Travelfood

There is something special about San Francisco. Steep hills, the squeaks from the ever-braking cable cars, the fog rolling from Golden Gate bridge over the city, the cultural diversity – something that make you feel you are not in the United States, although you are touching the innermost of USA. Moving from block to block, you feel as you are moving from one country to another. San Francisco is indeed diverse, but still it feels as if the diversity is not mixed between the city parts and everyone is involved with just one’s own territory. Chinatown feels indeed like China, because nothing in the part of the city indicates that you are outside China. It would feel strange to see leathergays in Chinatowns, although that is perfectly normal in Castro District.

San Francisco does not leave anyone untouched, but in California’s other big city, Los Angeles, nothing except Hollywood feels unique. From San Francisco we made day trips to vineyards, to coast town Sausalito and to Muir Woods with its unique redwood trees. The magnificent villas in San Francisco used to be built of redwood timber.

In Fisherman’s Wharf we had of course clam chowder – San Francisco’s famous creamy clam soup. And good it was! In Chinatown we had Chinese food just as it tastes in China, but served as American portion sizes. We also had hamburgers and sandwiches which were prepared in front of us and of course they tasted better than back home.

Arriving to USA from a European service culture, you are overwhelmed by how Americans seem to love everything and everyone and by all the kindness that come with your orders in department stores and restaurants. The Americans loved our clothes, my hair and my jokes. And we loved the Americans for giving all that love that we are not used to. But there is a price tag on that love! The service-minded culture is based on better tips for kinder service. Our hotels announced though that they would automatically charge my credit card for tips, so I guess that was a guarantee of satisfactory service. Or a guarantee of being loved!

California, food, San Francisco, travel, travel experiences, USA