San Francisco April 20, 2012

Yesterday was my day to cross another thing off my list of goals.  We were going to the Golden Gate Bridge.  We needed to catch the underground where we would eventually get off somewhere.  Here in SF you can call 311 and tell them where you are and where you want to go, and the human being on the other end will tell you how to get there.  That's what Bob did, but the human on the other end only told him to get off on 19th Avenue, not WHERE on 19th avenue. 

Along the way we saw some guerrilla art.  For those of you who don't know what that it- it is NOT like Guatemalan Guerrilla art (do those guys actually make any art?) it is art, or something else, that is placed (usually) on public property, anonymously, for the sole purpose of making people smile or think.  This particular art was nothing special, but it made me smile anyway; someone had knitted a cover for the bicycle rack.

We took the underground, which emerged above ground outside the city limits.  We desperately needed a back pack and where we emerged was (Ta da!) a mall. We went in, bought a backpack, listened to a tale by the sales clerk about getting ready to participate in some event with former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, then grabbed some lunch.  Because you have all seen what it looks like to eat lunch at the mall food court, we did not take any pictures.

Once we finished lunch we went to the bus stop to complete our journey to the bridge.  By this time, school had let out and the bus kept filling with teenagers.  Here is some encouragement for those of you who think each generation becomes a little less respectful.  Many kids were sitting on the bus and as soon as an elderly person got on the kids gave up their seats without thinking about it.  You could tell by their facial expressions and body language that it was just a part of the way they live.  

The time we were waiting for finally arrived; The Golden Gate Bridge!  The map shows a bicycle rental place right there at the southern side of the bridge, but the map printers failed to include the current remodeling of the building that housed the bicycle rental place.  So...we walked.

Have you ever found yourself responding in the affirmative, with far too little information, when someone said, "Hey lady, can you do me a favor?" or "Yo! Can you hook me up bro?"  If yes, then you'll understand why I just took over when the man said, "Ma'am, would you mind holding this while I tie my shoe?"

The bad news is that I didn't get to save a jumper with my own two hands, the good news is that my holding up the bridge encouraged any would be jumpers to keep on living.  I'll count that as one more goal successfully completed.

Bicyclists on the left, old men and little girls on the right.

 What about the rest of us?  ...and the rest of you can go jump off a bridge for all we care?

Anyone care to interpret?  Anyone?  ANYONE?

I did not make this up.  It was found at a payphone.

We climbed/walked the bridge and reached the end.  There was nothing there, so we had to turn back.  Now I can truthfully tell my children, "I walked across the Gold Gate Bridge, uphill, both ways!"

Here's a view from the other side of the bridge. It was so windy, so windy, that what resembled hair when I left home that morning, looked more like a bird's nest when I returned in the evening.  Bob is obviously becoming acclimated (that's acclimatized for my tall attorney friend).  While I was shivering in my buttoned up wool coat, he walked it in his t-shirt.

After the bridge, we went to Fisherman's Wharf.  There were lots of little, overpriced shops, a Ghiardelli ice cream shop (no we didn't have any), and about 274 restaurants.  We picked the one with the out of order restroom.  The food was okay; not great, not bad.

We saw one busker Bob found especially hilarious.  He was holding a violin and a bow, rubbing the bow against the violin.  Notice I didn't say he was playing the violin?  He wasn't even pretending to play.  "EEE-EEE-EEE"  There is an icon here in San Francisco, The Bushman.  He is a man who hides behind greenery, palm fronds and other tall foliage, waiting for unsuspecting tourists, then he jumps out at just the right moment and yells "AAAAHHH".  We got to see him scare the daylights out of one such tourist.  Then he had the chutzpah to ask for some money.

There is one grumpy trolley car driver in San Francisco.  We had the temporary delight to ride in his car.  He posted this sign.

Not a telepath or omniscient?  Darn!  I bet he knows what I think about that!

By the time we left the Wharf I was so exhausted I missed all the funny signs that I'm sure we passed.  We arrived home, met our host Geo, and chatted about all sorts of ridiculous things, before finally collapsing into bed.