Around San Francisco April 2011

Recently Dan and I took a trip to San Francisco to run in the Presidio 10 across the Golden Gate bridge (they don’t close the bridge to car traffic like they do for the “Bay to Breakers” race but there is plenty of room to run on the sidewalk). Unfortunately I was unable to run but went anyways and Dan did well and was happy with his time.

Upper left – the ubiquitous Powell street cable cars. I don’t know if this is classified more as a “tourist attraction” or as a means of public transport. The sign shows all the “don’ts” especially for out-of-towners. Upper mid-left – we were at the Owl Tree bar which had great drinks on tap and the Ukrainian waitress made very strong drinks; this glass was pure alcohol and destined to be two martinis. Upper mid-right – there was an amazing shopping mall near the Powell street transit station which was packed to the rafters; it was as if the recession had never occurred. Dan and I were joking that everyone buying there came from a country with a positive trade balance. Upper right – a happy newlywed couple in a Powell street cable car. Lower left – Dan doing his version of the “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”. Lower mid – someone is drawing on the sidewalk with Koi fish as well as a playful cat. Middle right – Alcatraz Island. Lower right – stretching before the race in front of the Golden Gate bridge.

Cross posted at LITGM

8 thoughts on “Around San Francisco April 2011”

  1. I used to go to San Francisco five or six times a year just to wander around and enjoy the city. I haven’t been there in a year even though my son lives in the Bay Area. Tourism is way down and a lot of the old tourist attractions like Ghiradelli Square and that area near Fisherman’s Wharf are closed or much diminished. I’m not sure why but the city doesn’t seem as friendly as it used to.

  2. I lived in Palo Alto for a year and used to take the train into San Francisco to walk around and look at things.

    Such a beautiful city (at least, a decade ago. I’d go explore hidden corners, meet friends at little wine bars, and take in the views from the tops of hills and the like. Tended to stay away from the touristy stuff except for Chinatown because of what Michael says above. It seemed a bit sad and seedy in those parts sometimes.)

    – Madhu

  3. Such perfect climate and a wonderful setting trumped by a swinish political class. That class din’t get establihed without a feckless public to enable them.

  4. Don’t know if you meant to imply such, but the “Bay to Breakers” does not involve any bridge, but is crosstown east to west form the Bay side to Oceanside.

    When I moved to SF in the ’70’s, one cold ride the cable cars as normal transit and normal fairs. I frequently tool one home, but that is not possible any longer. The have become a tourist amusement ride at a higher fare, and always too jammed with tourists for a city citizen to ride.

    Your “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” is what a wag used to call the “Border Loin” or “Tenderloin Heights” as it on the bench of Nob Hill above the Tenderloin. (FYI: The cleaners in the photo is efficient and prompt if you need the service while visiting.)

    Such perfect climate and a wonderful setting trumped by a swinish political class. That class din’t get established without a feckless public to enable them.

    Yes indeed, Renminbi. Feckless and “incestuous” – not the “six degrees of separation” but just two here. I’ve lived half my life in “The City”, and my caution is always “Yes the views are marelous, and don’t turn your back on the Bay.”

  5. Journey – When The Lights Go Down In The City lyrics

    When the lights go down in the city,
    and the sun shines on the bay,
    do I want to be there, in my city,
    ohoh ohohoh ohoh

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