Alamo Sqaure

It may take a little while to walk there on foot and it is near nothing else of great interest - but picture postcard, quintessential San Franciscan views are guaranteed from the top. The “as seen on TV and film”, especially among those establishing city shots fits the bill here.

For Alamo Square is the home of the city’s “painted ladies”, a row of Victorian period houses neatly lined up in a row of varying pastel colour.

It’s the view that you’ll have seen many times before in any half-decent tourist literature about San Francisco.

And while you may have seen the view in print a number of times over the years that shouldn’t detract from the fact that getting up there with your own camera and seeing it with your own eyes is still passably worth the time and effort.

It’s free too.

The six houses (seven including the corner property) lie on Steiner Street but the photographs are actually taken from the grassy bank opposite. Partially tree covered it is a rather uneven, uninspiring place. There are tennis courts, a children’s playground and a few utility sheds. It’s a place people live.

One wonders what the homeowners and dog walkers must think then. All of these visitors with their cameras.

Their curtains are not permanently closed either leading to a slightly uncomfortable feeling that you’re intruding on their privacy.

So take the photograph, log a mental image of the scene and be on your way.

But to finish, a note of caution: downhill the surrounding neighbourhoods are rough around the edges. Making your way at dusk or night, please exercise caution and common sense.