Back in San Francisco

It’s been some years, but it feels like I never left the streets of San Francisco. It all feels familiar. The smell of Chinatown, the loss of dollars at Amoeba Records and the questionable people in the streets of Haight-Ashbury.

The cable cars are in a constant battle with the steep slopes.

Last time I was here, the news were all about the impending war in Iraq. Now the news are filled with disaster reports from the arrival of hurricane Katrina, which has hit New Orleans hard. It’s quite easy to get caught up in the misery, but I choose to focus on the positive side of things.

“If you’re going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you’re going to San Francisco
You’re gonna meet some gentle people there”
— Scott McKenzie, San Francisco (1967)

As we were sitting on a bench overlooking the Golden Gate bridge, it was almost impossible not to start humming on that song by Scott McKenzie.

It’s good to be back. But first some sturdy pancakes at Café Mason. All you need is… sugar and fat.