San Fransico



Figure 1.0 Transamerica Building

San Fransico is only a short BART (otherwise known Bay Area Rapid Transit) ride to Berkeley and vice versa. I spent the best part of a day in the city where just walking around is a work out and a half.

I've yet to get on one of the trams that are seen in countless moives (The Rock et al). They seem like it would kind of be fun to ride be it not for the fact but a packed on like sardines.

I can't recall what the shopping mall was but walked past a family after just finishing a shopping spree that was getting picked up in a limo.

I walked through china town, there is something about just been in a place were you know your the odd one out that is appealing in the space of about 10 minutes walking, I didn't see another of caucasian likeness. I dropped by a Anime shop but sadely didn't have the Robotech or Voltron toys I was looking for but had some cool Gundam stuff.

Walked around Fisherman's Wharf which is just a little too touristy for my liking but if your into tacky noverty gift shopping then this is the place to be. Oh that and sea food. I don't know if the clam chowder is different from the East coast to the West coast and I wasn't game to find out.


Figure 1.1 another shot of the Transamerica Building

The Transamerica Building (Figure1.0-1.1) is one of my favourite skyscrapers of all time. The lines are clean, the design very innovative and the quartz finish unusual.


Figure 1.2 Colt Lookout on Telegraph Hill


Figure 1.3 Chistohper Columbus memeroial on Telegraph Hill

Hiked up to the top of Telegraph hill and I mean hike! But the hike was well worth the effort as I was welcomed with a great veiw of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. The fog had as of then yet to role in. Did not take the tour up to see the view from Colt tower because I was been a cheapskate.

Another thing I like about San Fransico is all the back streets and the hills all around I've never seen a city which the topography is part of the character of the city the buidlings are built with it in mind. All the cars when they park they put there front wheels at an angle just to prevent rolling. just small things like that trams in a way can just be a novality but here they are essential part.

San Fransico also happens to be a very expensive place to rent I've heard so looks like I won't be living there anytime soon. Strangely enough California and San Fransisco in perticular has a large homeless and dependant population. wheter it be that by the time they pay off the bills they don't have enough for food or they have been living on the streets. As such there are a number of organisations and missions that work in the area.

I was planning to get around to Volunteering the this day at a soup kitchen run buy Karl a Merrowvista Alumni. Been my usual self I left it to the last minute to get in contact with Karl and found that I couldn't get in contact with him. So I missed out on a great oppertunity but if your ever down this way I'm sure Karl would love for you to help out for a day checkout the website at.

Homelessness is one of the hardest things about the LOFCF's that I have reconsiling. There just seems to be an apathy of sorts or at least acceptance of situation rather than saying that it's not good enough that basic freedoms are out of the reach of a section of the population. For a country with such great wealth it really boggles me. Australia has a ways to go no doubt with treatment of Aboriginals many of which are living in third world living conditions and face many health risks that are not present in the rest of the population. This is just on a different larger scale in the States and it is in your face maybe that is the biggest difference. The horrible truth in all of these cases is out of sight out of mind.