A Day in San Fransisco

As an avid traveler, my job allows me to travel, either to attend a conference, seminar or present papers in these events. I also ensure that I plan trips with my family as often as I can. Recently I had the opportunity to attend a course at Stanford University. Post the course I stayed back a couple of days at San Francisco, to be a tourist. Being a historian primarily, I donned the hat of both a tourist and a historian and visited some places. I booked myself on to one of the Hop-on and Hop-off buses, since I had paucity of time and did not want to spend time identifying tourist spots and other destinations.

In 1.5 days, I was able to see some interesting places.  

Chinatown

It is one of the oldest town (China town) in North America apart from being the largest Chinese commune outside Asia. It was established in 1848. It has become the home for several immigrants who find it as a “home away from home”. It is dotted with all types of shops which sell, Chinese vegetables and groceries, trinkets, souvenirs for tourists like me, hand embroidered silk Chinese coats, skirts, bags of all shapes and sizes to name a few. Historically it draws more visitors annually that the Golden Bridge Gate.

Sausalito

My friend took me on a ferry from the Bay to reach this tiny ship building centre during the World Wat 11 -Sausalito.   It is dotted with charming residential communities and unique shops (especially for tourists) and cafes. I could not visit the Bay Model and Bay Area Discovery Museum due to paucity of time.

Fisherman’s Wharf

The wharf relates the history and provides an understanding of the fishing community.

Historic signs, placed along the water’s edge of Fisherman’s Wharf by the Port of San Francisco, tell the Wharf’s history, give insight into today’s fishing community, and explain the need to protect the bay.

It was once a home to a fleet of more than 400 fishing boats. It is also known for filming the famous James Bond movie-A View to Kill (1985), where James Bond meets CIA Agent Chuck Lee to kill Max Zorin the villain.

The wharf is also dotted with little shops and boutiques. I fascinated to see shops entirely dedicated to socks, magnets, caps and sweets and candies to name a few. This apart I saw hordes of sea lions sunbathing on the wharf. They were all lying, not worried a bit, about the onlookers like me. 

Union Square

The Union Square got its name from the pro-Union rallies which was held on the eve of the Civil War. The monument is a tribute to the sailors of the United States Navy. Today it is an ideal tourist shopping attraction. It houses all the brands and shops where one can spend several hours either window shopping or buying some clothes and other accessories.  Historically the Union Square was a huge sand dune but in 1850 it was made into a public park.

Golden Gate Bridge

The massive and huge Golden Gate Bridge was built to connect San Francisco to its northern neighbours. It stretches to 1.7 miles long and is 90 feet wide. Its 4,200-foot main span between the two towers was the longest for a suspension bridge until 1981, while its 746-foot towers made it the tallest bridge of any type until 1993. It took over 5 years for the construction and was formally opened to the public in 1937. It proudly claims itself as an engineering marvel and is believed to be the most photographed bridge in the world.

Pier 35

It serves as a major cruise ship terminal and is in the Embarcadero area. It is known for the market place during the weekends. I visited the market on a Saturday and was amazed to see the fresh vegetables, fruits, sea food. There is a statue of Mahatma Gandhi which was given to the city in 1988 by the Gandhi Memorial International Foundation.  

One of my favourite sight was a doggy park, where owners walked their dogs, the dogs played and the owners chatted and admired their dogs.

Stanford University

It was founded in 1885 by Senator Leland Stanford and his wife Jane to primarily “promote the public welfare by exercising an influence in behalf of humanity and civilization”. It is nicknamed “The Farm” when horses roamed there. It is also nicknamed as “billionaire factory” it boasts of being home to Google, Hewlett Packard and other large economies. In fact, I was able to see a model of the original Google server model-made of lego. Today the University is proud to the birthplace for 19 Noble laureates and is ranked as the top three universities in the world consistently.

I used to go for long walks and discovered the Cantor Sculptor Center where I managed to see some of the great work/sculptors made by Rodin. I also encountered hares hopping across the roads. Students bicycled and were scattered all around the university. Interestingly Tiger Woods an Alumni used to practice golf in the golf course.

An Ode to Pixie

Pixie came into our life way back in 1996 as a birthday gift to my son Rohit. I used to work in an animal welfare organisation in Vadodara, when we got s call from a client saying that they wanted to give away puppies. So off I went with my colleague (who worked as an Inspector) to check on the puppies and the owners. When we entered the house 3 powerful and active Pomeranians ran to us. Apparently one was Pixie’s father, one Pixie’s mother and the other her aunt. We were taken into a room where 3 puppies were kept in a carton with a small fan to keep them cool. Vadodara is quite warm throughout the year. I just sat down on the floor when I saw the 3 adorable puppies.  I beckoned to them and one (which I picked up) jumped out of the carton and ran towards me. She was a female (while the other 2 were males), I swooped her and decided to take her home.

When I brought her home my parents were with me, my mother was an ardent animal (doggy lover-we always had a dog at home- Sheela, Danny, Priya, Toffee) while my father was a silent animal lover. When my son came home from school, he jumped with joy when he saw this small fluff of wool wagging her tail ran towards him. My husband Ravi was not too gung-ho and he did have his reasons. He stated 1) I work in an animal welfare organsisation the whole day-will I do justice in taking care of this little pixie? 2) If we need to travel who will take care of Pixie? I did agree with him, but did not want to give Pixie back and stated that we will handle these situations when required.  That is when friends like Neeta, my sister Uma and her family, Veena, Parul (though she is not very fond of animals), my neighbor Shilpa came to our rescue.

My mother was Pixie’s 1^st foster mother, she bathed, gave her Vydalin drops, brushed her and ensured that she was fed well. When my mother died in August 1996 I had to rush to Bengaluru. I left Pixie with Veena and family, I remember her ears were still floppy (not standing up) when I returned to Vadaodara, I found this excited pup with one ear managing to stand erect.

There are several instances which we will never forget thanks to Pixie. Her patience, love, kindness and the most obedient person.

She even turned Ravi around to love and adore her, so much so, when he went on his official tours, he would call to enquire if Pixie is fine, did she eat, dis she go for her walk etc. etc? Pixie also ensured that   she made people Pixie lover, if not dog lovers.

Every evening her routine was to wait for us to come back from work, Rohit from his school while she used to be the companion for my father who lived with us. She was a possessive and self-appointed care taker of my young niece Arundathi (who was then 3 years old).

One incident I will never forget is when we moved from Vadodara to Bengaluru, she flew with us. The airlines (Jet Airways I think) did not allow her to be checked in with us. So I had got a special cane basket made for her, slightly sedated her (so that she is not scared of being alone) and checked her in. We had to change flights in Mumbai so I sought special permission to go and check on her. When I opened the basket to feed her some water, she looked away and as probably angry with me. I tried to take her for a walk, trying to find a small piece of grass on the tarmac so that she could relieve herself. She refused to be walked. It was time for us to get on the flight from Mumbai to Bengaluru (perhaps a painful 1 hr. 20 minutes’ flight for both Pixie and I). Once we landed in Benagluru I rushed to bring her, placed her on the luggage trolley. She proudly sat there with full of glee (and perhaps forgave me instantly-since that was her nature).

She dies after living with us for over 14 years. Personally she taught me patience, thankfulness, kindness to name a few. I miss her a lot but have my brownies, whiteys and several other strays I meet every day.

Thank you Pixie for coming into our life. I will always miss you.