A View of San Francisco
	A VIEW OF SAN FRANCISCO Submit a Tale here | More Tales Jerome Pugmire is a freelance writer based in the UK and has written for several publications including the Daily Telegraph. He can be reached by e-mail here. Walking through the streets of San Francisco offers you the best insight into the diverse character of the city. At once charming and subtle, the city can also be a horror show of grotesque, strange visions. The elegant, easy beauty of places such as China town and North Beach is dotted with imperfection. Everywhere you go, a freakish looking character will spring up out of the woodwork. If it's not a trolley pushing pan handler then it's a designer Vietnam war veteran begging for sympathy. I was not in the Vietnam war but I doubt any of these street hustlers were either, seeing as none of them looked a day over 35. No-one bats an eyelid at this array of freaks, for in this city it is almost fashionable to look as far removed from civilisation as possible. This, naturally, is capitalised upon in a fashion sense. Take a trip to Haight/Ashbury or Berkeley Campus and you will see a whole host of young people trying their best to look as zany and far-fetched as possible. They do not quite bring it off, for any effect is lost in the imitation. Tourist books and guides are often full of cliches when it comes to a big city. But, from time to time cliches are worth sticking too. If anyone tells you to look over the 'Frisco bay from Coight Tower then listen to them. It is truly a fantastic view, especially with the benefit of sunshine. You can see all the major attractions: the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. As well as this, cast your eyes accross the Great Bay and wonder where the Great Whites are lurking. It is one of those places that has the gift of making you naturally lazy and not wanting to move anywhere in a great hurry. If you wish to further explore the intricacies of the city then taking a bus and just staying on it is a good idea. You will notice the city has a European touch in some of the housing as well as imposing elegance, as typified by the tall buildings that line Haight-Ashbury. A ride on the bus is relaxing. There is no attitude on the buses, not like you may get in somewhere like London or New York. People have a breezy, nonchalant tolerance of others which is a pleasure to see. The downside is that San Francisco is also touched by an unhealthy snobbery at times. It seems they will tolerate you as long as you don't try to have a conversation with them, as long as they can observe you from a distance, like freaks in a circus. By Jerome Pugmire.