable car station. Before being picked up by the airport shuttle, I took a stroll around the area.

Above, an eastward view of Market Street. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Speaking of the cable cars, I saw none in operation. Apparently, they were undergoing repair at the time (see below). However, the electric-powered streetcar system was fully in operation.

Above, a sign of cable car safety tips at Powell Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japan Society of Northern California booked me at the Pickwick Hotel, which is across the street from the old (and now closed) San Francisco Mint and caddy-corner from the offices of the San Francisco Chronicle. The Pickwick is a nice hotel and some rooms are currently being renovated.

The old Mint Building is in the process of being renovated, although I saw no evidence of this. Homeless people sleep on the building's east steps and the "delightful" odor of urine is very much evident around the building.

Above, an electric streetcar on Market Street. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Powell Street looking north. Note the cable car tracks. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Within a block of the Pickwick Hotel is the Westfield San Francisco Centre with a number of upper-scale stores including Neiman-Marcus, Bloomingdales and Nordstrom.

Above, the Pickwick Hotel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The section of Market Street is tree-lined and has it has a nice atmosphere to it. In looking at the Bay City Guide, this section of San Francisco is the Union Square District.

Above, the offices of the San Francisco Chronicle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the old San Francisco Mint. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my stroll on Powell Street, I saw signs indicating that the cable cars begin their daily runs at 6:30 AM (they end at midnight). Unfortunately, according to a couple of clerks at a nearby Walgreen's, the Powell Street cable car line was undergoing repairs or maintenance at the time.

Above, another northern view of Powell Street. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a streetcar with the Westfield San Francisco Centre in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Lastly, after my arrival in the Bay Area, while being driven to my hotel, we passed the former stadium home of the San Francisco Giants, Candlestick Park. It is currently being demolished and I saw that some portions of the stadium already had been torn down. A lot of baseball history took place in that stadium.