The time spent in San Fran can be filled with a broad spectrum of activities. For me it ranged from spending time in the Outer Sunset District with the surfers and the burners where the word “hella” replaces exclamation points and the slow speech of hipsters on the beach can make one despair about the decline of Western Civilization.
I visited friends in the mission district where the arts flourish and families have hosted Family-Matter style houses for generations.
I particularly love attempting to park a car horizontally on the vertical streets of this area.
Even the time I spent shopping in Haight, (preferably Upper Haight,) exploring the vintage shops, the stripper stores, the-restaurants-that-would-be-considered-kitch-anywhere-else-in-the-world-but-have-crossed-into-cool, in Nor Cal was educational. I also sincerely appreciated the availability to purchase anything on street corners, ranging from ancient medicinal healing formula to flowers for my hair.
In the extremes of Pleasantville (also known as Redwood City), where tree leaves simply dissipate rather falling as normal leaves, thus preserving the crisp landscaped walk-ways, where the DVDs and CDs are kept un-sensored on shelves by the door in the public library and where the “privileged people” live out stories of private intrigue- preferring to remain anonymous in their activities. They float by as the people who live to work, rather than working to live.
It is with great appreciation that I dub San Francisco one of the most welcoming cities I have ever attempted to move to…With the MUNI, BART and Caltrain, the city hosts one of the top ten transit systems in the world. Unlike London, or Dublin where tourists are welcomed with open arms, then booted unceremoniously out once the wallet runs dry, and in stark juxtaposition to New York City where the fleeting tourist can end up spending a life time partying in circles, San Fran takes a relaxed approach to unveiling itself.
It offers the Bridge Tour- including but not limited to: the Bay Bridge, The Oakland Bridge and of course the Golden Gate for the first walking tour of the city. It has the museum tour: ranging from the classical pieces presented at The Legion of Honor, to the De Young with it’s limited engagement openings and of course there is SFMOMA- an architectural design so grand that taking in Mario Botta’s building may be enough of an experience without even going inside.
In San Fran the days slip into weeks, slip into months and you find yourself taking weekend trips to San Carlos to explore the quaint stores of Laurel Street (a trip to the local cobbler for colorful storytelling is a must), taking day trips to Fort Funston- a dog lover’s utopia and introvert’s hell, for brilliant whale watching opportunities. Or perhaps you travel to Half-Moon Bay where good books can be purchased by smell alone (the stronger the smell = the older/better the book) and cliche sea-side art is readily available for purchase, (including long strands of sea-glass roped together into a 70s style door curtain).
If what I named off what not enough to temp you: remember, there is a huge- deluxe spa culture available here, including full body scrape, You can have young skin again!
There is the Castro district- if you really want to learn to party..
And perhaps most importantly there is Occupy Oakland- one of most extreme and volatile Occupy Camps in the world at the moment.
But don’t take my word for it, come visit yourself, and be sure to check out Alexander Books, the largest independent bookstore in the Bay Area to find out more information/better information for yourself.
intrepid trekking 