Over fall break my family snuck away to San Francisco for a three-day weekend. It was a fun time, equal parts relaxing and adventuring. And it was a sober trip that made me think we have turned another corner of “normal” and we ain’t going back.
We spent the entire weekend wearing N95 masks because the Air Quality Index (AQI) was a resounding 350. For comparison, one of the world’s most polluted cities, Delhi, was sitting at 240 that weekend. In essence, San Francisco was like modern-day Beijing, only with clam chowder. Of course, a few days of respiratory intrigue is nothing compared to the suffering of the poor souls who lost their forest, their homes, their entire TOWN…and even their lives. My heart breaks for them, not only for the terror and panic they endured, but the trauma they will never quite recover from. The panicked fleeing through firestorms, cars melting roadside, pets and lives left behind…too much.
Yet, not far from all this tragedy, life went on. Most the people wearing masks were probably not native to San Fran. Or just couldn’t get their hands on the masks that ran out as soon as they arrived in stores. We just happen to time it right, which was nice since we walked all day, everywhere, uphill and down. We walked across the Golden Gate Bridge, though you could barely see to one end from the other. This happens often, but it’s normally fog that obscures the bay.
Other than that, SF wows with its distinctive neighborhoods, super steep streets and a lifestyle that defies gravity, and thousands of small businesses. I’ve never seen so many tiny grocery stores in one city. That was nice. Lots of small restaurants, too. But also filthy, filthy sidewalks and a persistent coating of exhausted grime everywhere. Check out the pix below:
We enjoyed the sights on Pier 39.
We made it to Sausalito after crossing the bridge. Charming town (expensive).
Back in SF, we walked up Lombard Street. Not easy with masks on. That hill is STEEP (and I write this from 8500 feet, y’all.)
From the top:
I found an odd series of photos in our hotel that made me think about the commodification of the female form.
While just walking down the street to somewhere interesting, I found a wig store, which happens to me in Every. Single. City. (Why??)
And photos of wigs:
So that’s a thing. I have a lot more to say about wigs. Soon.
Overall, the charm of the city won, even though I now have a creepy, persistent cough (I’m sure it’s just cancer seeds rattling around in there). I will try my best to shake off my hypochondria and continue processing all that SF stirred up in me. All signs point that this catastrophic trend is not going away, and I’m just wondering how we’re going to deal with the new normal. Thoughts?
