I always get such a rush from flying. That walk to the gate, to the aircraft, to my seat. Another adventure, another 'trip'. Looking out the window, I remember to appreciate the little things but also the 'big' things, some of which we take for granted. Such as flying on an airplane, a 'metal box', that takes you from A to B, I mean, seriously? Who would have thought that decades ago?! The same with cellphones these days, everyone is so invested in them, the same goes for me. You automatically grab your phone for bus times, the actors name in a movie, news, etc. Even though I would also often leave it lying next to me for hours at a time. And then, my phone was stolen (incl. some of my cards) last week, just days before I was flying. At first I obviously panicked for a few minutes, but then it was what it was. I couldn't get to worked up about it, and it was kind of a relief. Not that I am not happy to have another one :). But it was quiet. Brought me back when you met people by telling them where you would be at what time and if they weren't there or if you were running late, just hope for the best. I remember once that I told friends that if I wouldn't be at the cinema at such and such time, I wouldn't join them. And then I missed the bus...I actually ran from my house, over the bridge, arriving just in time, out of breath, but I made it. Those were the days.
Anyways, back to flying. The rush I get and the excitement! I also love watching movies on board. And maybe because there are no distractions whatsoever, I am totally there, in the movie. Laughing, crying, it's as if I believe everything is possible again, it's just, beautiful (**barf, I know). Anyways, whenever I'm flying to a new destination, especially when I know I''ll be meeting new people, it's as if it's a clean slate and I can be whomever I want.
Oh just to clarify, I flew to San Francisco. I was here once before, almost exactly 9 years ago. And this time I was visiting my cousin from The Netherlands who is studying a term of Law in the city.
I arrived in San Francisco (SF), some of the things looked vaguely familiar, but I so forgot about all the hills. SF is NOT FLAT AT ALL! So there I was with my duffel bag without wheels (not too heavy but still), not expecting to walk all the way up, but I made it, huffing and puffing. Amsterdam Hostel, how convenient. The hostel is a bit, well a lot, outdated but for the price I paid, it's fine. SF is a super expensive city, even hostels can cost you up to 50$ a night. Amsterdam Hostel is about half that, so I couldn't expect it to be fancy and stuff.
Met up with my cousin soon after, which was funny, to visit her in SF! And we went for an all American Diner, Burger & fries! Afterwards we went to a wine bar and ordered a bottle of wine. We even got a glass for free. My cousin told me that a visit to SF wasn't complete without a free drink, so CHECK.
Since my cousin is studying, we had limited time together but made the most of it! First thing I noticed was the smell..the smell of pot/weed. It's legal here and so, the smell is everywhere!! Anyway, we walked down to the port, passed this fresh food market (kind of like the food halls in Rotterdam) and sat outside in the sun, it was s nice!! My cousin told me it had been raining pretty much non stop the last weeks, so I was lucky :)! Any I've been lucky all week long. It didn't start raining again until I left!
So after our little sunbathing session, my cousin left for school and I returned to the hostel to change my shoes. Since I had already developed blisters wearing the wrong shoes. After that I walked through China Town, one of the biggest ones I've ever seen!! I also noticed that there are so many Asians in SF!! Not just Chinese, Japanese too (explaining Japantown, but I'll come back to that). From China town to Lombard street, the crookedest street which I did remember seeing last time. And then on to Fisherman's Wharf since I was 'so' close. Once I got there, I was done, my feet wouldn't move and I figured I would come back with my cousin and walk around. There's also a lot of homeless people in SF and a lot of street artists too, one guy said he was a rapper and he told me, and I quote: "You look just like Adele, your beauty isn't lying so why should I right in front of you". Yeah, alright, good bye. Took a cable car back to the hostel and met up with my cousins a few hours after that to go out. What a difference a day makes! We went on a pub crawl, just so she could show me this bar, Kozy, basically a bar filled with a couple of tv screens that show porn scenes, not constantly, but they're there.
In my week here I noticed that a lot of guys just talk to you, without any shame, and hoping to bring some game. It takes some getting used to, but you do meet a lot of people this way. Just so different from home. And even though SF is such an expensive city, the booze isn't. There's happy hour everywhere, everyday. There's $1 mixed drinks, strong too and cheap drink deals everywhere. There's also the Battle of the Decades, starting with $1 drinks and music from the 6o's, going up a dollar each hour and a decade in music. So $2 and 70's music, $3 and 80's music, etc. And then there's the creme the la creme, knowing the owner of a club. My cousin introduced me to him and I got free drinks, as did she obviously. So whatever we wanted, he made. Some were super strong resulting in a very very very drunken night.
