San Fran Exploring #2

Covered a lot more ground in the city on Friday. Had a two-hour historical walking tour booked in the Castro area at 10:00am... to which I arrived at 10:15, sweaty and panting (this seems to be an evolving holiday theme). Luckily Kathy (tour guide) was still giving the rest of the group an overview, and was happy to welcome me.

Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy

A patch on the 'Names Project'
AIDS Memorial Quilt

The tour was good, overall, and Kathy was very informative... but having watched a number of docos on the history of the area, I didn't really feel I gained any information that I didn't already have. Oh well, live and learn. I managed to resist the urge to be "that guy" who butts in and tries to correct the tour guide, because I know how bloody annoying it is to have to put up with those people - in any context. Kathy's views differed from mine about how equality and diversity need to be incorporated into our society. She was all too happy to talk about the perpetuated stereotype of hedonism in gay culture (that frankly I don't identify with at all) and how this seemed to shape the 1970's (and then be a driving factor in the AIDS epidemic) - but when I tried to convey my views about true equality being about not needing to differentiate people based on their sexual preference, and also that it is just one part of a person (not the driving factor of their whole being), she seemed lost for words... "Oh yeah but we all need a place where we can congregate and where we all understand each other - that's important, ya know?" to which I replied: "But I have lots of friends who understand me, and this isn't based on their sexual preferences. [Awkward pause] Are we stopping for coffee anywhere soon?"

I try not to get too political about the whole thing, but I do enjoy conveying my views... (Simo - Am I right?) Moving on...

The tour wrapped just after 12. After a quick lunch, I made my way over many hills (the calves, they're still struggling) towards the Haight Ashbury district. It's so easy walking through San Francisco because all the houses are so beautiful and there's just so much to take in visually that you forget you've walked about 5km. There's also those moments where you realise how high up you are and get an awesome peek at the downtown skyline.

Where's Wally?! (Note that he's ditched the stripes for a more contemporary look)

At Haight, I walked up and down, perusing the wares of the local merchants and then, after about an hour, I felt that between Castro and the Haight I'd seen about all the hipsters I could handle for a single week, and decided to head to down town, via Alamo Park to revisit The Painted Ladies. Liz will recount me dragging her up and down some very steep streets, with no map, in 2006 to find these houses - and also the level of sheer excitement I had when finding them. This time, I knew exactly where I was going, but was no less excited. This park makes me so happy, and always reminds me of watching Full House* as a little kid, and wishing I lived in one of them (I can still say the same, 20 years on).

* Film / TV reference #2

"Everywhere you look (everywhere), there's a heart (there's a heart)..."

Stopped by City Hall on my way to down town, which was fairly impressive. Another tram ride later, I was walking towards the Transamerica Building - which I discovered, upon arrival, does not have an observation deck. "Bugger."

City Hall

Transamerica Building

I started making my way home, but made the mistake of going into an AT&T to enquire about a prepaid sim card for while I'm in America... "Yeah sir you can get the 4G Samsung for $149, or the HTC for $199. Now you're gonna wanna choose a prepaid plan that gives you what you need, so the $10 starter gives you 29c a minute, with 20c texts sending and receiving...international calls are gonna be $1.19 a minute, and texts 50c. But if you choose the $50 monthly saver you get unlimited calls, texts and data and either of these phones and lower international rates..." After an earful I retreated and told the lovely sales girl I would think about her options.

I won't.

Here's a little bonus for Simpsons fans, that made me chuckle as I was walking around the Haight...