Saturday, June 21, 2008

La marina di Berkeley

There are a few spots that I particularly love in Berkeley and that I haven't really mentioned in this blog earlier. I will start describing one of them in this post, and the second one will come later. Here I'll talk about the Berkeley Marina. You can see where it is on this map, which is a personalized Google Map that I started updating. You'll have to look around for it.

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I started making this personalized Google Map of Berkeley, with all the spots I like, including places to visit, restaurants, cafes, shops. I'll keep updating it, so you can check on this link if you want to see later versions.
Ever since I first went to the Marina, I fell in love with this spot, and the Hugo Chavez park that on one side faces San Francisco and the Golden Gate, and on the other Berkeley hills. Today I went there, and I took a few pictures during one of the most sunny days I've seen in Berkeley.
This is a view from one of the tallest hills of the Hugo Chavez Park, looking at San Francisco. During such a beautiful day, lots of sailing boats were there. It would be pretty cool to try to go on a boat here, and I'm sure I will, one of these days: for example, thanks to the open house days at the Cal sailing club.
A lot of people come on this hill to fly kites. I have actually never flown a real kite in my life. It seems like it could be fun! I took some pictures of the pretty kites in the sky:
Such beautiful colors, and the wind was perfect, so people could get them really high up in the sky.
And many interesting shapes!
Many months ago, I came here at the sunset. Here is a shot of San Francisco again, in this completely different atmosphere, from about the same spot.
I surely wasn't the only one admiring the sunset:
And I also want to show the view from the other side of the park, with Berkeley and the hills. It has its own charm:
And what about these colors? Breathtaking.
So if you happen to come to Berkeley, visit the marina, any time of the day or night. I went to walk on the long pier last night, and the image of the moon reflected on the water, and the lights of San Francisco, were an amazingly beautiful show.

4 comments:

Simona Carini said...

I agree with you about the Berkeley Marina. Nice photos. One day I will tell you the story of my visit to Cal Sailing, many years ago: my first experience kayaking on the Bay.

Unknown said...

wow, the Marina seems amazing. I will have to go there when I am up to the bay next time.

Unknown said...

These are wonderful pictures. As if you were trying to make me even keener to go to Berkeley...
Can't wait!

zeya said...

Ciao
I found your blog on google. I read your delicious Turkish cookings :) Brava !!

I stayed Berkeley about a year in 1999. Berkeley Marina was great !!
There was a restaurant just on the sea :)

I miss the smell of the telegraph avenue !!

Ci vediamo !!