Downtown to Alamo Square and the Ocean

Accompanied Jon through Chinatown to Downtown SF today to file for his all-important Social Security Number. Effectively, you don’t exist until you have one of these. Then I continued past the Chinatown Gate to Union Square, an attractive space bordered with palm trees and fancy shops. I then planned to go to Alamo Square. It was quite a distance, so I considered taking the metro, but it was such a beautiful day that I decided to walk after all. However, I soon regretted my decision, and couldn’t believe how quickly the scenery changed from Louis Vuitton and Chanel boutiques to seedy streets filled with drunks, sex shops and vagrants! It was broad daylight, but I still felt really uncomfortable. However, I then came to United Nations Plaza, a lovely promenade fronting the grand City Hall and commemorating the signing of the United Nations treaty, which apparently happened in San Francisco. From then on, the surroundings improved, but a quick perusal of the guidebook showed that when I left the shopping district I did indeed wander into probably the most downtrodden area of SF! After a good climb uphill, I eventually reached Alamo Square. More of a park than a square, it’s one of the most photographed scenes in SF – a row of multi-coloured Italianate/Victorian houses (known as the Painted Ladies) with a superb cityscape backdrop. Took the bus back to the Downtown and then had a little scoot around Macy’s, the department store – think I’ll have fun buying clothes there! Then took a cable car (that’s a tram to me and you) – a bit of a luxury at $5 a go – back to the flat.

Spent lunchtime trying to sort out some volunteer work (project management/communication stuff, I think) at an HIV/AIDS and cancer charity organisation. Then headed out on another little adventure. I had in mind that I wanted to go and see the open Pacific, as opposed to just the Bay, so I took a very slow bus westwards. Finally came to Lincoln Park, which is on the southern headland at the opening of the Bay and had a look around there. The light was beautiful – another clear day and the sun was just starting to set – so I had good views back to the Golden Gate and out to sea. Also saw a few quite nice-looking beaches, but didn’t get down to them today.