Anyway, after my shopping and "awakening" to SF on Thursday, yesterday
(Friday,) saw me take a trip down to the touristy spots. So rather that a
"where-to-buy-records" type post, this one is going to read more like a
"touristy-thing-to do" post.... And here we go....
O.K., after getting into the city I easily found my way down to Fisherman's
Wharf easy enough by getting on a number 19 bus... I found out that I had
to catch this one by simply asking someone. The bus went sorta around
China-town and soon enough I wqas cruising along the water-front. First I
checked out Pier 39; got some snaps of Alcatraz, sea-lions, Coit Tower,
Golden Gate, etc. Fans of "Pulp Fiction" need to peep one of the stores
down there. It's kinda up the end and it's right next to the "Victorian
Round-a-bout". They've got heaps of PF merchandise as well as lots of
other cool Ts.
Anyway I soon finished with Pier 39 and moved on to Fisherman's Wharf which
was buzzing with tourists. Once again I didn't find too much to really
look at here. Highlights here were buying a *big* chocolate-chip cookie
thing for a mere dollar, watching a street-mime doing a robotics type thing
(not dancing it though, like in the early 80's,) and the (illigal) gambling
going on on the side-walk. It was the old "little ball under one of the
three bottle-caps" game. Anyway I went pass this guy twice and the first
time I was lurking in the background watching and guessing which one it was
under *all the time*!!! I walked away happy at my skills, I soon returned
and decided to have a go. The guy was still going, doing all that hustler
talk etc. "$40 gets you $80! Dollar for dollar! Where's the ball at? Is
on the left? On the right? In the middle? Here? There? Who sees the
ball? Who sees the ball? WHO SEES THE BALLLLLLL?....... YOU SIR!" The
guy gets it wrong but I saw it! "Hey!" I shout, "I see it! But I've only
got $39.60.." He replies, "I'll take $30." "cool!" I retort, "the ball is
right *there*! Right there!" I had a 1 in 2 chance and he lifts the cap
replying "Wrong my friend!" He lifts the other cap and there's that
freakin' red ball..... "Ohhhhhh shiiiittttt....." Everyone laughs and my
money's snatched away, I'm left thinking "That leaves me with $9 for the
weekend....Hey! I may as well have bought 3 new records with that money!"
Here I decide to go home. (One observation about the waterfront... Hardly
any homeless down there. I guess the police try and keep it "nice and
clean" for the tourists?) As I'm leaving the guy with the caps does too as
he suddenly says "I'm out!" knocks the caps all over the place and splits
(I assume the fuzz was on the way...) Anyway, I now had to find a bus back
into the city, which was a bit of a problem and after about two blocks a
guy came up to me and said "What's the problem buddy?" (it was actually one
of the guys who was lounging with the "hustler",) and he soon put me on the
right track for the bus. Anyway I got lost agin, but hooked up with a
German tourist and together we tracked down a bus and went out to a cafe in
the city. BTW did a bomb go off anywhere in the city last Wednesday?
Whilst we were at this cafe there was a *huge* explosion and I have no
explanation for what it could have been... As it happens I cruised back
into where I'm at, at about 11:30PM. Once again got thoroughly lost, until
a cop went by who gave me directions (he was probably investigating the
strange person wandering aimlessly around the suburbs...) Anyhow rocked up
to the house at about 2AM and everyone breathed a sigh of relief to see I
was actually still alive.
One bummer was that I didn't make it to China-town, but that was probably a
lucky thing as 7 people were shot there on that particular day, when some
madman/madmen ran down the street, guns blazing (seriously!)
Anyhow, today (Saturday,) I made it over to Oakland/Berkely. Damn, there
were some jumpin stores over there. Actually I only had three to visit,
but I needn't have gone beyond the first one. The first store I checked
out was "Amoeba Music" @ 2455 Telegraph Avenue. That had alot of vinyl and
I can tell you that if you're after hip-hop, this is the place for you!!!
Actually they had heaps of vinyl of all sorts and all in the Bay area need
to peep this store if you like your stuff on wax, otherwise you are
sleeping in a major way. I actually had a hook-up here and he set me up
with two mix tapes and a big pile of stuff to distribute once I hit Europe.
(He also wants me to promote his group there, so look out for "Various
Blends"!) Anyway, I didn't buy anything, although there was heaps I
wanted, as I'm trying to conserve a little bit for the time being (pace
myself, y'know?) Next I hit "Rasputin's" (down the road a bit in the
"2300s".) Once again, a good selection of vinul, but not as good as
"Amoeba" methinks (at least, it wasn't for hip-hop...) The other place I
was gonna check was "Mod Lang Records" (?) but we ran out of time. That
was further down the road in the 2100s I think. Anyhow in the evening we
cruised down to San Jose for dinner and met alot of people. That's one
thing I have to mention about SF. Almost everyone I've met has been so
damn friendly! :-)
Considering I've got a flight tomorrow, I"m signing off here to get some
sleep. Next stop N.Y.C.
Dino!