San Francisco, California
Tonight’s our last night here in San Francisco. Much like San Francisco’s landscape, the experience had its highs and lows. The first night was kind of grim, with my Florida bones not used to the chilly winds. We were to stay with Toad, but his house was unheated. I fled like a coward to a Red Roof Inn, leaving Brianna behind for the night. She was asleep and I had woken up in the middle of the night with an uncurable case of “it’s fucking freezing and I cannot possibly go back to sleep”. So yeah, I spent a comfortable night at the inn and faced the wrath of Brianna the next day. I fucked up. I spent the rest of the day trying to set it right.
We went to the park where people say “marijuana” at you and you take a walk. It was there that I learned why the substance is so misunderstood. Bad potheads are really rather obnoxious. I’ve just never seen so many people openly stoned in one place before and it was kind of eye-opening. Good potheads don’t hang out in that park, it’s just for tourists and homeless people. Well, we were tourists and homeless, so at that moment it was the place for us. I thought it would be great to be in a city where it’s supereasy to buy weed, but at that moment, I was really missing the word-of-mouth secrecy that Orlando had to offer, because everyone I know in Orlando who smokes is cool, so I was under the impression that San Francisco would be full of cool people. I guess it stops applying when anyone with legs and a 20$ can get some decent weed. Just look for a group of dirty hippies and a dog and you’re set.
So we meandered around the city that day, not really going to anyplace worthwhile. I hate driving there. You go up and down hills all day and it’s scary and I’m pretty sure it is causing some sort of internal damage to my vehicle. Also, they fucking switch up between 4-way stops, traffic lights, or no stop at all and I have to be in a constant state of fear-awareness when driving in the city. And don’t get me started on parking. Fuck San Francisco parking, I like my car to rest perpendicularly.
So that night, I whisked Brianna to the Red Roof Inn where I stayed the previous night alone. It was much better and I cried for the first time in front of Brianna. She did not know I had emotions before that time.
So, I was concerned about Toad because he hasn’t seen a lot of the city, I guess mostly from lack of transportation, and he seemed depressed since he and his girlfriend recently broke up. I was also very much missing Tim and the emotion all sort of accumulated and I really wanted to like the city, but after LA, everything just seemed horrible.
So the next day we go out and try to make everything right. Tim calls me and we talk and have almost the first real conversation since the trip and it really made me feel better. We went to the Muir Woods and hiked a bit along the trail and looked at the amazingness of the trees because that was the one thing I really wanted to see here in San Francisco. It was very beautiful and peaceful and I think it really centered us. After that we wanted to get a space heater for Toad’s room so we can stay there that night instead of a hotel and there are no fucking Wal-Marts in San Francisco. Where the hell are you supposed to buy a deep fryer at 4 am? Seriously, San Francisco does not know what’s up. Anyway, so we go to an Ace Hardware, a Home Depot, and finally we find a Wal-Mart somewhere outside of the city (which closed at 10:00, but we got there around 9:30) and none of those places had heaters (because it was March and they were getting spring inventory in). We had driven all around everywhere, crossing several bridges in the process. Eventually, we check into a HoJo and get some rest.
The next morning, we wake up and get some breakfast at some little cafe and go back to Golden Gate Park. Toad takes a walk and we somewhat unwillingly smoke out a tranny. These homeless freaks really know how to guilt ya. (Not that I have anything against freaky homeless trannys, I’m sure some are very cool. She was not one of the cool ones.) We then take a walk down Haight Street and look at all the funky, funky shops. Amoeba Music was pretty hip with the kids and Bri got a CD. We also went to the Haight Street Goodwill, the best one in the universe, I assume, because Bri and I both picked up an awesome pair of coats and scarves. So we’re totally strutting our duds when we go into a nearby vintage shop and I find the most badass hat ever. Like, seriously, I can’t not smile when wearing this hat. I have a hat face now. The hat is just incredible and Brianna got some amazing boots that are comfy and have a nice sound to them when she walks, just the perfect pair of street boots. We feel fucking fabulous at this point. I may understand the appeal of shopping now.
Then we pick up a San Francisco Weekly (we’re getting smart) to figure out what the hell there is to do here. What we really needed was a coffee shop with internet, so we went to a place whose advertisement had a cup of coffee with a happy face in it and I got my second cup of the day, which means I was feeling really good and really pretty with my hat and my hat smile. In the shop, I wisened up and got us a room on priceline. This time, a Hilton Homewood Suites (where I am typing right now) for $55, way less than the Red Roof Inn or even the HoJo. And Jesus Christ, this place is nice. It’s like a fucking HOUSE. It has a couch, a kitchen with a microwave, full-size fridge, stove, dishwasher, a nice-ass shower, the softest, most comfortable bed ever and great free wi-fi. Oh yes, and Otis Spunkmeyer chocolate cookies, warm and delicious and free for the asking. I am in love with this place and I would totally live here if I could. Priceline + Hilton = extreme win.
So, we totally recharged our batteries being in such a comfortable place. We’ve been in some comfort-compromising places with this whole couchsurfing thing and it kind of drains you after awhile, even if the place is really nice, it’s still not your place and there are always other people to consider. This was good to just have a place for us to chill and internet and whatever.
Also, room service had the most amazing pizza, garlicky and delicious. And the soaps and shampoos are really, really good.
In conclusion, San Francisco took awhile to get uphill, but once we got there, we flew. I still hate driving in the city, so I think this town is probably out of the running, but the places right outside of the city are nice (and have Wal-Marts), so I would not totally disregard it. So far, the most habitable town seems like Austin (warm and sunny and seems economically stable). I really liked Tucson, it’s a very charming town and I think I love the landscape in Arizona the very best out of everywhere we’ve been, but the teaching situation is not all that great from what I hear, so that may be out for the most part.
And it’s 2am and we’re off to Portland in the morning. Time to get into that comfy, comfy bed! Thanks Hilton Homewood Suites!
P.S. I forgot to update on LA. Our first night in LA was kind of terrible, as the previous entry stated. The next day consisted of going to Venice Beach and buying some stuff to make ourselves feel better about being in LA. My theory is that LA is such a shitty town that everyone has to just buy stuff to make themselves feel better about living there. We saw a billboard that advertised that their brand was the most expensive of their particular ware. Not the best, the most expensive. Only in LA, am I right?
So Los Angeles gets better once we meet Louyi, Andrew’s girlfriend. She’s amazing and takes us to a coffee shop and a Japanese place where you sit on the floor and the food’s really good and we hang out with some random French dudes at their house and I don’t even know half of what they’re saying because they’re from fucking France and they can’t really speak English that well, but we have a pretty good time anyway. So yeah, LA kind of got better, but I still never, ever want to go back there again.
And now, to that beautiful Hilton Homewood Suites bed!
