Shoes and Chinatown

Okay, a little sadly materialistic of me, but shopping is WAY better in San Francisco than Bangor.  I know this is no big surprise to anyone, but after prolonged wandering through the Union Square Macy's where the shoe department is larger than the whole Bangor Macy's store and then going to DSW and finding an entire floor dedicated to shoes I love, the reality of better and more choices was truly apparent.  I know you can buy anything on-line now, but sometimes you don't even know what you want until you can see, touch, and try the options.  So after buying two pairs of shoes and wanting about five more, I tore myself away from spending my children's college funds on footwear to meet up with our Bangor besties who left us and moved to the Bay Area.

We ate a lot of Chinese food then walked through the streets mobbed with tourists, shoppers, hustlers, etc.  Chinatown stores contain the same stuff decade after decade.  Yes, the images, cartoon figures, and words may vary, but the basic merchandise, exactly the same.  We bought the usual -- poppers (tiny firecrackers that snap when thrown to the ground) and rice candy (thanks to our friend Mike who introduced us to these chewy sweets with edible wrappers) and the unusual -- ring for Anna and iTouch case for Declan.  

The architecture still is cheery and fun, no matter how many times you visit.

The murals (new to me) also charmed us.

But nothing beats just time walking and talking with old friends!

or new, like these monkeys

No visit to San Francisco is complete without a walk through Chinatown, where bakeries beckon you to try a custard tart or pork bun; take-out places pause you to stare at hanging, roasted ducks and platters of pigs' hooves, kidneys, and chicken feet; and stores lure you in to buy mini-Buddha statues and plastic swords.  Start at the famous gates at Bush and Grant and window-shop your way along Grant Street until your feet or your pocket gives out.  Be sure to look up and to block sidewalk traffic -- everyone does!