Hitting the Haight(s) (sic)......

A fabulous final day in San Francisco, on which the sun shone and we got to travel across the City by bus and on foot. We began in Union Square where we joined tourists and commuters alike for an al fresco breakfast. Then we chatted to 'Vaughan', the tour bus organiser as we waited for our bus to arrive. We grabbed a prime seat on the open deck and rode as far as Golden Gate Park, where we de-boarded and walked through the fabulous Japanese garden. (A must for anyone!)

Exiting the park we made for 'Haight Street', where we meandered along the rows of small shops leading up to its junction with 'Ashbury'.

The area is now clearly driven by 'profit' and its kinda strange to recall what it represented 'back in the day'......in the 1960's! We were stopped by a guy from "Green Peace" who was trying to enlist new recruits and insisted that 'today' was the first in the 'revolution'! (I seem to recall that Haight Ashbury represented 'the beginning of a music-inspired revolution for world peace & love' some forty years ago! I may have become cynical with maturity!!) Nevertheless, it was refreshing that in the midst of all the tourist-centric outlets purporting to be 'of the age', there was a couple that were the real deal. Not least was the "Red Victorian Bed, Breakfast & Art".

We initially called here for coffee only to be greeted by its founder and chief creative talent, the charming Sami Sunchild......who continues to work seven days a week for 'Peace'! We also met Alexandro there, a really nice guy hailing from Southern California and one of Sami's current team of 'helpers'. Not only is the Red Victorian a centrepiece for Sami's art, it also offers the curious an insight into the push for world peace by a true disciple......and also offers uniquely styled B&B accommodation (one room having a toilet flusher containing goldfish!) and great coffee!! Alexandro explained how we could find 710 Ashbury, the legendary home of "The Grateful Dead".....we made our way there, photographed in and marvelled that it doesn't have a plaque!

Leaving the area, we called in at Ben & Jerry's on the corner of Haight Ashbury for ice cream. When asked "What flavour?".....there was only one answer.."Cherry Garcia!"

No explanation needed for today's musical selection!!