Day 17 - Museumed out

We started with a stroll down to the train station (2 kilometres away according to the GPS in my phone).  The main train system here is called the BART, seemingly in homage to the Simpsons (although Rhonda is pretty certain it stands for Bay Area Rapid Transit).  Not quite as user friendly as the systems in Washington and New York, but it beats walking everywhere (or hiring a car, or taking taxis everywhere).

Once in the City we had to get on a different (light rail/cable car/tram) system, which required a different ticket.  That took us near to the Golden gate Park, where the "de Young Museum" is located.  Thankfully I had enough self-restraint not to ask where "de Old Museum" was located.  We stopped near the park for a bite to eat and it was suitably yummy.  Below is an almost entirely gratuitous photo of the restaurant where we ate.

Lunch venue - centre of shot - Park Chow

The park was quite nice, with people playing sport, or otherwise enjoying themselves. 

I thought this was a piece of installation art in the park (the balloons, not the men on the bench).  Rhonda worked out that is was decoration for a wedding

The de Young Museum is a very impressive building, with a varied and interesting collection.  Some shots of the exterior are below.

First glimpse of the museum

Second glimpse - to give you an idea of scale, the tower is nine stories high

Close up - we're almost there

Whoa!  What happened there?  Now we're at the side of the museum

The collection featured sculptures, paintings, installations (I gather that installations are when workers simply forget to take their rubbish away - ow!  Rhonda hit me).  Some shots from inside are below.

An installation

Lovely weaving

A cast-glass sculpture - eerie but beautiful

My favourite painting - the light was brilliantly captured

A safety pin for very large nappies

 

We then went up the tower and had a great view of the park and surrounds. 



The only photo of us not enjoying the view

A view across the park - the building opposite is interesting

After the museum we returned via the same rather convoluted series of rides on public transport.  Overall a great day out.  Tomorrow we're booked on a San Francisco Bay cruise.  We'll let you know how that goes.