San Francisco
24 to 28 August 2012
Well, here's the thing, after selling up, giving it away or throwing it away, I land in London, three weeks later I find myself on an aeroplane for holiday in the USA with Jermine. Hold fire ... I haven't recovered from my jet lag from Australia to the United Kingdom and now I'm filling up my jet lag quota again. Am I complaining I hear you ask, goodness no.
My only experience of San Francisco has been connected to movies and songs, now I'm experiencing this vibrant and colourful city in living colour. San Francisco is hilly with moments of flat lands, and in between the you'll find another steep incline.
Always warm and mild in weather, the cooler winds keep you on your toes as you head towards the Golden Gate Bridge.
In The City
A big San Francisco breakfast of pancakes with all the trimmings is a staple of this Summer morning, or at least a staple for me and my growling hunger. Everything done in the USA is done in, large. With eager eyes I indulged in this breakfast for Kings.
Many great moments of walking through this vast city brings many sights and sounds at every corner. The tall building you see on the right hand side was used for external shots of the film, Towering Inferno. Not far away is the Church used in Sister Act (and II), Diners, Cafes and many other everyday buildings were used in this fine city for many other blockbuster films.
The small Cable Cars run around the main central point of the shopping district of San Francisco, a manually operated cable car system. There were once twenty-three lines running throughout the city, now there are only three remaining, the busiest running between Union Square and Fishermans Wharf. The Wharf is well known for its fish markets and restaurants, departure point to Alcatraz Island.
One unfortunate part in the city is the large number of people rough sleeping - homeless. It's been said the attraction for the homeless is the weather in San Francisco, as Winter is not bitterly cold and therefore not as uncomfortable who are unfortunately living it rough in the streets. When you walk along the main streets past the shopping centres and cafes there's no problem, yet take a short cut via a small side street and you'll find these unfortunate people, living it rough.
The Metro underground train system runs quite efficiently throughout the city and outer suburbs, running frequently and on time.
Shopping
Macy's, Prada, Saks Fifth Avenue and many other big name shopping centres and individual stores surround Union Square. When these big guys have a sale, they seriously have a big sale.
Shopping in these massive stores is something I've never quite experienced before. Anything you want, need or desire is on sale and there will be someone about the floor to give you a helping hand and provide anything you desire.
We spent most of our time shopping in Macy's, because of the bargains we found during our time in San Francisco; I don't want to promote this store exclusively, but I think we were just in the right store and the right time for the right sale.
We managed to carry a number of shopping bags back to our accommodation and was faced with the arduous task of filling up our suitcases to take home. Oh, and of course there is the Tax refund claimed back at the store to stock up the wallet with some more cash. Double dipping on the savings.
Castro
A visit to San Francisco is never complete without a visit to the famous area known as Castro. Only a few stops on the underground Metro train from Union Square is this vibrant and very interesting community. Castro has a very strong and interesting link to Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender history and don't forget the cafes, shopping and Museum.
Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender History Museum
Of all the types of Museums I've visited in my time, I have never seen such an interesting and personal museum, as this. A Museum about real people from a time in the now. Moving. Emotional. Shocking. Interesting. Surprising. Although not a large building, to spend more than a couple of hours researching the history of the San Francisco people would bring any visitor a greater understanding, education and empathy towards a people and their struggle within their own country, against their own government and fellow citizens from bigotry, ignorance, stupidity and I'm sure in some way, illegal basic human rights.
The quote on the wall says, "Our letters were burned, our names blotted out, our books censored, our love declared unspeakable, our very existence denied". A powerful and resonating quote when the reader begins to understand the quote is talking about fellow citizens; friends and family.
At the time, between the 1970s to 1980s those living (strike that) dying from A.I.D.S. were being allowed to die, ignored by their very own government, doctors, nurses and pharmacists as it was considered a gay disease. There were many protests held and those participating were always arrested. One such protest involved the blockade of the Golden Gate Bridge, to force change by people dying from A.I.D.S. To force an ignorant Government to stand up and take notice their citizens were dying and no one was doing anything about it. Clearly, stupidity has no bounds.
Golden Gate Bridge
This beautiful suspension bridge towers over the Golden Gate strait, a mile-wide, three-mile-long channel between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean and it's often cold when you cross it, as we discovered. Unfortunately, on the day we crossed it, a think layer of fog hovered over the top of the Bridge, yet the rest of the view was spectacular.
At the other end of the Bridge, a great view point awaits you, looking back towards San Francisco. The Strait bustling with all kinds of water craft, including Container Ships with their precious cargos.
And of course, the view point wouldn't be complete without a cafe to indulge in coffee and cake. Although it may seem it's just another view point of the many places in the world to visit, this view holds something magical about it, something words are unable to articulate.
In many movies I have seen the classic black and white police cars and to my delight my very first sight of one of these cars, often being battered and destroyed in action packed movies, was sitting calmly and untethered at the Golden Gate view point by the cafe. I didn't notice if the said Police Officer was inside having a cliche coffee and doughnut.
Street Art Graffiti
I must admit, I'm not one to praise this ever growing and illicit graphic following. To my limited experiences graffiti is often sprayed on buildings and public spaces, defacing and destroying private or public property. Not something I have condoned in the past. Generally, the graffiti is someone's personal or a gang related tag.
In saying this, street art graffiti encouraged by shop owners to help define their store or following can be something very beautiful and creative. Much of the street art graffiti found in the downtown area is intricate, detailed and beautiful.
These public works of art, if I may be so bold to call these few pieces displayed here, capture you for a short while, enticing you to stop and appreciate the work, as in a gallery. There is quite a lot of street art graffiti to see and not enough space on here to display, yet this gives you a general sense of the quality of the work.
If only all street art graffiti could be this colourful and delightful to view, instead of the ugly tags often insulting the senses of the public.
Australian Natives
I was once told the only place where the Australian Eucalyptus tree grows outside of Australia, is Greece. Well, there blows that myth. Here, above in the hills of San Francisco, not far from our friend's house, where we stayed during our visit is a small nature reserve and here in this nature reserve grows Australian Eucalyptus trees, many of them.
It saddened me to hear the Australian native is treated as a pest, as they have nothing to stop them from growing and can take over the native flora here in San Francisco. However, I had to take it in my stride, as I know the Australian Conservation Foundation often speak about imported species into Australia and how they can take over, hence the strict laws of importing plants into Australia.
So, there you have it, a little bit of Australia over here, but no Koalas.
