2 days/3 nights in San Francisco
We flew out of Singapore on Monday night. And arrived in San Francisco on Monday night. It's weird going over the date line.
Flight was fine. Not much sleep but I binge watched "Lioness" (Season 1). Pretty good. Especially when you nod off during the bloody parts.
The jet lag has really killed us. Not sleeping much at night and then getting up late in the morning. Not good if you have limited time in a place.
Some observations on San Francisco.
It is Cold My brother said that Mark Twain quipped: "the coldest winter he ever had, was a summer in San Francisco". And it's true. It's been cold, a bit windy. Felt like Cape Town.
The Homeless Problem is Over-exaggerated We are staying off Union Square (down town). I had visions of homeless encampments covering the side walk. Not at all. Yes there are a few unfortunate people — always with dogs — living in the Haight-Asbury area but the city is not overrun.
That's not to say there is not a homeless problem. It's just that it has been moved somewhere else.
The Golden Gate is Not to be Sniffed-At: Sometimes a cliché is just stupendous. The Golden Gate Bridge (and the Bay Bridge) are remarkable. And I dare anyone not to take the same photograph which has been taken 20,000,000 times before by other people.
As Miami is to South America, San Francisco is to Asia: There are vast numbers of North Asian (Chinese, Japanese) people here. The city feels more international than American,
But that is also its history (interesting to see so many Chinese visiting China Town).
It's Quiet: The city seems quiet and slow. I expected a New York type of bustle. But here it s a rustle.
Quite a few empty prime location offices up for rental and sale.
It has been reported that SF is in an economic down turn. And it definitely feels that way.
But then we popped into the Golden Gate Tap Room and it was pumping. Perhaps that's where everyone is!
It's a Great City to Visit: Karen and I have really loved touring this great city. It is beautiful with amazing domestic and commercial architecture.
It's easy to get around: the cable cars (what we call trams) are really cool and inexpensive as is the other public transport.
Karen and I always hop onto one of these tour buses in a new city. It really gives us a perspective of the whole city. The one in SF is not cheap. And it was cold up-top on the open deck. But boy what a view of what a city.
There's an APP for that: Everything is on an app. It becomes a little too much after awhile (especially as i"m having an issue with my Apple ID).
The truly useful one is MuniMobile which allows you to buy tickets for public transport including the cable-cars (just show the brakeman or driver that you've purchased it).
I tried, without success, to download the WAYMO app. Karen and I really really wanted to get into a driver-less car.
Oldy Worldy Nice: It's cool that the cable-car works and looks exactly the same as it did when it was first launched.
Why mess with what's not broken.
Being First: When we were on the bus trip, the narration mentions that this place, thing, idea etc, "was the first in America/the World/California/Northern Hemisphere etc. a lot!
Unfortunately we didn't go in.