San Francisco – Amazing people

I’m posting a photo (or set of photos) each day, telling you about the location and where you can expect to find it in Book 5! And even though my new book is waiting for its title, you can actually pre-order it here (Waterstones) and here (The Book Depository) – I know, how crazy is that?

Today, I’d like to introduce you to some of the amazing people we met on our trip…

This is Tony. He could be Kenny G’s cousin (but I don’t think he is). Tony was playing saxophone in the lovely Ghirardelli Square (more on this place soon). As with every other busker in the city, he had a great PA sound system! You might remember him from the most recent episode of my vlog (he was playing out at the end). Being a musician myself I was so impressed with the talent of the many street musicians we met – and also by the real regard local people have for music.

This is the very grumpy lady who sells hand-knitted hats by the Powell turntable at Fisherman’s Wharf. I don’t know her name, but I was fascinated by the way she could serve people and carry on knitting at the same time…

This guy is a comedy legend. He was playing to entertain the long line of people waiting for the cable cars at the Friedel Klussmann Memorial Turnaround at Fisherman’s Wharf. He had a great line in wry humour, thanking the people in the queue for ‘seeking out my exclusive gig’ and suggesting that the more one dollar bills people donated into his bucket, the faster he could make the cable cars arrive. His humour is the inspiration for Marty – a philosophising taxi driver and one of the regulars at Annie’s diner in Haight Ashbury (where Nell will volunteer to work during her San Francisco stay). Classic line: ‘My father always used to say something to me, and that thing I will share with you now: “Son,” he used to say, “wherever you go, there you are.” I like to live by that motto.’

This is Frank and his dog, Jaq (the ‘Q’ is very important, apparently). I met them at The Warming Hut at West Bluff, in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge, as Bob and I were enjoying a takeaway coffee in the sun, gazing out over the San Francisco Bay. To be precise, I met Jaq first when he trotted across the sea wall to say hello. As with everyone we met in San Francisco, they were very friendly and Frank told me how lucky we were to have a clear day. Dogs were everywhere in San Francisco, but especially here and Crissy Field park in the distance, where local people come to hang out, work out, enjoy BBQs and walk their dogs.

More coming tomorrow. Leave me a comment below! xx