San Francisco (second) impression

Do you remember my post about travelling?

I hope I didn't put you off by saying I was going to Chicago... it was my connection because my final destination was and has always been San Francisco. I had already been in San Francisco in September last year and it was great. I spent there only two days with friends who live there and I did what every tourist should do: visit the Golden Gate park and the Golden Gate bridge. I visited also the Lucas Art Digital head quarters (from outside) and Fisherman's Wharf. I also managed to ride a cable car and walked down Lombard Street. My visit was complete. So I thought until this January, when for business reasons I found myself again in the city of San Francesco d'Assisi. (If you've never gone to Assisi, the original city of San Francesco you should go, it's pretty cool.)

This time I didn't stay in the Cole Valley, but in a tacky hotel close to Union Square and I must say that my impression of San Francisco kinda changed. I think it's a great city, but never in my life I have observed so many different urban landscapes in so few blocks. Two blocks can mark the border between two different worlds; you can go from the financial district directly into China Town, you can be walking past fashionable hotels and then find yourself in a very dodgy area. Unlike New York, it's really weird to see beggars in the streets in San Francisco. Looking at people's harsh conditions should be difficult anywhere but the contrast between San Francisco's urban city and its population of jobless and homeless people stroke me with unexpected surprise and puzzlement. It was hard to see such a progressive city like San Francisco, show its ungenerous, difficult side.

http://www.allourtravelneeds.com

Also in giant metropolitan areas like London or Paris you can see marginalized people, but the rate in San Francisco felt considerably higher than in those European cities. It's hard to find explanations for this that don't fall into the realm of easy and predictable, but the gap between classes in the U.S. clearly presented itself in this occasion. To this respect I am pretty sure my perception is partial, and my knowledge of San Francisco is so superficial I shouldn't even be writing this post. But as far as the title goes this was only my (second) San Francisco impression.

http://www.lasplash.com

Another thing I noticed about San Francisco, is of course its distinctive architecture. The houses and their capability to stay straight is admirable. The viewer's perspective is always under stress and I kept on asking myself: is it me sideways or it's the street? are these houses really in plane?

Wooden or brick houses, they all carried a sweet after taste that reminded me of Hitchcock and other films noirs which intricate stories would take place in the streets and bars of San Francisco. I also found that San Francisco is more a "déco" city than other American cities. Yes, you read alright, "déco". Hotels, bars, shops, all use different fonts for their banners but they don't seem to prefer sans serif, modern fonts for those, and this preference contributes to the "retro" 50s&60s look of the city.

I loved it.