San Francisco Chaos: 5324200 & That Weird Number
okay, so i’m still processing. just landed back in *San Francisco, and my brain feels like a tangled ball of yarn. i'm trying to unpack everything - not just my suitcase, but the whole vibe of the last week. and honestly? it's a lot.
i keep seeing these numbers everywhere. 5324200 and 1840018903. what even are they? some kind of cryptic code? a lottery win i forgot about? i’m starting to think it's a secret message from the universe, or maybe just a really wonky elevator malfunction. either way, it’s stuck in my head.
The weather? it's doing its usual SF thing. like, sunshine one minute, fog the next. i just checked and it's… a misty, cool drizzle, which is pretty standard. hope you like that kind of thing. definitely pack layers. Golden Gate Park was beautiful even with the dampness.
i was wandering around North Beach, trying to find a decent coffee shop (a crime in some places, let me tell you). and i overheard something that was… interesting. someone was telling another person that the best sourdough in the city is at a tiny bakery tucked away on Grant Avenue. apparently, it’s a secret, and you have to know the right people. or just get ridiculously lucky. someone told me that the line goes around the block every morning.
i spent an afternoon just people-watching in Fisherman's Wharf. it's tourist central, obviously, but there's a certain charm to the chaos. i saw a guy dressed as a mermaid trying to sell seashells and a street performer attempting to play the banjo while juggling. it was… something. definitely worth a quick stroll, even if you’re rolling your eyes the whole time. i heard that the seafood is overpriced, though. a local warned me about it. check out Yelp for some more balanced reviews.
i tried to find a quiet spot to sketch and ended up in Chinatown. it's so alive there - the smells, the sounds, the colors. i sketched a few of the ornate buildings. it was overwhelming in the best possible way.
Pro-tip: if you’re visiting for a few days, consider booking a tour of Alcatraz Island. it’s a bit cliché, but it’s also genuinely fascinating. and Lombard Street? yeah, it’s a tourist trap, but you have to see it to believe it.
i keep bumping into folks who tell me about hidden gems- places that aren’t in the guidebooks. apparently, there’s this amazing little speakeasy in Mission District- you have to know the password to get in.
TripAdvisor has a bunch of suggestions too if you’re looking. And for art, check out the galleries in the SOMA district.
Yelp is great for finding places to eat!
I’m not sure what those numbers mean, but i’m pretty sure San Francisco* is still giving me things to think about. it’s a city that’s full of contradictions - gritty and glamorous, calm and chaotic.
Anyway, gotta go. I need caffeine. lots of caffeine.
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