San Francisco (San Francisco)

Member Name: xcorlett

Product:	San Francisco
Date:	09/02/09 (39 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautiful, compact and liberal.

Disadvantages: Noisy, crowded, can be very expensive and is freezing cold most of the time.

I lived in San Francisco for a year and my wife lived there for 6. We just moved to Arizona to get some space for ourselves, but we loved our time there. Here is a little peek into what it is like to spend a good while there, and what to see and what not to.

- The views - are - incredible!!! Simply Spectacular! The hills, architecture and water all contribute to a wondrous sight in most elevated places.
- Each neighborhood has it's own character. North Beach, with it's counter-cultural beatnik legacy is great. Where else would you find a worker-owned and operated strip club right next to a bum passed out in his own fluids next door? People are friendly here and the tourists bring lots of money. It's distinctly Italian. Right next door is Chinatown, where you'll step into another world within the United States. 100,000 people live within a few blocks of each other, making for fascinating street action. Then there are the gorgeous Nob Hill & Telegraph Hill, where the snobs live. They think the city would crumble without them (seriously). Sitting upon Telegraph Hill is the Coit Tower, offering panoramic views across the bay. There is the diverse Castro, with one of the largest and politically strongest gay communities in the world. Twin Peaks is amazing, with two big hills offering more incredible views and a long, hard walk to the top. Golden Gate Park is in the West and ends at Ocean Beach. Full of eucalyptus trees and wonderful landscaping, it is well worth a couple of days of exploring. The Presidio is in the North West, and is the wildest place in SF. A hilly forest, it leads to huge cliffs dropping into the Pacific Ocean and the city's nude beach. Watch out for rip-tides and great white sharks!!! The Golden Gate Bridge spans the bay, departing from the most north-westerly point. Big and beautiful, it is my favorite bridge and can be walked or cycled over. On the other side is Marin County, perhaps one of the most beautiful and serene counties in California.

There are more neighborhoods, but some are better left until you've visited a few times or have an interest in what lies in the seedy sections of town. There is the ugly Tenderloin, with beautiful old hotels now inhabited by crack-head, zombies, "hipsters" (a strange breed of urban young adult) and pimps. The Bayview should be avoided unless you are into danger. The Excelsior and Outer Mission are also more troublesome parts of town. Generally though, the city is fairly safe, especially on any of the hills. Bad-types don't seem to want to climb up them. We have spent many nights (1-3am) walking around North Beach, our old home, with no fear or trepidation.

I must not forget the Haight. Don't go here just for the tie-die, hippie paraphernalia. That side of the Haight is sad and troubled. The Haight was once a vibrant place, full of all that was interesting in the psychedelic scene. Artists, musicians & poets moved here from other neighborhoods because housing was cheap. But in the summer of 1967, 100,000 young kids came on a whim hoping for an incredible time. Things soon turned sour, when many ran out of money, food, clothes...There was no purpose and no direction for a lot of them, and the Haight rapidly deteriorated into a homeless encampment. This is still the case today, as teenagers come and go, looking battered, torn and well out of luck. But the legacy of those who came before remains. The houses here are perhaps the most beautiful in all of the city. Elaborate old Victorians are painted in such wild colours, it is worth the trip up the hill. There are also some interesting clothing stores, some great restaurants and at the end of the road is the entrance to Golden Gate Park.

- Burritos.
Burritos, Burritos, Burritos! This California-Mexican food is so good. Rice, beans, cheese, avocado, vegetables and/or meat wrapped in a tortilla. They are HUGE and one is enough for two meals. Much bigger and better than the burritos you might find elsewhere in the USA. By far!! The best places are Taqueria Cancun in the Mission on 24th St or Azteca on Market and Church St in the Castro. Azteca uses brown rice and wholewheat tortillas. We highly recommend getting a burrito from one of these two places if you are in town. Watch out...the quality varies elsewhere but there are some other great places.

- the bay...
...Is Cold and Beautiful. Boats sail in and out under the bridge in the most romantic way possible every day. You can take a trip out on one of many boats that depart down at the Fisherman's wharf, but bring a warm hat, two jackets and three scarves!

- The Fisherman's Wharf
I thought I must say something about this place. It's where all the tourists get dropped off. It is a tourist funnel. It is also not a great place. San Francisco has few corporate stores, and most of them are right here. Most of the big hotels are here, and they are not cheap. It's a clever way of taking your money, putting you on a tour bus and giving you the idea that you "saw san francisco". The only good thing about the wharf is the old port. It used to be a busy place but is now quiet and a great place to spend an evening strolling around. There is also a very cute man-made beach here in a protected cove, "aquatic park", where you can swim with sea lions and relax on the occasional hot day. So my advice is, if you find yourself in the wharf, take a look around, perhaps go to the Arcade Museum then leave. The city has so much more to offer!!

Okay, i've written a 1000 words and feel like I could write an entire guide book with my wife! So have fun if you go, it is a great place and perhaps one of the greatest cities in the world.

Summary: Gorgeous American city if you prefer walking to driving!