San Francisco – The City of Fog

City of Hills

Few people know that this famous American city is located on 43 hills, although only 7 of them are natural. With a gradient of 41%, Bradford is the steepest street in the city. It is no surprise that sneakers are one of the most popular and best-selling items here. My friends joke that the streets of San Fran are like an outdoor gym. Just put on your shoes and go, you will be healthy.

I have never liked being held up by traffic jams, but the experience of being stuck in traffic jams in San Fran was extremely memorable. Because the surrounding scenery was so beautiful, I felt like I had more time to slowly admire the simple activities on both sides of the road that sometimes, because we are too hasty, we often forget. The most interesting thing was when I was stuck halfway up the slope, at an angle of about 30 degrees, I was nervous because I was afraid that the car would... fall back. The roads were long and endless, soaring straight up to the sky. Each car followed one after another like ants marching back to their nest.

Gift of nature

If the city center is skyscrapers with major financial and banking centers of the West Coast of the United States, rows of colorful houses in classic Victorian style, and liberal Hippie streets, then just about 30 minutes drive out of the center, I feel like I'm lost in a completely different world.

Before my eyes appeared the deep blue sea and sky of the city's namesake bay. I was not in a hurry to join the bustling tourist stream at Fisherman's Wharf, where seafood is a must-try. Nor was I in a hurry to buy tickets to the maritime museum and the historic fleets moored at Hyde Street Port. The high, clear, sunny sky beckoned me to walk in the opposite direction, leaving the bustling crowds behind. The bay was surprisingly quiet, picturesque.

As a large bay of California, one of the most important and famous bays in the world, San Francisco Bay is the anchorage point of many sailboats, yachts, and giant warships. Many large and small businesses provide sightseeing services by yacht with attractive schedules. You can choose to watch the sunset or sunrise on the bay, sip wine, enjoy dishes prepared by professional chefs, and immerse yourself in the soothing symphony.

After a walk around the bay, I got back on the bus to continue my journey. I love using public transportation here. Not only is it cheap ($2.25 unlimited rides for half a day), modern and fast, I also get to interact with people from all walks of life. Having become a familiar face after a long time in this city by the bay, there is one thing I cannot help but notice when using the bus: African Americans buy tickets and then trudge straight to the back. A remnant of racial discrimination from 1955, the time of Reverend Martin Luther King.

I arrived at Sutro Baths, known as the world’s largest indoor saltwater pool, now just ruins after the entire structure burned down in a fire in the summer of 1966. The view of the Pacific Ocean from here is sweeping and breathtaking. Sutro Baths is never empty, but never too crowded either. Sutro Baths is crystal clear when the sun shines in, highlighting every tiny dot of people on the rugged yet majestic stone floor. When the sun sets, the thick darkness falls. The only thing to do is lie down on a natural mat and look up at the sparkling starry sky.

Colorful city

Ethnic, cultural, and traditional diversity is at the core of San Francisco, with many communities around the world calling it home. According to 2010 statistics, 50% of the city’s population comes from countries in the other four continents. Perhaps that’s why festivals are held regularly to promote national pride and identity, to connect communities, and to enhance cultural exchange.

San Francisco is known for its world-famous Folsom Sex Festival (September), not to mention other festivals that take place throughout the year, attracting large crowds of visitors from all over the world.

Because San Francisco is a multi-ethnic city, the cuisine here is extremely rich. The biggest food festival is held every August, at Pier 70. I was really surprised to see the old, time-stained workshops now being used as a unique destination. Pier 70 used to be a shipbuilding and ship repair workshop since the San Francisco gold rush. Pier 70 was simply repaired to ensure safety, with an old and innovative style. The space in the workshop is quite large, enough to accommodate about 100 large and small food stalls representing cuisines around the world such as Italian, French, Mexican, Japanese, Indian... The fragrant smell of Korean kimchi hotpot, crispy bites of famous Mexican tacos..., crowds anxiously waiting for their turn.

