San Francisco is a cool and sweet city

Two different time zones and the long flight from London to San Francisco on the West Coast of the United States took its toll but the discomfort was short-lived when my cab driver entered this beautiful Californian city on the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific shoreline.

With a population of 900,000, San Francisco lies in between more than 50 hills within the city limits.

This metropolis with pedestrian-friendly streets and warm and welcoming smiles from locals drawn from different nations gives an unfettered opportunity to experience this 49 square mile city.

One of the most inviting parts of San Francisco is the Fisherman’s Wharf, home of the famous Pier 39, known for its street performers, fresh seafood and shops that sell souvenirs including Pacific pearls.

A place worth visiting is the Boudin Museum and Bakery where you can see loaves of the city’s famous sourdough French bread being baked.

Relax and take-in the fresh sea air and watch fishermen arriving and departing on their daily fishing journeys. Pier 39 is sea lion colony popular with tourists.

Enjoy the memorable experience of crossing the famed three-mile long Golden Gate Bridge which marks the entrance to the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean.

Suspension bridge

Once ranked as the world’s longest suspension bridge with its 4,200 feet span, today, the Golden Gate Bridge has been relegated to the ninth position.

Also of interest is the Golden Gate Park. It is ideal for a picnic, fishing and golf.

Just a five minute walk from my hotel in Bush Street is China Town, the oldest and one of the largest in the United States. It is a city within a city.

Entering through the Dragon’s Gate, I came across 24 blocks dotted with Chinese restaurants that offer decadent dim sum, and shops loaded with exotic novelties from China.

Apart from Chinese cuisine, dining in San Francisco is an attraction itself with a wide variety of cuisines ranging from Italian, Japanese, French, Spanish, Moroccan, Indian, Greek, Malaysian, South African, Senegalese, Ethiopian to Mexican delights.

What makes San Francisco the cool, sweet city is its ice cream. It is ranked among the best in the US.

There are scores of ice cream bars offering an exciting menu of sundaes and ice creams with unique flavours made in front of you.

Union Square is the heart of the city and it is known for its landmark park and shopping. It is called the Crown Jewel of Shopping in California.

The Square’s distinctive history and unique flavour of San Francisco is captured through new granite plazas, terraced stage, light sculptures and four corner plazas adorned by grand entrances surrounded by signature palms.

The steep streets and brightly painted houses in Castro Street add colour to the city and give this part the nick-name of the “gay capital of the world.”

While in San Francisco, enjoy a ride on the 141-year old cable cars that take tourists and locals throughout the city. Their familiar bells keep the pedestrians and traffic away from the lines.

For an inescapable experience, head off to the Alcatraz Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. It is known for its history and beauty.

The world-famous Federal Penitentiary at Alcatraz is the well-known home to some of America’s most notorious criminals. Escape attempts from Alcatraz Prison were futile.

Though the prison closed in 60s, its history is legendary.

Not to be missed is the captivating Cellhouse Audio Tour featuring the voices of inmates and correctional officers of yesteryear.

Also worth a visit is the Asian Art Museum — one of the largest in the world — devoted exclusively to Asian art and boasting of collection of over 15,000 works spanning 60 centuries.

It is a window to the rich, diverse and intellectual achievements of Asian art and culture.

The 116-year-old Ferry Building Market Place at the foot of Market Street is described as San Francisco’s most famous landmark.

It is a galleria of gourmet offerings with an tempting array of cuisines representing the cultural diversity of the city.

Local farmers, highly experienced artisans and owners of food businesses meet every Saturday to offer their best culinary delights to food connoisseurs.

Some 50,000 people visit this market daily.

Gourmet offerings

San Francisco provides an interesting insight into Hispanic life in the Mission District.

There is a colourful selection of Mexican bakeries, taquerias, fresh produce markets and shops selling the products from Mexico and those made locally by Hispanics.

Colourful murals depicting pleasures and pitfalls of their creators are seen throughout the Mission District.

The Museum of the African Diaspora at the St Regis Hotel offers an interesting stop-over for those interested in tracing the history of Africans in America.

It boasts a wide array of films, photographic and cultural exhibits marking the contributions and successes of African-Americans.

One of the best points to view San Francisco city is from the highest point at Twin Peaks from where there are sweeping views of Bay Area skylines reaching out from the Pacific Ocean.

Japantown is a five-acre complex of shops, restaurants, sushi bars and a five-tiered Pagoda frequented by the city’s over 12,000-strong Japanese diaspora.

One of the nicest things about San Francisco is that there is something for everyone to enjoy.