Of course, in San Francisco, celebrating Chinese New Year is a big event!
It's the Year of the Dragon!
A year filled with CHANGE....with PROSPERITY! Oh boy!
I had to photograph this amazing (and original) floor.....isn't it GORGEOUS!
A refelection from the stained glass onto an enormous leaf!
Come along with me to this world of beautiful plants from all round the world!
There was a special exhibit..... intitled *Playland*. This was a place perched right atop the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean...it featured *Carnival-type* rides...a Roller Coaster, Ferris Wheel, Diving Bell etc. (Sort of Coney Island -like.) The Sutro Baths had a HUGE swimming pool, ice rink.... sadly, I missed all of this....just a tad too young! A-ha-ha! But today, I felt like I was there!
Original poster....that's 1899 my friends!
Oooh..love the swimsuit!!!
The original sign over the entrance....darn....I thought I captured it all....but...alas, I didn't!
EWWWWWW!!!
A real Bumper Car.... my first time in one!
Oooh....Carniverous plants!!!
Yes....that's the Pineapple.... sorry it's so blurry!
Isn't Mr. Turtle adorable!!! I love him! He was very willing to give me a *Close-up*!!!
Love,
♥ Robin ♥
OMGosh I can comment. I am ecstatic. Yeaaaaaa.. lol.. this is a great post. I was in that place in the 60ies. I kind of remember it. I have some post cards from it. So glad they got it rebuilt. Thanks for sharing. Its a nice place to go on a dreary winters day. :)
ReplyDeleteWOW OH WOW, what a gorgeous place. I loved every photo of everything. I am ready to drop everything and come there. Well, at least half way....we are going to San Diego tomorrow. Wish it was closer to SF.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the tour.
Oh gosh. What a wonderful afternoon you had. What fun to ride in your first bumper car. Whee! Plants and animals alike are colorful and glorious. I envy the richness of your city, the wonderful variety of things to see and enjoy. Thanks for sharing and giving me a vicarious adventure.
ReplyDeleteWonderful day you must have had there! Love all the pictures! So good they rebuilt the place!
ReplyDeleteBet you felt like a kid again being there and all good memories came back......
The fish and the turtle are cute! I had a turtle like that when I was a kid. :)
Had lunch today with Marja! We talked about you too!!!!
And we had a glass of wine on the chinese New Year. You know her always something to celebrate ;)
Baron was with us , part of his puppy training.
love!
M
Would loved to have been there! My gosh, the plants are so lush and amazing, and then the additions from the old park~~what fun!
ReplyDeleteI love Mr. Turtle.
He knows his good side.
"I'm ready for my close-up Ms. Robin..."
XXOO~~♥
Anne
What awesome pics! I can just feel the warmth and almost smell the earth - its amazing.
ReplyDeleteBut really...your first time on a bumper car? Really?? I practically grew up on them as there was an awesome one in coney island that we road all the time. But then again, you had wonderful San Fran....
Anyway - lovely pics I enjoyed seeing this alot
Cris!!!!! Hooray! You were able to comment!
ReplyDeleteI wondered if you had ever visited the Conservatory. It IS a wonderful place to visit...the tropical warmth, the splash of water in the ponds..that intoxicating air...
I plan to go back again.....I can even walk to it from my house - now that my knee seems to be healing!
So happy you could *visit*!
Love,
♥ Robin ♥
Ah, Teri....I wish you and your DH could come North for a visit too! One day!
ReplyDeleteI hope you are enjoying wonderful San Diego....I hope you have a chance to visit the zoo!
Love,
♥ Robin ♥
Suki....you would love this... a little Victorian *Sanctuary* far removed from the craziness of the City! I had completely forgotten its existence for years!
ReplyDeleteLove to you and Bibs,
♥ Robin ♥
Dear Zuster *M*....a-ha-ha! You would have loved visiting here....a little bit of the exotic tropics for you! All the many, many species of flowers and plants were stunning!
ReplyDeleteSo happy you and Zuster *M2* celebrated together....along with le petite Baron!!!!
