Start: West Portal, San Francisco
Finish: North Beach, San Francisco
Ah, what a beautiful day in the Paris of the West. The sun is out and the people are smiling. 11 o'clock and I got an itch for a piece of pie-pepperoni pie that is. There is only one place in San Francisco where they claim the best slice and that's where I am headed.
The journey to North Beach is not an easy one. It includes a few busses, a few Muni rides and a guaranteed story to tell. From West Portal you walk over to the Muni station across the street from the burned down Squat & Gobble and hop on one of those inbound downtown trains. Close your eyes and visualize each stop
West Portal -> Forrest Hill -> Castro -> Church -> Van Ness -> Civic Center ->
"Powell Station" says the driver. The doors open and they're off. People rushing left and right of you to get off and get where they gettin' to. Head up the stairs to exit and 2 out of 3 times there will be a bright highlighter yellow jacket waiting to make sure you paid your fare. Forget to pick up a fare transfer and there goes a hundred bucks down the drain. Forget about the Muni officer and listen to the music. The soft sounds of a violin, the upbeat strums of a guitar, or even the howls of a singer, the Powell station has so many street performers you would think you were at a music festival. Throw a couple coins in the hat and move along up some more stairs to find yourself in the middle of downtown San Francisco, skyscrapers and all.
Dip and dodge away from a few more money hagglers and take a left up Powell. Pay a pretty penny and catch yourself a trolly ride up the hill, but be prepared to wait a half hour in line. The sensible call is to walk the street and window-shop your way to Union Square. Union Square is a beautiful sight, but we have pizza business to handle so cut your way through the square. Start walking north until you hit the largest tunnel in San Francisco. With a bright light at the end of the tunnel you'll think you've died and reached heaven. But at the other side is not heaven but Chinatown...which for foodies might as well be heaven...(to be continued in Part II)
West Portal -> Forrest Hill -> Castro -> Church -> Van Ness -> Civic Center ->
"Powell Station" says the driver. The doors open and they're off. People rushing left and right of you to get off and get where they gettin' to. Head up the stairs to exit and 2 out of 3 times there will be a bright highlighter yellow jacket waiting to make sure you paid your fare. Forget to pick up a fare transfer and there goes a hundred bucks down the drain. Forget about the Muni officer and listen to the music. The soft sounds of a violin, the upbeat strums of a guitar, or even the howls of a singer, the Powell station has so many street performers you would think you were at a music festival. Throw a couple coins in the hat and move along up some more stairs to find yourself in the middle of downtown San Francisco, skyscrapers and all.
Dip and dodge away from a few more money hagglers and take a left up Powell. Pay a pretty penny and catch yourself a trolly ride up the hill, but be prepared to wait a half hour in line. The sensible call is to walk the street and window-shop your way to Union Square. Union Square is a beautiful sight, but we have pizza business to handle so cut your way through the square. Start walking north until you hit the largest tunnel in San Francisco. With a bright light at the end of the tunnel you'll think you've died and reached heaven. But at the other side is not heaven but Chinatown...which for foodies might as well be heaven...(to be continued in Part II)
North Beach is a trek but it's always worth it. Sounds like you had an awesome day. Love the specific directions, too.
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