I am now sitting in Union Square overlooking the art sale that is going on. Artists here are displaying their proud work of art, ranging from sculptures, thought-provoking photographs to acrylic paintings. I love the cooling atmosphere and surrounding of people who are artistically-inclined.
My greatest encounter here was my yesterday’s trip to the Fisherman’s Wharf. I rode the world famous Mason & Powell cable car, which would take you to the most scenic views of the city. From Union Square to Chinatown and Lombard Street, I saw the upwards and downwards of the hilly city.
In Fisherman’s Wharf, I bought myself a bread bowl of clam chowder, a must-eat in San Fran! As it's crab season now, the seafood is at its freshest. The view in front of me was Alcatraz and the pier with boats operating the island tour. As the hot steam slowly gave way to the cold spring air, I finished my last scoop of chowder and left the bread bowl for the sea gulls instead. I placed it on top of the garbage bin hopefully it would attract the birds. You can’t punish me for doing that, can you?
While in the wharf also, I took the liberty to visit the Museum of the City of San Francisco. In there, you are like going back in time. You'll find arcade games dated back in the early 20th century, maybe some as old as in the late 1800s. It's fun seeing the sort of entertainment at those times.
Whenever I’m in the States, I will religiously go on a pilgrimage to Urban Outfitters, A&F, Gap, Old Navy, Macys, Bloomingdales, Virgin Records and bookstores. I am not particularly into shopping but I do enjoy looking at what these American retailers have to offer. I’m always so amazed with the rate of change in trend here and I must say, vintage does have an appeal. My visit to Urban Outfitters was quite a shocking one. It feels like an adult playground to me, with so many interesting offerings for the urbanites. Clothing, home fittings, and books with the most contemporary titles from fashion to pop culture. Another favourite store of mine here is Cody’s Book. With their in-house reviewers and writers, this place looks like a heaven for the titles I’m always on a look-out for. I did some free reading briefly on Franz Kafka (a deceased Czech novelist who had drawn a cult-like following) and Fascism.
About the people here, well, they are the Chinese (former Hong Kong-ers, mostly), Filipinos, of course Indians. They make-up the population here, bringing with them attitudes that pleases the locals. Their joyfulness, loud-speaking almost blend in too well with the long-timed whites. People here are much more laid-back or should I say, most people I met are tourist anyway.
The cable car drivers too, often act as the ambassadors to the various tourist spots along the cable car line. They are a bunch of funny and witty people who never fail in entertaining the tourists on board their carriage, even while checking or selling the tickets.
My other encounter is breakfast at Tad’s Steak, an old-fashioned restaurant with the friendliest staff so far, I’ve ever encountered in my American experience.
Often prided as a friendly gay city, I find the air here liberating and to a certain extent, very well mixed with the diverse culture brought in by the migrants. Truly a classic American city of gold!