Love,
♥ Zuster R ♥
Anne... yes, Mr. Turtle climbed up on that rock and willingly posed! He was a sweetie....he did have a companion....who was very camera-shy..and kept submerged in the water!
ReplyDeleteThe plants.... wow.....some of them reach ALL the way to the top of the building.... my camera just couldn't do it justice!
Love,
♥ Robin ♥
A-ha-ha Mimmmm! Yes. it REALLY was my first time in a bumper car! (Good thing there was only one car...or I could have gone *out of control* making up for lost time!) Can you believe I have NEVER been to Coney Island either? Chris and I made plans a gazillion times to go....but something always came up!
ReplyDeleteOne day....
The plants were intoxicating....it was relaxing and almost hypnotic...
I thought of you when I spied Mr. Turtle
(a Red Slider).... I was so excited to discover him! He seemed to feel the same way!
Love,
♥ Robin ♥
Hello darling,
ReplyDeleteI spent so many happy hours at Golden Gate Park, when you come we must look for a photo that is now nearly 40 years old of me posing in front of the Buddha and enjoying every minute of the natural beauty around there.
You have a wonderful way of capturing the spirit of the place, and for a little bit I was back inside the Conservatory as so many times while living in Orinda and making the trip across the bay just to feel the warmth and the fragrances that more than once pulled me out of a funk. I miss you and I am looking forward to share some of our Spring together.
I thought the point of bumper cars was to bump other cars, and I don't see any! Yur not yellar, are yu, pardner?
ReplyDeleteThat "enormous leaf" near the top is surely an Alocasia or a Coldacasia. I love those things like that were my own mamma. Plants and me get along. If I had been in that conservatory with you, I would have been damn near orgasmic. I remember the thrill of going to the one in St. Paul, Minnesota in the winter. Oh, how I loathed those winters, so to walk into the tropics for a while--wow! I can pass on the opera quite easily--being a hick and all--but we sure would have fun seeing a conservatory together.
i smiled at seeing that candy cane colored orchid - so beautiful. and the shot of you in the bumper car is priceless - we immediately become a child again sitting in one of those ;-)
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely place to have nearby you - a treasure! and to think it's been around for 100 years......(that poster from 1899?!!)
big hugs to my twin,
xoxo
amanda
blogger has chomped up my comment. just as i had finished saying how much i love botanical everythings and how glad i am that you had such a fine day.
ReplyDeleteand i was also saying that you have to bump when you're in a bumper car, it's kind of required...so you might have to search out a carnival :^)
love
kj
Dear Allegra....I think of you whenever I visit somewhere lovely in SF....because I know that you have been there, seen that too. The Conservatory CAN bring one out of a *funk*...I could have lay down on one of the benches and fell asleep...it was so warm and fragrant....
ReplyDeleteSending you love and strength...and hope for a Spring Meeting!
Always,
♥ Robin ♥
Oh Snow....you are TOO FUNNY! Unfortunately, there was only ONE Bumper car in the Conservatory....otherwise, I would have loved to go a few *rounds* against any opponent! *Yellow* is not a word to describe me! Hey, I understand *Opera* is not for many... but I like to share my passion out here in Blogland...I am so happy we two can share many other interests though....*critters* and plants make for great bonds between friends! Very cool you recognised that leaf...(I never thought to take notes on what I was photographing!) We would, indeed have fun at the Conservatory!
ReplyDeleteLove,
♥ Robin ♥
Hello Dear *Twin*...I hoped you would visit because I knew you would like the exotic plants! (And the Bumper Car too!) It's a great place.....I can't believe I forgot it was there for so long....
ReplyDeleteLove to you as we prepare our candles for St. Brigid's Day!
♥ Robin ♥
Hi there dear KJB! You cracked me up with the Bumper Car comment! We must find a place on my next visit and *Bump Cars*!!!! A-ha-ha!!!! I hope you are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteLove,
♥ Cupcake ♥
Oh be still my heart. Just seeing the outside of this marvelous old Victorian building is phenomenal. The plants are bonuses. What unusual tropicals. A perfect outing if you ask me. Plus you got fish for AW. Happy AW a little late.
ReplyDelete