But enough about my drinking habit. Since I did want to see and do as much as possible and not just drink, oh and bars already close at 2am in SF, I got up as early as I could to do a bit of sightseeing. Since it was the weekend, my cousin was able to join me. We decided to go to The Golden Gate Park, they all use Uber and Lyft to get around here. And when choosing shared rides, often ending up paying less than public transportation. I had a shitty map and so I thought the park was about a third of what it was and we ended up walking all the way to the end, to see the windmills and the beach (that was sooooo lovely in the sun)!! And then all the way back. We met a local and he told us we could go up in the museum tower for free, great view of the city! We walked about 20 km that day!! I walked about 10 km on most of the other days.
After another night of drinking, we went to Fisherman's Wharf. It looked so different from when I was there 9 years ago. All these new attractions; Madam Tussauds, SF Dungeon, Ripley's believe it or not. I didn't recognize it too much. We then walked to pier 39 where the sea lions kind of took over. Same same, I remembered this. And we also got a good look at Alcatraz from there. We walked over to Hyde st. pier but it was already closed (I'll come back to this). And oh we went to a Gospel Church, so much fun and so much energy!!!
I was suppose to go to the Muir Woods and Sausolito the day after, but the tour buses weren't allowed to go up there until further notice, I was still able to go to Sausolito though. The guy told me I could get a full refund and asked me if I wanted to do anything else. So I told him about Sausolito and wanting to see the Golden Gate bridge from Point Vista. He told me I could do all that for free today and wrote on my ticket: "Let her on the blue line and pink. Ray". Thank you, Ray! Another beautiful day and a free tour! The colors of the Golden Gate Bridge seemed faded to me, not as red (international orange they call it) as I remember. I learned it hadn't been painted almost ever since it was built. Sausolito is a cute harbor kind of city. Walked around for about an hour, enjoyed the views, the people, the little shops! And took another tour around the city, it's not like I had anything better to do! That night, me and my cousing went to The View during sunset and to have a cocktail, The View is a skybar with an amazing view of the city and beautiful during sunset!
Another sunny day in SF, I walked around Haight Ashbury with my cousin until she had to go back to school. Haight Ashbury and it's intersection on Haight and Ashbury st. is famous for the Summer of Love! This little area is therefor filled with hippie like shops. I decided to keep walking, since it all looked close by on my map. I went to Alamo Square, famous for it's painted ladies. Victorian houses with at least three colors. I took the postcard shot as well as I could. The park was under construction, but they had left the view point open. I walked around in the neighborhood a bit and saw a lot more of these houses and continued my way to look for the Full House house. After an hour or so I found it, and again realized that my map wasn't up to scale on this bit. I continued my way to Japan town! And after walking for about 4 hours and not eating because I couldn't find a nice spot to eat, I was really excited! I walked into a Japanese supermarket and it brought me straight back to Japan. I loved it!! And I then found a Daiko, kind of a Japanese dollarshop, loved it!! Everything was Japanese and most of it's customers were too. Of course I bought some weird stuff there, such as chair socks and a cutlery camping set (spoon, knife, fork and sticks). I then, even though I really didn't want to, walked back to the hostel. Exhausted.
On my last full day, I went to the SF dungeon, I had already been to the one in London and Amsterdam and after finding a 50% coupon, I kind of had to go! It was funny and well done!! Some of it was the same as in the other cities, but this one ended with a bit on Alcatraz, so that was cool! After that I almost went back to the F train (old school tram) to see Castro but remembered that I hadn't been to the Hyde st. pier yet (the one that had already closed when I went with my cousin). I was tired and kind of done walking around in SF, but went anyway. I walked with my head down and then lifted it...and then it happened..
I recognized a spot and an instant smile appeared on my face. And I didn't just recognize it, it was the image I've had in my head every time I think of SF and the one I was looking for before. I stood on the same place I stood 9 years ago, touching the Pacific Ocean for the very first time. I couldn't find the spot before and so I kind of forgot about it, but there it was. I kind of recognize some of the other spots I went to in SF, but this was different, I mean, this was it!!! And I smiled, it was also my first glimpse of the Golden Gate bridge. I just kept smiling, it's almost like I went back, back to what I felt 9 years ago when I came here and stood here (I remember this moment like it was yesterday). To meet up with friends (from back home and one that I had met in the Keys) after my internship in Florida, just 19 years old and I finished my internship in January, so I was here about the same date as today. Sitting there made me feel calm, and happy. It was one of the first times, 9 years ago, of me being abroad and in a hostel, getting a taste of a different culture. And wow, look at the last 9 years. What I've seen and done. Maybe this is where the seed was planted and where today, a giant tree stands. A tree that will someday grow up into the sky and reach for the stars. A circle completed with a proud feeling. Thank you San Francisco for not changing this one spot that apparently means so much to me.
And it feels like moments later, that I was sitting on the train going home and overheard a Dutch guy, Jelle, saying to some German tourists, "Well, nice to meet you, strong but powerful" (literally translated from a Dutch saying "kort maar krachtig"). And I realized, I was home again..