Gadgets Philippines – July 2019

80 JULY 2019 http://www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

TRAVEL

Grace Cathedral

One of my most memorable accidental stops

was the one at Grace Cathedral. I was looking for

another tourist destination and couldn’t find it. I

did not use any navigational apps because I wanted

to explore the city using the exceptionally detailed

map, which was very easy to understand, that I got

from the lobby of where I was staying, Fort Mason.

Grace Cathedral is an Episcopalian Church located

at Nob Hill (which is really hilly). Online information

says that its architecture is inspired by French

Gothic similar to the recently razed Notre Dame

in Paris. If the facade is inviting enough, inside is a

jaw-dropping design of huge stained glass as well

as several murals that depict significant events in

the city’s history. It was quite a treat not only to the

eyes but also to the soul.

San Francisco Chronicle Building

The San Francisco Chronicle Building stands out

among the uberly urban design in downtown San

Francisco. It is a must-see for every journalist or

writer like me. The monochromatic building was

designed by the Chicago architects Burnham &

Root. After the 1906 earthquake, which damaged

the city significantly, Willis Polk, a native of San

Francisco, rebuilt the building.

City Hall

The San Francisco City Hall, designed by architect

Arthur Brown Jr., left me dumbfounded when

my feet led me there. I think I lost my way for

the nth time and I found myself in front of this

commanding architectural wonder. The massive

dome, which stands at 307 feet, is visible in some

of the hilly streets of the city. It was inspired by

Baroque domes in Paris. The sprawling open space

is as beautiful in the evening as it is in the daytime.

Growing up, I didn’t realize that the song “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” by American singer Tony

Bennet would, one day, have meaning to me. I thought it was just a popular song with a really lovely

melody until I was given the opportunity to visit the City by the Bay.

San Francisco is, indeed, an enchanting city. To say that I was smitten is an understatement. The Bay City

has been holding my heart prisoner for a long time now and going back is not an option but a must.

I always liken San Francisco to a children’s pop-up book. Some of the houses in the iconic streets look

like those in storybook fairy tales. Its architectural heritage, according to Curbed San Francisco, is

inspired by Gothic, Queen Anne, Tudor, and Victorian styles, to name a few. Scanning the streets was

always a treat.

Words and photos by Marlet D. Salazar

Feast your eyes

on San Francisco’s

architectural heritage