13th of October 2007: Day Off in San Francisco
Back again, after a few days of nothing much interesting to report. I worked, I wandered, I slept.
I'm getting into a rhythm of being up at around half past seven, which feels good - time to make the most of the day. And today I have an extra day to make the most of, because P.J.'s given me the day off. In theory I work one day to cover one night's stay, but apparently I'll usually get a day off at the weekend.
My working days are hardly gruelling, but nonetheless having a full day to do what I want with has a nice savour to it. I get through my morning routine briskly, and am out of the door by half past eight. I've got three missions for today: Begin exploring Golden Gate Park, continue an ongoing search for a characterful cafe with free wireless internet and properly check out Chinatown.
On the second point, I'm reminded that I did miss out one event from the week: I acquired a laptop. I've been scanning Craigslist for a cheap, reasonably functional laptop I can use to work on the blog, having finally realised that even if I pay a couple of hundred for it I'll save the money back in a month or two of using (usually free) wi-fi instead of paying for a computer in internet cafes (after I leave the Adelaide anyway, internet computers here are all free).
Finally a Fujitsu Lifebook C shows up, reasonably fast, with Windows XP installed, a DVD drive and all fittings, for only $150.00, and I snap it up quickly. I ride out to Noe Hill to pick it up and have my first experience of the Muni, the peculiar tube train/tram which runs through most of San Francisco.
We start out in a familiar tube station, tear along tunnels, and then go clanking and jerking up a slope onto the middle of a street, to wind along at a much more sedate five or ten miles an hour. Because the street is lower than the platforms in the tube, there is a section of floor just inside each door which drops down into a set of steps as we emerge from the tunnel. This is particularly surprising to me as I'm standing on it at the time, not having noticed the warning notices. It's rather like riding inside a relatively dull Transformer.
Rabbit, the current owner of the laptop, is a musician who's looking to move over to an Apple laptop which is more compatible with her needs. While I'm checking out the laptop she correctly identifies the playa dust still embedded in my jacket - it turns out that her roommate Christy (who I meet shortly) is a veteran Burner, one of the hardcore, having been with several theme camps, worked with DPW and welded art projects and structures.
The laptop is great, I'm very happy with my bargain and I make it back on the Muni before my transfer runs out. The ride back is even more interesting, as the tram rolls along at its sedate pace, bumps down into the opening of the tunnel, grinds and whirs for a minute or so (presumably as it changes power pickups) and then takes off like a rocket down the underground passage.
So, back to my day off. I set out to find Golden Gate Park first. It's at the end of Haight but I get off early and walk down to have a good look around the many fascinating shops first. I take my time and enjoy the fresh morning air (it rained quite a bit last night) and browse freely. Before I get to Golden Gate Park, however, I discover Buena Vista Park which is on the side of Haight Street around where the shops peter out.
Buena Vista ends up taking up the rest of my morning. I climb to the top of the precipitous hill, through banks of big old trees where the light shines down in complex patterns through the leaves and needles, and see extraordinary views of the city from higher and higher vantage points. At the top the hill is rounded and ringed with thick trees. I climb down a short bank and find a huge root to sit on and look out and down at the view.
The damp earth smells like good tobacco, rich, earthy and fruity all at once. Where shafts of sun hit the soaked wood, curls of steam rise and interweave in the bright beams. I feel at peace, relaxed but alert, very here and now and plugged into my place and time. The day seems endless ahead of me.
I explore around the Haight and adjacent streets for part of the afternoon, but have no luck finding the perfect cafe. I do, however, find a fascinating studio just opening up, offering very cheap prices for all kinds of classes. All their yoga classes are in the middle of the day, unfortunately, although they plan to add some evening sessions shortly - what they do have is a Beginning Acrobatics course on Sunday night which really intrigues me, and turns out to cost only $10.00 - I take note of it for tomorrow.
I do attempt to explore Chinatown in the later afternoon, but it's just too crazily busy - the streets are literally crammed and progress on the pavement is impossible. I branch off and head back to the hostel, planning to go back on Monday when it's quieter.
In the evening a small group of us go out for pool at the Edinburgh, a "Scottish" pub just a couple of streets over. The evening turns out a bit jumbly but fun; no pool actually happens and we wander around a bit trying to find somewhere everyone's happy with, but it's nice and sociable and a chance to get to know people a bit better. I just have a couple of pints, continuing my commitment not to go back to heavy drinking at least until my liver's had some time to recover.
