DAY2
Today we took a bus out to
"Treasure Island" which is in the bay. Driving over the Bay Bridge,
on this bluebird day, we could see the beautiful skyline of San Francisco, as
well as the Golden Gate Bridge. Varieties of ships were in the famous harbor: a
docked white cruise ship, a freighter floating lazily, a fire boat spraying a joyous
stream of water arching high into the air, and numerous sailboats, their sails
unfurled like the white wings of seagulls.
On the Island the "Dragon
Boat Race Festival” was underway. The boats were actually racing skulls with a
carved dragon decorating the front. S.F. is noted for its large Chinatown and
so this event commemorated that, I suppose. There were many entertainments for
children, rides, face painting, and colorful helium-filled balloons which
escaped occasionally, floating up and away toward the sun.
We sat and watched the stage
entertainment for a while--people doing tricks with hula hoops and another pair
doing amazing tricks with yo-yos. I was hoping to learn how to make a hula hoop
go. I have one at home that just falls off as soon as I try to whirl the thing.
Darn it. There were a hundred booths selling all sorts of stuff. We bought a
can of Oolong Tea and one barbecued chicken-thigh meal, with rice and macaroni
salad for our lunch.
Then we watched the races for an
hour or so. People crowded under a huge tree as the only available shade. We
perched on rocks.
The day was really hot, clear and sunny which is unusual for
this city at any time of year. As we departed we bought two frozen strawberry
popsicles.
After riding back downtown on the
bus we had six city blocks to walk. We were tired and our feet hurt, so we had
to stop and rest twice. People-watching is the main entertainment. Perched on the
sidewalk bench we watched street musicians and the famed cable-cars go by.
We felt totally out-of-place
here. It was a very different world for us. As older white Mid-Westerners we were
definitely the minority. There were hordes of people going every which way,
mostly of mixed races, young, tall, thin and fast-paced. If you saw a rare old
fat white woman, slowly walking along, you knew she must be a visitor.
Even though there is only a three
hour difference, we struggled to adjust to the time differential. I had all I
could do to stay awake until ten o'clock PM, and then stay asleep until six.
After we got home, that afternoon, I fell asleep.
We booked a van tour for tomorrow.
No walking required.
On the Island the "Dragon
Boat Race Festival” was underway. The boats were actually racing skulls with a
carved dragon decorating the front. S.F. is noted for its large Chinatown and
so this event commemorated that, I suppose. There were many entertainments for
children, rides, face painting, and colorful helium-filled balloons which
escaped occasionally, floating up and away toward the sun.
We sat and watched the stage
entertainment for a while--people doing tricks with hula hoops and another pair
doing amazing tricks with yo-yos. I was hoping to learn how to make a hula hoop
go. I have one at home that just falls off as soon as I try to whirl the thing.
Darn it. There were a hundred booths selling all sorts of stuff. We bought a
can of Oolong Tea and one barbecued chicken-thigh meal, with rice and macaroni
salad for our lunch.
Then we watched the races for an
hour or so. People crowded under a huge tree as the only available shade. We
perched on rocks.
The day was really hot, clear and sunny which is unusual for
this city at any time of year. As we departed we bought two frozen strawberry
popsicles.
After riding back downtown on the
bus we had six city blocks to walk. We were tired and our feet hurt, so we had
to stop and rest twice. People-watching is the main entertainment. Perched on the
sidewalk bench we watched street musicians and the famed cable-cars go by.
We felt totally out-of-place
here. It was a very different world for us. As older white Mid-Westerners we were
definitely the minority. There were hordes of people going every which way,
mostly of mixed races, young, tall, thin and fast-paced. If you saw a rare old
fat white woman, slowly walking along, you knew she must be a visitor.
Even though there is only a three
hour difference, we struggled to adjust to the time differential. I had all I
could do to stay awake until ten o'clock PM, and then stay asleep until six.
After we got home, that afternoon, I fell asleep.
We booked a van tour for tomorrow.
No walking required.
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