Sirens in San Francisco

Downtown through bit of fog as we landed from Seattle
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Sirens in San Francisco: Nov 5-7 2007

We arrived in semi-shade. What the locals call a ‘beeutiful”day. It was actually quite foggy but there were patches of sunlight that got them excited.

Sirens in San Francisco

This northern hemisphere really misses out on good light. At ground level it seems OK but if you get up a bit and look through the atmosphere it is very murky. For example; we walked over the Golden gate bridge and the tops were in fog. Looking back at the city the photos will tell it all – murky. But the colours at ground zero were reasonable. If you looked up there was no bridge to be seen but things looked OK on the ground. It was quite a cold fog but I didn’t need my coat. Some people wore singlets and that gave me hope that I was not really that far out in my comfort zone.

Our room view
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Yes! You read right. We walked over the bridge.

We found out that there is a wide disparity with “seniors”. I qualify in some places and not in others. Looking at the cable car last night I asked an information officer where I could buy a ticket. His response was to tell me that I could buy a ticket for a month for all public transport for $10. I thought he said that I had a $10 discount on a long-time ticket. But I woz rong agen. $10 per ticket per month. So, guess what? I bought 2 of them. With cable car tickets to Fishermans Wharf costing $5 per head 1 way we were in front by the time we got home last night. Today was a bonus. All over town, out to the bridge and back, downtown and back, on and off buses, trams and trolley buses all day for nix. There is tomorrow as well. More free travel. Then I might just sell the tickets to someone or give them to one of the many homeless people that we see every day.

Crabs for chowder look different from this one
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There is a really sad situation here. In a land of plenty there are so many who are on the streets. We have seen women “off their faces” at 9am staggering down the footpath abusing passersby. There are people sleeping in doorways and just sitting on the footpath, backs to a wall with a paper cup held out, not a word, just sitting. These people are near some of the most exclusive shops we’ve yet seen.

I spoke with a bloke yesterday who was standing in the area near the start of the cable car. He was standing still twirling a stick on which was a large neon yellow sign “Jesus Christ loves you”. I was intrigued by what motivated him as he did not speak to anyone, did not hassle anyone, he just stood. I offered him $10 to give to his charity. He refused. “I don’t take money”. I offered it so that he could buy a coffee when he took a break. “I don’t take money”. I offered it so he could find a deserving person who wouldn’t waste it on drugs or booze. “I don’t take money”. I asked him how long he had been there today holding his sign. “This is my job. I’m here all day every day.” I may get an opportunity to pass him by again and ask him some more questions.

Pier 39 - great place and it has sea lions
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I’ve called this part of the blog “Sirens in San Francisco” and Marg just called out that this was most appropriate. We are in the area known as SOMA. I couldn’t work this out as there are some weird names for the suburbs. We’ve seen CASTRO, now that is weird for an American city I thought. But I struggled with SOMA until I saw that a theatre was advertised as being South Of MArket street. That’s the practical way in the big cities. I thought that the numbering was a weak way of not having to think up real names. But in big cities it is a relief for visitors and it must be for locals. Avenues run one way, streets run another and you can work out how far X is from Y easily. Do I need a taxi? Do I walk? Do I bus/cable car/trolleybus/train?

Alcatraz cell block - we got out
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Last night as we returned to the Britton there were sirens (again) in our area, fire trucks, ambulances, rescue, police etc just up the street blocking the traffic. The San Fran Federal Building (a monstrosity of new architecture if I have ever seen one) was the scene but we saw no evidence of anything. The sirens keep going all day and night. We’ve seen a car chase (for 100m) and the 4 guys in the car then pulled over. I would have too. 2 of the cops were Mick’s height and twice his size (you should have seen the blokes).

A Hummer on the street. Never been off road. Toorak taxi in extremis.
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We wonder of we will be able to see past the fog tomorrow when we try to get to Alcatraz.

Well the short answer is “No”. Fog all day. Cold and damp fog. Stopping-you-seeing-far fog.

