do hippies still live in san fransisco? im only 19 and obviously never experienced the 60s, i just want to know if there are still good people living in SF and whether it is worth going there?
If your going to San Farcisco, be sure not to wear flowers in your hair. Just make sure you have a fat wallet $$$$$. Where ever you go your sure to meet 'good people'. There are still hippies in SF. Their all old, balding, or grey headed, and wear wire rimmed glasses. The Haight has changed. It's not the same place as it was in the 60's/70's. It has turned Boughswa'(sp). Capalizium has taken the place of free love and sharing. There's nothing free in the Haight anymore. It's still one of the most beautiful cities in the USA and there is much to see and do. But it's not like it was. It will never be that way again. The Straight Thearter no longer holds free conserts, There is no free food in the Panhandle Park anymore. The famose Hippy Hill is but a green place to to walk and look at the gardens. No more fish and chips for a dollar and no peiroskies at the hungarians. The Drough Store Cafe is now a Ben n Jerrys. The color wheel of magick has left and the spirit of the free love culture as all but vanished, moving on to green pastures and country living. Even the communes charge an entry fee in some places. Everything changes as time goes by. The cycles of life contenue as the wheel turns. Somethimes were on the top of the wheel, sometimes were on the bottom. But as sure as we breath, the cycle will change again and again before we are through. Things never stay the same. They either get better or worse. It's the choices we make along the road that shape us into what we are today. If you had never been to The City before, when it was all happening then you will probably enjoy it more then if you had been there when it was at it's height of love and brotherhood and visited there today and expect to find the same. When I returned to The Haight in 77,( I was gone for a year) I was very sad to see the state of the Haight. My beloved neighborhood had fallen under an evil spell. One of fear and distruction. My commune was taken over by infiltrators and highjackers carring sub machine guns and deadly drugs. My heart was broken for that, that once was. Traveling broadens the horizons and is a great learning tool. Adventure is fun and stimulating to the blood. Travel and learn, learn and grow. Love is all around you. Blessed Be.
Thank You Mart, No I don't have a beard :-D, but I am developing a nice mustache as I'm going into cronehood .
Sister, One bite of those fish n chips and I would imagine the salt air of Cardif by the Sea. I still have dreams about those fish n chips. That's when I wake up drooling on my pillow. Remember how after mid-nite you could go to the end of Haight and pick up all the left-over BBQ ribs for a buck a basket? Ymm
It's 6 am and I want fish n chips with salt and vinegar!! I want to sit in the Park and listen to Janis sing Bobby Magee. I don't want to live it again tho, it was hard and dangerouse at times, and I was young and nieve. I feel better than I did then. I understand more and see more then just what in my face.
SF is still awesome, and there are plently of hippies there. I enjoy it more with each visit! Peace&love -Jay
Far-out, man! You know what? I think you stole my pic. EDIT: As a matter of fact, I know you did. LOL
Nathan, SF is definitely worth a look/see. We went for the first time in '96, stayed in the Haight and it was great-it did kind of remind me of places like Rome or Athens though in terms of a "past glories" type of feel. Something did happen there which rocked the world...Bring lots of money. The countryside around the city is also worth investigation and a drive south to Santa Cruz along HWY 1-or better yet all the way to Monterray Bay-is one of the most scenic routes in the USA. We took HWY 1 all the way from SF to LA one time and the reverse another time and it is one astonishing drive (though not recommended for flatlanders driving mountain roads for the first time). Then there is the Muir Woods north of town. Wine country NE of SF draws people by the thousands and I will no longer attempt it on weekends. Tundrahopper4
I want to go there SO freakin' bad! My friend went there and said it was hippie punk now or something. But all the people were friendly which I love to hear....
HFG, It's a great town for just walking around in and the place fairly breaths history. We caught a bus from the Haight downtown and walked from the City Lights Bookstore (Kerouac and the beats and all and I bought my friend Doc's wife a copy of "On the Road") through Little Italy, Chinatown, to Pier 39 and North Beach and we ate on Pier 39 to the yelping of the seals. Our friends Doc and his wife were in their full glory and I guess Katie and I were too-heady stuff. From Pier 39 we caught a cab back to the Haight and did some barhopping. We even stopped in a leather bar and were joking with these hard core gay and lesbian types-nice folks when you get past the surface irregularities. There is the urban dangers element there but like anything you just got to keep your wits about you. I kept getting panhandled and was in a mood so the panhandlers did pretty good. Then we were meeting some folks who definitely had "walked the path" as it were-more so in those out of the way "Ma Pa" joints the locals frequent. Some pretty sad cases here and some pretty cool folks there-the usual California "best and worst" mix, I suppose. All in all that was the funnest day we have had since the day. If you come to San Francisco these days... be sure to bring lots of money. Now we were staying at a B & B right on the Haight? Well there was this Oriental family without a word of English-kids and all- there having the time of their lives? They must have heard the stories. Then there were the usual Europeans in the Haight just there to breathe the rarified air. Tundra "better late than never"Hopper4
