6.17.09

With or Without Flowers In Your Hair.

We hadn't got any sleep on the train. There were too many friends and cocktails being made. Then we got in my car and drove off into the night. We hadn't slept much at the rest stop either. Somebody should probably film a horror movie there. Every time I'd doze off, I would wake up in a startle. So we shared driving duties. One passed out while the other stared blankly at the 500 miles of highway ahead.
We were overcome with anticipation,
and also disappointment every time we'd pass a new road sign.
San Francisco 320 miles.
San Francisco 180 miles.
San Francisco 70 miles.
We seemed to only inch closer, and we'd been in the car for nearly half a day.
But finally the traffic grew thicker, the lanes wider and the vehicles faster.

San Franscisco might be one of the most memorable places you'll ever drive into.
I recall coming around a long curvy highway and thinking we had to be close. And all within an instant we came into an opening and were confronted by the bays glinting blue water all of 20 feet from the road. Fresh cool air blows in through the window. You see the outline of a large coastal city and in the hazy distance stands a far but gargantuan silhouette of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Our first steps out of the car are through the nations largest China Town. I tower like a walking light post, asian girls gawk and I see a young black man get beat to the ground by two other thugs. I watch this unfold in front of me but don't feel a thing, yet I watch intently and can't seem to pull my eye's away from it. The stimulation of being in a new place has made me numb and I just seem to absorb everything weather it's beautiful or violent.

We only stay two days in San Francisco but explore nearly every corner of the city. It certainly wasn't enough time to discover any sort of impressive nightlife so we created our own.

For a cheap and adventurous evening I recommend hitting up happy hour at the Elbow Room in the mission district. It's has about 10 really affordable local brews and you're likely to be the only one in the joint. It's daylight outside but once you get through the front curtain, you'll drink by candlelight.

Then take the BART (the underground train) back up to the North Beach and have a ride on the vintage trolley cars. It's really affordable (like a couple dollars) and there's one that follows along the North Beach Piers. Good views. Fresh sea air.

You can walk across the golden gate bridge and drink wine. This is totally free. You should probably wait til it's dark before popping the cork. If you get there before dark, you'll have a good opportunity for some skyline photos. This is one of the most beautiful views in all of San Fran. The whole city is viewable and sometimes moon lit. When you reach the middle of the bridge, look over the edge and think about how terrifying it most have been for all the people who have jumped. Oh, and don't jump, you'll be killed.

When you've had enough of the bridge you can go sit along the beach and finish your Merlot or open another one. Watch out for the cops! they like to come around with their spotlights and even flash their cherries a bit, but they don't actually walk onto the beach. Hide behind a sand dune until they drive off, it's worth it. From this beach you'll have the golden gate to your left and Alcatraz prison to you right.

When you leave San Francisco make sure to take Highway 1 until the 101 reaches the coast. Don't forget.

...TBC