But we had fun. Our highlighted day is as follows;

Breakfast where a lovely lady took pity on me when I went back to the counter for my “Please may I have some more?” speech, gave me 2 slices of toast, jam and butter for free, nothing and gratis. Then she brought Marg another tea bag and more water because she “felt like it”.

I got one of my wishes!!!!!
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Another ride, on a tram this time, ½ way across the city and down to the Alcatraz tour. We arrived just in time to be the first people in line for the next tour in ½ hr. That tour was fascinating. Very well thought through in terms of loads of people who could otherwise get in each other’s way. The fog was clammy out there and it helped make the atmosphere real. There is no way that place was fun.

More clam chowder. This time in a Malibu Surf shop that advertised Fosters on a BIG sign on a wall. This time it was served in a big bun instead of a bowl. Yum! I’m going to miss that stuff. Marg finally her her milkshake made the way she (almost) likes it. The problem with food is that the yanks are just too generous. The milkshake doesn’t have to cost $4.50. They could charge $3.50, leave out ½ the chocolate and the cream from the top and make the whole country slimmer.

Marg wouldn't come outside to ride - chicken but I love her.
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Shopping for jackets in Fisherman’s Wharf

A cable car ride to the cable car museum and actual building where the cables are driven.

Another cable car ride down STEEP hills and I rode at the front on the outside. I have some great video footage of that ride.

I am typing this while Marg is still in Marshalls. Lizzie told us we HAD to go there. After 15 minutes I was “shopped out” and went back to the hotel. Marg could shop in comfort without me saying, “Are we finished yet”. I returned almost unscathed from this shopping spree. The credit card said “No more!” then relented and said “Yes”. Oh for more gumption in the plastic. But it is true that clothes are cheaper here than at home.

Downhill - describes my fitness, bank balance, my most fun ride.
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So too is the price of some computer stuff. I bought an extra 1Gb of Ram for the laptop for $40. Is that cheap? Anyone want me to get some ? Only kidding! As soon as I make an offer like that, someone takes me up on it, I buy the wrong sort or the price changes ex San Francisco.

When I get home I will have 2X 512Mb of DDRam to sell/donate. I don’t know who has a computer that they will fit and be better than your present amount. Send your resume for consideration, to my Email address with “Why I should get the Ram” in the subject line by Nov 12^th and I will consider all entries whilst reclining on a lounge chair by the ocean at Waikiki beach while sipping Pina Colatas (or whatever is going).

Anyway I had been frustrated by the time it took to load photos to edit them. It was taking minutes to load the folder and to let me see them. NOT NOW! Seconds! Yay!! Everything is faster. Everything I have done since I put the new ram in is faster. I’s a happy chappy. But IPods are not cheaper. I think there is a worldwide price agreement. The “cheapest” store in Singapore and the biggest chain in the USA have the same price as in OZ.

So I have achieved all the things that I wanted to do in San Fra and have done some that I didn’t know about. I am sure that when I get home those who have been here will ask me about special places that were important on their trip and I’ll have to feign ignorance. Ah well! If it is really important I can always come back.

This morning the woman I mentioned before, was on the street in the same basic fishnet stockings and short skirt still or again stoned. It really saddens me to see the state that some people are in. By 7pm tonight spots in the streets had been claimed by those who were to sleep out. One girl was asleep under a newspaper vending machine with her dog curled up across her feet.

Tomorrow it is off to Vegas and the Grand Canyon.

We collect a hire car from the airport and have a night in a hotel before heading out. We are going to Cirque de Soleil production based on Beatles songs. Lizzi told me of the extravagance of the “O” production she and Andy saw a few weeks ago. So, we are expecting good things.

The disparity between these last 2 paragraphs makes me contemplate and be very grateful that we have 4 wonderful kids who are happy with their spouses and are committed to the best for their kids. Maybe we did all right as parents. We can always do more and better but I am grateful that ours are who they are and as lovely people as they are. Each is very different and each is spectacularly lovely in their own way. Each has chosen very diverse spouses and all have made secure and loving homes for their kids. Enough of that! I just needed to write it.