San Francisco
Union Square, San Francisco
“What do you think about the city?” One of my many Lyft drivers asked me as they sped down the one-way streets, changing lanes with less than a foot of clearance between them and the car behind us.
“I love it. It’s beautiful,” I said. “I would not want to live here.”
And it was true. There were far too many people and far too few trees, but I found its foreignness breathtaking. The whole experience reminded me of my visit to Athens. More than anything, I imagine that was because I also spent a week in Athens traveling alone during springtime. The climates were similar, at least in my Northeastern mind. I thought about wandering Athen’s streets and climbing to the top of Filopappou Hill where I saw the city before me.
This was where the two cities differed. When I stood on the balcony of the Game Developers Conference center, I looked out at San Francisco, and for the first time ever, I felt a city rise to meet my gaze.
The reflective skyscrapers towered over me without oppression or a sense of overwhelm. I weaved my way through the gridded streets, breathing in the city on my way down the steep hills and breathing in the heavy air on my way back up them.
I wondered how I would spend my limited time—time I made for myself by missing parts of the conference. I knew, however, that not exploring the city would be a lifelong regret. Who knows if I’ll ever see San Francisco again.
There were two things I wanted to see: 1.) the pacific ocean, and 2.) the Golden Gate bridge.
When sharing this desire with another conference-goer, they recommended a nearby tourist spot where I could do both.
So Tuesday morning I strolled on over to Union Square, literally chased down a cable car, and zoomed through the city to Fisherman’s Wharf.
From the bay’s calm waters, fishing vessels would leave their moorings and sea lions would drag themselves upon the docks for some midday sunbathing. Over 1,000 sea lions have been spotted yearly on the docks of Pier 39, which sits at the edge of Fisherman’s Wharf. The viewing decks were swarmed with just as many people, trying to snap a picture of the giant creatures.
But sea lions were far from the only attraction at Pier 39: two full stories of tourist shops and restaurants lined the pier, and at its end, an acrobat performed gravity defying stunts, climbing to the top of a tall stack of chairs for an impeccable handstand. Beyond the docks were views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.
The Golden Gate Bridge, which is not golden but red, is named after the Golden Gate Strait, the entrance to the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. Its infamy comes from it being the longest suspension bridge at the time of its construction in 1937, spanning 4,200 feet. In 1964, it lost that title, but not its popularity.
Alcatraz may be best known as the prison which housed Al Capone, but the island also served as a military prison, fortress, the first lighthouse on the West Coast, and the birthplace of the American Indian Red Power movement. While people ferried out to the island, I set my sights on something a little closer: the aquarium.
The Aquarium of the Bay hosts over 24,000 marine animals and one of the coolest displays I have ever seen. The main floor presented me with adorable otters, various reptiles, and pettable stingrays. One elevator ride down and the rooms turned dark. The light from informative signs and stunning jellyfish exhibits guided me to the aquarium’s main attraction: the Ray and Stephanie Nearshore Tunnel. Winding below the aquarium, as if walking underneath the bay itself, I stood encased in a glass tunnel with fish swimming around me.
If not for its leopard print, the children’s excitement ahead alerted me of a leopard shark. I was surprised by how soft it looked, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to touch it. Alas, I was quite content as it swam over my head, and after walking through the tunnel once, snapping pictures, I travelled through it again to simply take it all in.
My time at the pier had nearly ended, but I was due for a late lunch before the last cable car service ran for the day. I walked half a mile to try my first In-N-Out Burger on the steps of a small park, while I listened to a street performer play the steel drums. I’m happy to say that I would eat from there again, and perhaps I’ll be lucky enough to, as there’s still a lot of San Francisco left for me to explore.