Driving into San Francisco, I built up an image of the city in my head. Two things that the city is known for came to my mind – hippies, and hills. Although both these elements are true, the city proved to have a lot more to offer.
Our first stop was one of the popular landmarks of the city, Alamo Square. We sat on the warm grass of this park and admired the colorful Victorian houses on what is fittingly known as ‘Postcard Row’.
One beside the other, the ‘Painted Ladies’ looked like doll houses, bold and bright, the various colours accentuating the details in the architecture. It was a beautiful scene, one which seemed to contrast with the monotonous, high-rising city in the backdrop.
Lost in my own imagination, I wondered what the inside of these houses looked like and what the occupants were like, and how they must feel that so many people stare at their home on a day-to-day basis.
Snapping back to reality, we headed onto the next stop, undeniably the most famous of all – the Golden Gate Bridge. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by the Californian fog. Much to my dismay, the fog engulfed most of the bridge, leaving only the lower half visible, minimising the potential of a good photo of this iconic landmark.
Being an animal lover, one of the highlights of this trip was seeing the sea lions on the docks
As we walked across the length of the 1.7mile bridge, I was distracted by my surroundings. Looking down at the ocean, I watched yachts cruise along the ocean, and even spotted a dolphin and its calf swimming alongside each other. Looking up, the enormous steel towers seemed endless, as they got lost into the cloud-like fog. I couldn’t help but wonder how a bridge like this is even built. Eventually, we made it across to Vista Point, where we got a different perspective of the red giants that held the bridge together.
That evening, we headed out to Pier 39 on Fisherman’s Wharf. Being an animal lover, one of the highlights of this trip was seeing the sea lions on the docks. They should really be called ‘sea dogs’, as all they do is lounge around and bark, as if requesting attention and belly rubs, and waddle on top of each other. Occasionally, they might even dive into the ocean, but mostly, it was an easy evening for these sea lions.
Soon after, we set sail on a sunset cruise. Although I love the ocean, I’m not a huge fan of boats. The sea was grey and choppy and, as we passed Alcatraz Island, the fog made it seem creepier. As the city grew smaller behind me, the bridge became too big for my eyes and, although I struggled to stay aboard, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see such an iconic landmark from this angle.
I wondered if anybody walking across the bridge was watching our boat, as I did that same morning. As we disembarked the boat, I realised how there’s nothing better than solid ground. We strolled around Fisherman’s Wharf, enjoying the different shops, stalls, and entertainment, and finally satisfied our appetites.
The next day started with some love. We visited Union Square, a small plaza in the middle of the city, which exhibited a Hearts installations. The sculptures had San Francisco scenes painted on them, encouraging me to love this city even more. As I strolled around the charming square, I watched the chaos of the city go by. Trams made their way through the streets, people crossed paths, cars drove in all directions. I enjoyed my little bubble of peace before I stepped into the hustle and bustle of the city.
After a bus ride and walking a few hills, we found ourselves in the middle of Golden Gate Park. We casually strolled around and enjoyed our environment. I giggled to myself when we came across the Music Concourse, a large tree-lined plaza with a stage on the end, as I imagined the open-air performances held in the 1960s.
As we stumbled upon the Conservatory of Flowers, we admired the symmetric and delicate carpet of flowers, smelling and looking equally as beautiful. We came across many more interesting spots, however, this park was bigger than I could have imagined. Although it deserved more time than we gave it, we had to move on to another popular area.
Haight Street; If you’re looking for ‘hippie’, then this is it. In the 1960s, this was the place to be if you were searching for peace and love, which is ironic considering the name of the street. Fifty years on, you can still see (and smell!) the hippie culture.
Walking through Haight Street was an artistic experience, with trippy murals on every possible space. Oddly, the elegant and classic Victorian houses sat atop weird and quirky shops, however, the term “Painted Ladies” could be taken in a different context here, as I wouldn’t have been surprised to see a woman sporting nothing but body paint. The therapeutic music and the strong smell of incense slithering out of the boutique shops were so inviting, I couldn’t help but be lured in.
I browsed through the vintage accessories and the flower power, tie-dyed clothing, each piece seemingly carrying a carefree feeling. We grabbed some lunch here, and carried on with the rest of our day, strangely feeling peaceful and mellow.
We walked quite a distance and climbed a few hills until we reached Lombard Street, the ‘crookedest street’. It certainly lives up to its nickname. I was almost anxious simply walking down this hill, I wouldn’t dare drive down this steep, winding hill, having eight, very sharp turns.
The red brick road was lined with colorful flowers in full bloom, and the houses adjacent to the street were unique in their own way. It was quite a site to see, and worth the trek there!
Our final destination was China Town. Although one may find a China Town in all major cities, this one was the oldest in North America, and the largest Chinese community outside of Asia. Dragon Gate, a large green archway at the main entrance, drew us in, leading us to pagoda roof buildings, tea shops, and streets lined with dragon lanterns. We veered towards one of the many appetising restaurants, ending the trip with a fortune cookie.
This city is beautiful in so many ways, for anybody who, like me, loves both the sea and the city. It’s a bright city of contrasts, quirks, and color that anybody will fall in love with.