Iteris

It has to be said that a long sleep and a shower improves San Francisco immensely. Despite all the short comings of the hotel and the room, of which I could mention a number. Such as the continental breakfast which turned out to be a loaf of bread, a toaster, a jug of watery orange squash and plastic cutlery. Sitting around the table, our bountiful breakfast before us we discussed what we had planned for the day. Breaking out a map and stuffing water and various valuables into a bag, we set off into the sprawl of the city. Our first stop was Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, from the end of which you are able to see the prison synonymous with the city (and of course a number of block buster films) Alcatraz.

After we had our fill of staring at the ominous monstrosity (the appeal of large and distant edifices, no matter what their past, fades quickly), we went to see the sea lions which apparently come to the pier due to the plenitude of herring and shelter they receive because of the breakwater.

Our view of the Golden Gate bridge was brief. We were under the impression our bus drove over it and stopped on the other side….We were wrong. Doubtless it is an impressive structure, the arches, I am told, are over seven hundred feet in height and the bridge is so large that it must be constantly painted. However the bus drove on and our last glimpse of the world famous bridge was in the buses rear view mirror. Still, the bus did take us to the Golden Gate park, apparently one of the largest urban parks in the United States. Quite what is meant by ‘urban park’ was a matter of some discussion. It was a very picturesque park and at its heart was a lake which lent the park a welcome air of tranquility. There was a building in the park whose name escapes me, but nine floors up there was a viewing platform, off of which the onlooker\ is afforded a three hundred and sixty degree view of the park and city.
As I am sure you have gathered by now my opinion of our accommodation was not high and although it was a short walk to the main shopping centre, the location we were in was less than salubrious. One thing that struck us all was the sheer number of homeless people, they seemed to be everywhere, and yet if you moved just three blocks over they had disappeared, it was quite a surreal experience.

At some time during the afternoon we all gave in to the market pressure and became hapless consumers. Sitting down in a cafe inside the main shopping mall we talked and put the world to rights. Where I believe I was quite vehement on having a nice meal out as I was determined not to spend another sober night in the hotel room. The restaurant was very plesent, as of course was the company. Make of it what you will, but the bill at the restaurant came to more than the price we had paid for two nights in the hotel.