First day: Walking around San Francisco
San Francisco, Day 2, Kilometers travelled: 15 on foot
Today, the sun decided to make our room uncomfortably hot. Although we went to sleep at 0:300, after a 29 hour day, we got up again around ten o’clock. The city was already awake, forcing its noise trough our window. Hundreds of commuters and taxi’s passing by our window, even the occasional chrome- and-red fire engine flew by, telling us it was time to get out of bed and into the city.
We missed breakfast at the hostel, nothing a pack of cookies and some water couldn’t fix. The tab water in San Francisco is drinkable, if you can get over the disgusting chloride taste. After checking our emails in the lobby, we packed our backpack with camera’s and a travel guide, and headed out into the city. First stop was the street next to our hostel, a dead end street on the crossing of broadway and kearny. I believe it is the steepest street in San Francisco, do not believe the touristic rumors about lombard street, for this one you need specialized climbing gear. The climb uphill was well worth it: it offered a fantastic view of the bay on one side, and the city on the other. Standing between the Mediterranean style houses, the sun was nice and warm, while a cool sea breeze cooled us like an outdoor air conditioner. Getting quite hungry, we decided to find a place to eat around 2pm. The travel guide advised ‘Il pollaio’, an Italian restaurant on near washington park, specialized in marinated and grilled chicken. The restaurant seated twelve people, 5 of which police officers. Yet, another classic movie moment. It is true that SF offers as much fast food as healthy food. We had an excellent meal for $10, with hot Italian sausages, a mix salad, french fries and 1/2 a grilled chicken, and free chloride water.
We continued on foot, exploring all the nice streets and views San Francisco has to offer. I think the greatest thing about SF is that with every block travelled, you enter a new world. From skyscrapers to wooden houses, mediterranean to chinese, quiet to touristic, and from big city to small village and nature, all in a five minute walk. Still, it is not comparable to anything seen in Europe, it has its own identity, and never feels like the six million people city it is. Following a scenic road uphill, we incidentally stumbled upon Coit tower and the panorama view it has to offer on the bay area. In true american style, the tower offers two elevators and zero stairs. The hill itself is usually conquered by car: windows open and a camera sticking out. We continued to the historic Fishermans wharf, tourist heaven. It offers many street artists, a nice view of Alcatraz, historic WWII boats, many restaurants and the Musee Mechanique. A private collection of entertainment machines from 1800 to 2000. It is interesting to see how entertainment has not changed in two centuries. One could play 3-dimensional shooting games 100 years ago, fight against a wrestling machine or watch ‘erotic’ movies. The only obvious shift noticeable is from the novelty of complex mechanical machines to complex electrical computers. The modern entertainment section offered games like pacman and the Atari classic I played as a three-year-old: Battlezone.
Continuing our wharf tour we watched the boiling of live crabs, poor creatures. We wanted to walk to the Golden Gate bridge, only to discover we were heading the wrong way, and it would take more than an hour on foot. So we headed back to the Hostel via Lombard street; the famous street with ten hairpin curves. We passed the edge of Chinatown, and the financial district with the Pyramid Tower as its landmark. The official Scientology religion *cult* is right across the street. We got a card to watch a campaign movie for free. I think I will just keep my soul to myself. Near the Hostel we were ‘politely invited’ at a nude bar: “Hey guys come on in. Don’t rely on charm to get her naked, we have done all the work for you.” Needless to say we passed on this opportunity. Just in time for a late dinner in the ballroom, we arrived at the hostel. The cooking here is better than what is offered in my own student-flat. I truly believe the Turtoise Hostel is an old brodel: it is in the ‘red light’ district, has a nice reception, 40 small rooms and a ballroom with a backstage. The decorated ceiling is painted brown for an intimate atmosphere, and there are moon shaped couches on the side. The perfect place for either a Broadway musical, or a nude act. Tired from walking, and possibly a bit jet-laggy we decided to to go bed at ten o’clock.