I'm getting into a rhythm of being up at around half past seven, which feels good - time to make the most of the day. And today I have an extra day to make the most of, because P.J.'s given me the day off. In theory I work one day to cover one night's stay, but apparently I'll usually get a day off at the weekend.
My working days are hardly gruelling, but nonetheless having a full day to do what I want with has a nice savour to it. I get through my morning routine briskly, and am out of the door by half past eight. I've got three missions for today: Begin exploring Golden Gate Park, continue an ongoing search for a characterful cafe with free wireless internet and properly check out Chinatown.
On the second point, I'm reminded that I did miss out one event from the week: I acquired a laptop. I've been scanning Craigslist for a cheap, reasonably functional laptop I can use to work on the blog, having finally realised that even if I pay a couple of hundred for it I'll save the money back in a month or two of using (usually free) wi-fi instead of paying for a computer in internet cafes (after I leave the Adelaide anyway, internet computers here are all free).
Finally a Fujitsu Lifebook C shows up, reasonably fast, with Windows XP installed, a DVD drive and all fittings, for only $150.00, and I snap it up quickly. I ride out to Noe Hill to pick it up and have my first experience of the Muni, the peculiar tube train/tram which runs through most of San Francisco.
We start out in a familiar tube station, tear along tunnels, and then go clanking and jerking up a slope onto the middle of a street, to wind along at a much more sedate five or ten miles an hour. Because the street is lower than the platforms in the tube, there is a section of floor just inside each door which drops down into a set of steps as we emerge from the tunnel. This is particularly surprising to me as I'm standing on it at the time, not having noticed the warning notices. It's rather like riding inside a relatively dull Transformer.
Rabbit, the current owner of the laptop, is a musician who's looking to move over to an Apple laptop which is more compatible with her needs. While I'm checking out the laptop she correctly identifies the playa dust still embedded in my jacket - it turns out that her roommate Christy (who I meet shortly) is a veteran Burner, one of the hardcore, having been with several theme camps, worked with DPW and welded art projects and structures.
The laptop is great, I'm very happy with my bargain and I make it back on the Muni before my transfer runs out. The ride back is even more interesting, as the tram rolls along at its sedate pace, bumps down into the opening of the tunnel, grinds and whirs for a minute or so (presumably as it changes power pickups) and then takes off like a rocket down the underground passage.
So, back to my day off. I set out to find Golden Gate Park first. It's at the end of Haight but I get off early and walk down to have a good look around the many fascinating shops first. I take my time and enjoy the fresh morning air (it rained quite a bit last night) and browse freely. Before I get to Golden Gate Park, however, I discover Buena Vista Park which is on the side of Haight Street around where the shops peter out.
Buena Vista ends up taking up the rest of my morning. I climb to the top of the precipitous hill, through banks of big old trees where the light shines down in complex patterns through the leaves and needles, and see extraordinary views of the city from higher and higher vantage points. At the top the hill is rounded and ringed with thick trees. I climb down a short bank and find a huge root to sit on and look out and down at the view.
The damp earth smells like good tobacco, rich, earthy and fruity all at once. Where shafts of sun hit the soaked wood, curls of steam rise and interweave in the bright beams. I feel at peace, relaxed but alert, very here and now and plugged into my place and time. The day seems endless ahead of me.
I explore around the Haight and adjacent streets for part of the afternoon, but have no luck finding the perfect cafe. I do, however, find a fascinating studio just opening up, offering very cheap prices for all kinds of classes. All their yoga classes are in the middle of the day, unfortunately, although they plan to add some evening sessions shortly - what they do have is a Beginning Acrobatics course on Sunday night which really intrigues me, and turns out to cost only $10.00 - I take note of it for tomorrow.
I do attempt to explore Chinatown in the later afternoon, but it's just too crazily busy - the streets are literally crammed and progress on the pavement is impossible. I branch off and head back to the hostel, planning to go back on Monday when it's quieter.
In the evening a small group of us go out for pool at the Edinburgh, a "Scottish" pub just a couple of streets over. The evening turns out a bit jumbly but fun; no pool actually happens and we wander around a bit trying to find somewhere everyone's happy with, but it's nice and sociable and a chance to get to know people a bit better. I just have a couple of pints, continuing my commitment not to go back to heavy drinking at least until my liver's had some time to recover.
Labels: Buena Vista Park, Golden Gate Park, Haight Street, San Francisco
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