San Francisco is seriously a tourist town. I headed down to Fishermans Wharf because that is where it is all at. From here it is a big walk to the famous Goldengate Bridge, and short walk to the famous cable cars. There is food and drinking and shopping and people everywhere! It’s clostrophobic! There isn’t much English being spoken amongst the throngs of tourist, they are from everywhere. It is hard work just walking amongst them. I will have to find some other part of SF to spend time but first I hope to hire a pushbike and ride across the great bridge. Sadly this is a popular thing to do and I will be mixing it with a million other tourists (yes I admit I’m one too). I will see how I go.
I’ve managed to workout the busses fir getting in and out of the main part of town. And the bus drivers are friendly and helpful (Cairns bus drivers rake note). On the way home something interesting happened. There are beggars here in SF. They’re don’t aggressively solicit, just sit on the pavement with a sign asking for donations. An elderly man getting on the bus behind me explained to the driver he had ‘come on bad times’. The driver let him on for free and he sat at the front near an information board with take-away timetables. By the way he dressed you couldn’t tell he was destitute. After a while a lady from the back of the bus came to the front pretending to look for something from the information board and in the process, discretely pushed some dollars into the mans hands. He was surprised but thankful. How did she know? People have been very polite on the public transport I have experienced. They quickly make way for elderly people getting on and the slightest brush will bring on an apology, even from the toughest looking customers. It’s refreshing to see!
I hope I survive the tourist hoards tomorrow!!
angusmccoll 
Again, one of that nice little stories you find. I like that very much.
Thanks Andreas, I will try and keep them coming.
You are an expert in catching buses in US now. I am impressed! Hope you will go to China Town or Haight Street (hippie street).
Just to let you know that your mate at work was working hard today. Cam was still at work by 5.20pm!!
Good to see publications hard at work. I feel guilty…no I don’t! Keep an eye on them Janie!
Hey Angus. I’ve just caught up with your excellent blog. Glad to hear you’re feeling better. Yesterday was officially the best day of the year in Cairns. 29C, no wind, glassy water out on the reef (I hear, from my neighbour Steve who caught heaps of fish, some of which I helped eat) and cloudless blue skies. You’re so lucky not to be at work!
Thanks Linden. I feel sorry for Cam. I don’t know how he is coping. I spoke to him briefly before I left and he put up a brave front but I know it must be tough. I put you in charge of morale!
Hey Angus, your door has been rechristened at JCU but that is OK … you’re in one of the cities I think is most liveable (lucky bugger)!
Actually, the coffee is very drinkable too … which is not surprising I guess, as there are Italian (and even Sicilian) places to eat:
Volare Trattoria.
Have fun!
phillip
Hi Philip, great to hear from you. Yes the coffee is much better than LA. It’s cold here though! What must it be like in winter?
… very B cold but you are getting quite a way north. I guess the upside is you can head east for ski country. Damn SF is an attractive place!
Hey FYI: the SF Museum of Modern Art has an exhibition of Matisse, Picasso and Parisian Avant-Garde at the moment .. map link below.
Cheers,
phillip
SF MOMA
I have walked past it. I will check it out if I can find it again!
Picasso is (was) one hell of an artist. I think being in SF really beats me about to have a project “progress” meeting … interesting pizza on Columbus Avenue too.
Thanks Phillip, I will check both Picasso and the pizza out!
My Melbourne company just cancelled our meeting …
Hey, I reckon you could find some Spanish tucker along Columbus Ave to go with the Picasso. Oh well, I better get back to generating a tax bill and saving for *my* next dose of Picasso 🙂 I really want to visit Spain.