My favorite American City
Written: Aug 29 '00 (Updated Aug 29 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: clean, tolerant, pretty, bustling
Cons: no parking
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| joli's Full Review: San Francisco |
Hi all, I am participating in a write-off about "my Favorite American City". The other writers are Elorraine, poneyby, Kassie, ptiemann, jules, risaj1, jo.com, moderngypsy, AmyLEnsor, CodeBaloo, afton, disartain, njymix, kevlog, hevinly, kifwebe, ifif1938, dance4joy, willow4, Pyanfar, IrishMa4, frazzledspice, VeeZee, shan1, jsroberts, jcare, DAnneC, coldsteel7, hwz1, auldbawl1, cgjerome, kent4489, Remind and jkerouac. Please check out their reviews also.
When I heard of this topic, San Francisco immediately popped into my head. I lived there for three years, and although I didn't fully appreciate it at the time (who fully appreciates anything when they are 20) I did explore it and love it and remember it. I am at a different place in my life right now, and I am happy where I am at - but I could see myself return there someday.
On to the city itself! When you think of San Francisco - what is it that pops into your head? Is it the Golden Gate Bridge? gay pride? fog? cold? Alcatraz? starbucks? the bay? tolerance? audacity? hills? seals? Fishermans Wharf? Union Square? protest? hippies? Haight/Ashbury? the Presidio? Golden Gate Park? cable cars? rice-a-roni? those rainbow flags hanging from every window? Even if you've never been to the city by the bay, I'm sure you can identify 75% of the list - because San Francisco is truly a grand city. A city people write about, sing about, take pictures of, and embrace with their hearts. It has an air and an attitude that movies and advertisements and television shows try to embody, hoping the magic of the city will reach out and grab their viewers.
San Franciso does grab you - it's clean, it smells nice, it's pleasing to look at, and anything you want is there for the taking. You can swim off the beaches, surf in the ocean, boat under the bridge, attend a pro-sports event, run on the sidewalks, fish off the piers, skate on the street, shop at thousands of stores, eat at hundreds of thousands of restaurants, and find a party on every corner. You can even get a little education and a whole lot of culture and history.
San Francisco, like many of its Californian counterparts does have an incredible air of tolerance for people in general. The people who live there also are as a whole, very active in politics and movements. It is not a place for passiveness. This is where much of the revolutionary 60's made it's voice known at Golden Gate Park and other places within the city limits - and that tradition continues today. California, with a little help from San Fran has continually been the leader in proposing such as medical marijuana and tolerance laws.
The neighborhoods of San Francisco are practices in diversity, and greatly lend to the overall charm of the whole city. There is Pacific Heights - with its grand houses and staggering views, the tenderloin - where you would visit on a dare, Noe Valley - with its familial charm, Richmond - with its dog walkers and young rich tenants, the Haight - with its parkside location and runaway children on every corner, Chinatown - where the ducks hang upside down in the windows (really) and the store signs are in a different language, the Mission - where everyone's a tough guy, and the Castro - where the whole world is rainbow colored.
Yes it is foggy, yes it is cold - but that is part of the charm. You don't have to (usually) sweat during the morning commute. The sun isn't always glaring at you from its highest point. You want sun? Then drive across the bay! At least it never snows.
Ah San Francisco .. the land of the million dollar views and the billion dollar 'tudes. I hope to know you again.
Recommended:
Yes
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joli
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Location: Keaau, HI
Reviews written: 126
Trusted by: 391 members
About Me:
That is my son Joseph in the picture.
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