San Francisco - Day Two
The next morning, I walked a short distance from my motel to Mel’s Drive-In, a local chain of 50’s-style diners. There I joined Francesca and my other classmates for breakfast.
Museum of Modern Art
After breakfast, Karen and Aaron and I spent most of the day together exploring the city. Our first main stop was the Museum of Modern Art. I’m not really a fan of modern art, but some of the exhibits were interesting. The most entertaining piece for me was a larger-than-lifesize gold-and-white porcelain of Michael Jackon and “Bubbles” the chimp, in Rococo style.
Coit Tower
After lunch, we caught a bus to Telegraph Hill, and hiked the steep steps up to Coit Memorial Tower, shaped like a giant Roman column. The column was built in 1933 with funds left by the eccentric Lillie Hitchcock Coit as a monument to the city’s brave fire-fighters. Inside the tower there are murals depicting 1930’s labor themes, and then an elevator heads to the top for panoramic views of the bay area.
From Telegraph Hill, we walked mostly southwards, through yuppie neighborhoods and then Chinatown, eventually stopping at the hotel where Karon and Aaron were staying.
Vesuvio
After a break in their room, we met Mike and Brigette downstairs, and began making our way towards an Italian restaurant, where we would meet up with Francesca and some of her friends. Along the way, we stumbled upon one of my must-see items in San Francisco, Vesuvio’s bar. Once a favorite beatnik hangout, my interest in Vesuvio was the message painted above the entrance: “We are itching to get away from Portland, Oregon”.
San Francisco