Today, the sun decided to make our room uncomfortably hot. Although we went to sleep at 0:300, after a 29 hour day, we got up again around ten o’clock. The city was already awake, forcing its noise trough our window. Hundreds of commuters and taxi’s passing by our window, even the occasional chrome- and-red fire engine flew by, telling us it was time to get out of bed and into the city.
We missed breakfast at the hostel, nothing a pack of cookies and some water couldn’t fix. The tab water in San Francisco is drinkable, if you can get over the disgusting chloride taste. After checking our emails in the lobby, we packed our backpack with camera’s and a travel guide, and headed out into the city. First stop was the street next to our hostel, a dead end street on the crossing of broadway and kearny. I believe it is the steepest street in San Francisco, do not believe the touristic rumors about lombard street, for this one you need specialized climbing gear. The climb uphill was well worth it: it offered a fantastic view of the bay on one side, and the city on the other. Standing between the Mediterranean style houses, the sun was nice and warm, while a cool sea breeze cooled us like an outdoor air conditioner. Getting quite hungry, we decided to find a place to eat around 2pm. The travel guide advised ‘Il pollaio’, an Italian restaurant on near washington park, specialized in marinated and grilled chicken. The restaurant seated twelve people, 5 of which police officers. Yet, another classic movie moment. It is true that SF offers as much fast food as healthy food. We had an excellent meal for $10, with hot Italian sausages, a mix salad, french fries and 1/2 a grilled chicken, and free chloride water.
We continued on foot, exploring all the nice streets and views San Francisco has to offer. I think the greatest thing about SF is that with every block travelled, you enter a new world. From skyscrapers to wooden houses, mediterranean to chinese, quiet to touristic, and from big city to small village and nature, all in a five minute walk. Still, it is not comparable to anything seen in Europe, it has its own identity, and never feels like the six million people city it is. Following a scenic road uphill, we incidentally stumbled upon Coit tower and the panorama view it has to offer on the bay area. In true american style, the tower offers two elevators and zero stairs. The hill itself is usually conquered by car: windows open and a camera sticking out. We continued to the historic Fishermans wharf, tourist heaven. It offers many street artists, a nice view of Alcatraz, historic WWII boats, many restaurants and the Musee Mechanique. A private collection of entertainment machines from 1800 to 2000. It is interesting to see how entertainment has not changed in two centuries. One could play 3-dimensional shooting games 100 years ago, fight against a wrestling machine or watch ‘erotic’ movies. The only obvious shift noticeable is from the novelty of complex mechanical machines to complex electrical computers. The modern entertainment section offered games like pacman and the Atari classic I played as a three-year-old: Battlezone.
Continuing our wharf tour we watched the boiling of live crabs, poor creatures. We wanted to walk to the Golden Gate bridge, only to discover we were heading the wrong way, and it would take more than an hour on foot. So we headed back to the Hostel via Lombard street; the famous street with ten hairpin curves. We passed the edge of Chinatown, and the financial district with the Pyramid Tower as its landmark. The official Scientology religion *cult* is right across the street. We got a card to watch a campaign movie for free. I think I will just keep my soul to myself. Near the Hostel we were ‘politely invited’ at a nude bar: “Hey guys come on in. Don’t rely on charm to get her naked, we have done all the work for you.” Needless to say we passed on this opportunity. Just in time for a late dinner in the ballroom, we arrived at the hostel. The cooking here is better than what is offered in my own student-flat. I truly believe the Turtoise Hostel is an old brodel: it is in the ‘red light’ district, has a nice reception, 40 small rooms and a ballroom with a backstage. The decorated ceiling is painted brown for an intimate atmosphere, and there are moon shaped couches on the side. The perfect place for either a Broadway musical, or a nude act. Tired from walking, and possibly a bit jet-laggy we decided to to go bed at ten o’clock.
posted by Branko | 8:07 PM
1 Comments:
I will try to read my email every other day!
Kisses!
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