If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair!
Last weekend I finally took advantage of the fact that my schedule only forces me to hit university on Mondays and Wednesdays and went to the City by the Bay!
Getting used to San Francisco's large population density I got myself in a giant IPod by Virgin America on Wedsnesday night...
... and hit Calfornia two hours later, where I would meet Leah.
Setting out for a long day of walking early next morning, we first hit the Presidio (huge park area), walked past Crissy Field (an old airfield) to the famous Golden Gate Bridge.
Since the weather was amazing (84degrees of sunshine), we walked past the Golden Gate and took a walk along Baker Beach towards World's End and the other side of the bridge, which was even more amazing than the city side. The water seemed quite inviting and beautiful and I just can't believe such an idyllic sea would inhabit sharks but apparently it does.
From the beautiful shoreline we went to the Golden Gate Park and its cozy Japanese tea garden to relax and watch squirrels go crazy over Japanese crackers.
On our way back to the Leah's friend Kristen who's place we had taken over, we hit Haight-Ashbury, once center of the Hippie movement and the Summer of Love. There is not much left of the spirit of that time, but we nevertheless got our flowers and chanted hippie songs along the way.
The Bay Bridge took us over to Berkeley...
... where we met up with Stacy for dinner and walked the (admittedly not very interesting) University campus. To make up for that, we went out for some dancing...
... Getting up late the next morning, there was more stuff to check out. Fishermen's wharf at the waterfront which is mostly inhabited by tourists...
... and sea lions...
gave way to the cable cars...
...and finally we ended up on the highest point of San Francisco for sunset.
The first Spanish missionaries called the mountain "Los Pechos de la Chola", which translates to "breasts of the Indian Girl", obviously due to the mountain's shape. Today it is known as Twin Peaks and it has a great view over the city.
The day ended with another trip through San Franciscos Nightlife this time with Kristen as a guide.
The SFO nightlife is quite interesting. It certainly shakes your concept of gender categories. SFO is known for its large homosexual population and there were quite some interesting characters out there I was unable to put into anywhere even near any gender category.
We made a last stop at Vesuvio, a bar at which supposedly the Beat Movement used to hang out. Jackson Pollock, Allan Ginsberg and John Keruac have apparently been here to discuss their ideas. On the lower floor, people were actually discussing philosophy, so apparently at least part of SFO's spirit of the good ol' times hasn't been lost, although street sign and atmosphere suggested otherwise.
Saturday was my last day at San Francisco and it was devoted to the Museum of Modern Art. Although I did not see ONE picture of the famous Paul Klee collection SFMoma carries, they have some quite amazing pieces.
One of them is certainly Duchamps "Fountain" piece right here. For anyone who hasn't realized: this is art - and modern art can be made out of everything! That's the beauty of it!
