SAN FRANCISCO - CALIFORNIA'S EUROPEAN CITY

By Debbie Bulloch



This week I had to travel to San Francisco for a few days to tend to some personal business. San Francisco is a popular international tourist destination. While in San Francisco I met tourists from Canada, France, Germany and Spain. San Francisco is known for its chilly summer fog, steep rolling hills, eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture and its famous landmarks, which include the Golden Gate Bridge, the cable cars and Chinatown.

San Francisco is also a city with a strong European flavor - this is one reason why it is such a popular tourist destination. Part of what gives San Francisco its European flavor is the large number of commuters. For example, unlike Los Angeles, where the car is “King,” people in San Francisco rely heavily upon other modes of transportation, including public transportation, walking and biking.

Where I live, bike riding is a mode of exercise or recreation – few people use their bike to commute. I am “guilty” of that; I use my two bikes (a road bike and a mountain bike) almost exclusively for recreation and for exercise (and for taking photographs). By comparison, bike riders in San Francisco regularly use their bikes to commute to work, to go shopping and to run personal errands.

Another “European” feature are all the great neighborhood bars and restaurants. The best part of it is that these places are all within easy walking distance. Nothing feels better than sharing a good, hearty meal with friends and then “walking it off” with a long, brisk walk in the cool evening air.

If your travels take you to San Francisco, please be sure to visit The Buena Vista Cafe . If you love Irish Coffee (and who doesn’t?) this IS the place to visit. According to legend, Irish Coffee was first served in the United State at the Buena Vista Café.

The Buena Vista is located at the intersection of Hyde and Beach Street. If you are visiting the Fisherman’s Wharf, the Buena Vista is just a short walk from world-famous Ghirardelli Square. If you are in downtown San Francisco, then just take the Hyde Street cable car and it will take you directly to the Buena Vista.

My business in San Francisco is finished and now I am back home. As lovely and wonderful as San Francisco is, I agree with Dorothy - there is no place like home.



To learn more about San Francisco, click here: San Francisco

Below are some images from the City by the Bay.

Enjoy!











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