Experience "catching the wind"

The Golden Gate Bridge is the gateway to the city, built on a site once famous for the California Gold Rush. It appears frequently in movies and is certainly the most photographed bridge.

I jokingly called my experience on the Golden Gate Bridge a “wind-catching” experience. One of the characteristics of San Fran’s weather is that it is windy and foggy, especially in the summer. With the bridge’s height of 67m above sea level, walking across the bridge was not ideal for me. A local suggested: “Ride your bike, you can stop at any time.” The bridge has dedicated lanes for pedestrians and cyclists, so it is very safe. If you walk, the bus will drop you off at the foot of the bridge, you can cross and walk back, a distance of 1,970m. But cycling allows me to be more flexible and go further.

To truly love and explore every corner of this beautiful city, a few days is definitely not enough. I stayed for a long time to experience living like a local. I found myself blending into the bustling crowd downtown, one hand carrying a bag, the other holding a cup of coffee, walking hurriedly as if I were running. I found myself wandering in the Castro district, blushing the first time I saw a group of naked people parading around the city. I felt my heart sink, feeling sorry for the homeless people lying on the streets. And if someday someone makes a list of San Francisco fans, I think I will be the most loyal and enthusiastic fan.

More information:

+Time:

Temperatures in San Francisco range from 6 to 23 degrees Celsius year-round. Summer, from June to September, is considered the ideal time because this is the dry season, the weather is cool. A typical summer day usually starts with a layer of fog, clear and sunny at noon, and windy in the afternoon for about 4 or 5 hours. The downtown area is less windy thanks to the high-rise buildings, but moving out to the Bay Area, the air is colder. Visitors should dress in layers and always carry a jacket with them in case the weather changes suddenly.

+ Itinerary:

There are currently no direct flights from Vietnam to San Francisco, so visitors will have to stop over several times. From Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, you can choose to fly with Eva Airways, China Air (transit in Taipei); Korean Air, Asiana Air (stop in Seoul); Japan Air (stop in Tokyo).

+ Getting around San Francisco:

-BART: The transportation system in this foggy city is extremely simple and convenient. From San Francisco International Airport, you can use the BART rapid train system to go straight to the city center. Stop at Powell station because from here it is the central point, making it easy to visit around the area. Ticket price: USD 8.95

-Cable car operates on 3 routes. Ticket price: USD 7/trip. Powell-Hyde line: from the center to the bay area, this is the most beautiful route because the car goes up and down many hills, feeling like riding a roller coaster in the air. Powell-Mason line: from the center to the bay area, very close to Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39.

-Suggestion: You should take the cable car early in the morning (around 7am), when it is still foggy, chilly, the sun is gradually rising, and it is not too crowded. From 8am onwards, there will always be a long line of about a hundred people waiting to take the cable car. You should sit in the outside area to feel the whole view of the city.

-Train (MUNI): is a train system that runs on the main lines throughout San Francisco, making it extremely convenient to travel from one district to another. Ticket price: USD 2.25/trip.

-Bus (MUNI): runs around the city. Don't worry if you get lost. Just ask the driver where you want to go, they will drop you off at the nearest stop or station. Fare: USD 2.25/trip.

+ Cuisine:

San Francisco has a wide variety of cuisines. Chinatown has Chinese cuisine, Little Italy has a variety of European dishes. Fisherman's Wharf and the bayside restaurants are famous for their fresh seafood. In addition, restaurants specializing in the cuisine of each country (Korean, Japanese, Indian...) are scattered throughout the city.

Suggestion: use the YELP app – a site for information about places to eat, services, and shopping with objective reviews and ratings from consumers themselves.

+ Special experience:

Don't miss the sunset in San Fran: Climb to the top of Twin Peaks, from a height of 282m, you will feel satisfied when admiring the panoramic view of the city at a wide angle of 360 degrees.

Article and photos: Anh Thy

The Thanh