Last Sunset of 2011

I'm really thankful that husband suggested we drive to Berkeley and take sunset shots to remember the last day of 2011, a year filled with so many ups and downs. I was ready to just chill in my jammies and wait for the ball to drop in Times Square while hanging out with my friends, Jack Daniels, Sarah Lee, Ben & Jerry and maybe even Dom Perignon.

We're having a very mild winter so far, but that day was chilly and quite breezy. We drove up to Euclid and found to our delight that there were street parking available. This is the same exact spot that fills up easily on July 4th. This is a prime spot either for enjoying the sweeping vista of the San Francisco Bay or watching fireworks in July.

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Across the beautiful bay is the city where Tony Bennett left his heart.
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Closer look.
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A little to the right of the first two images is the view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
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Here is another shot of the famous bridge.

We took many shots until I was shaking uncontrollably. I always dress wrong for the occasion. This time I was wearing a very light sweater - not Berkeley appropriate attire. FYI it's always cold in Berkeley even in the summer time. Especially in the hills.

When we left the hills I thought we'd go straight home, I was hungry at this point, but we took a little detour to Berkeley marina where we shoot some more.

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From the Berkeley marina this was the scene last few hours of 2011 - SF cityscape festively lit.

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Closer look.
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The Berkeley pier where people fish and go crabbing.
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And before we left for home and some home-cooked dinner, we took a shot of Emeryville's cityscape. Emeryville is city across the bridge from San Francisco. It is also the home of PIXAR.

This is my entry to this week's SKYWATCH. Skywatch is a weekly gathering of sky lovers and sky watchers. Join us.

Comments

  1. A spectacular finish to the year!

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  2. beautiful shots...great way to end the year.

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  3. lovely! i love the pier shot best. :-)

    happy new year to you and to your family!

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  4. They are all magnificent images! I love the star effect of the lights on your pier shot.

    Thanks for the tip about Berkeley. I practically froze to death one night a few years back when we went out to dinner with relatives who live in the area.

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  5. the night shots! wow! amazing 2nd and 5th photos. it's great seeing the last sunset of a year. that i missed this year.

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  6. What beautiful shots!

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  7. I love San Fo! Postcard perfect!

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  8. The sky sure did put on a show for you and I love the buildings all lit up with their different colors too.

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  9. these are amazing photos! you were on the perfect spot. the Berkeley pier photo is magical.

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  10. These are stunning! And, we have the same friends!

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  11. Fantastic photos!I hope you had a good start into the new year!

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  12. What a way to end the year!! Fantastic captures and one of my favorite places!! Hope your year is off to a great start! Enjoy!

    Sylvia

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  13. Those shots of the city on the last day of the year are amazing...such clarity and what pretty skies you got to capture! Unusually pink and colorful. You had a great idea to drag yourself up into the hills. I'll have to check out that spot myself one day...

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  14. Stunning night captures with a beautiful rose-pink hue. Delightful!

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  15. Those could just be the prettiest,best photos of San Francisco at night I have ever seen! I found myself looking at neighborhoods and thinking about friends who live near those brightly lit landmarks!

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  16. beautiful sunset and your night shots are excellent.

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  17. It is really beautiful~
    You are good in capturing photos le...

    http://keeyit.com

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  18. Wow!! Some really great shots here!! I would have stayed till I was frozen, too!!!

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  19. You had a great trip. Terrific night captures.
    Have another great year ahead!

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  20. Beautiful shots. The view of the city is amazing.

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  21. Simply beautiful!

    Sky watch, have a lovely weekend!

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  22. Beautiful shots of the Bay area, memories to last a lifetime.

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  23. Outstanding captures! I love Berkley. I used to visit my cousin when she was still in University.

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  24. Beautiful captures! Happy sky watching.

    Skywatch

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  25. Absolutely stunning photos!! I love how they light up Embarcadero Center every Christmas, makes me smile every time I'm on the Bay Bridge coming into the City from the east bay.

    Happy New Year!

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  26. omg your photos are amazing! it felt like the ones i see on magazines. i think i've mentioned this on your other blog with some of your photos there too!

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  27. A fine series of SF and surrounding area of interest. I really like the star reflections and that cityscape shots at night. Fine night of shooting.

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  28. Stunning views and photographs, Maria!

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  29. they're all beautiful! you take such good pictures.

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  30. as always, great shots! happy new year :-)

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  31. Fabulous images, Maria, of such a landmark city! Congratulations.

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  32. all the shots are breathtaking! ^0^
    i'm glad you made it to Berkeley.

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  33. great night shots :)

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