Pier 39: The Lions’ Share
There are places where humans go to see the sights.
And then there are places where the sights seem to have taken over.
At San Francisco’s Pier 39, the sea lions appeared to have secured the best waterfront property, attracted a crowd of admirers, and become celebrities… without doing a day’s work.
Here’s the interesting bit. They weren’t even part of the original attraction.
A few began arriving shortly after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
By January 1990, hundreds had turned up, much to the dismay of marina tenants.
Experts were consulted, and the sea lions were allowed to stay.
They lounged, slipped into the water, climbed back aboard, and occasionally seemed to negotiate who got the better seat.
These are California sea lions, not seals. Look closely and you’ll spot their little external ear flaps.
They can also turn their rear flippers forward to help them walk on land.
Clearly, they come equipped for more than just lounging!
Away from the stars, restaurants tempted us with their menus, food counters sent delicious smells our way, and curio shops displayed things that made us wonder how we had managed to live without them.
Everywhere we turned, there was something else to discover, taste, or photograph.
Boats bobbed, flags fluttered, and Karl the Fog hovered over the distant hills, adding a touch of mystery to the scene.
We came to see the sights.
The sea lions had other ideas.
They took the lions’ share of the attention.
We took the photographs!
