Within the tightly populated city of San Francisco is a place of peace, tranquility, beauty and nature ~ The Palace of Fine Arts ~

Here, if I may share with you a photo I took many years ago when I lived in S.F... One of many of my favorite places within the city to spend quiet and relaxing afternoons ~

The palace grounds are a place of beauty to relax in the gentle sunlight ~ I remember peaceful days sitting on the lawn which overlooks the pond that surrounds the impressive sculptures and architecture ~ watching the white snowy swans glide around in the tranquil pond that surrounds the famous dome and pillars - for these structures were originally designed for the Panama-Pacific fair ~

A little history about the palace from wikipedia - "The Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District of San Francisco, California is a building originally constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. It was designed by Bernard Maybeck, who took his inspiration from Roman and Greek architecture.

A single dome remains from the eight identical structures that were originally constructed. Towering colonnaded walkways linked the buildings on the site, but only a few remain intact.

The lagoon was intended to echo those found in classical settings in Europe, where the expanse of water provides a mirror surface to reflect the grand buildings and an undisturbed vista to appreciate them from a distance. In many places the edges are subsiding into the water, forming uneven and dangerous surfaces that are fenced off from the public and used by turtles to sun themselves. Australian eucalyptus trees fringe the eastern shores. Many forms of wildlife have made their home there including swans, ducks (particularly migrating fowl), geese, turtles, frogs and raccoons"

For those of you familiar with the city, you know how international the city is ...so you can hear many languages spoken by the visitors on these grounds ~ You will see lovers, families with children and the elderly peacefully enjoying the day in this place of beauty ~

Thank you for sharing this moment with me ~ These are one of those places that can renew one's spirit and connect to nature ~ Namaste ~