US: San Francisco – The City of the Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco has a high population density. There are approximately 8,000 residents per one square kilometer. Overall, the city has about eight hundred thousand people, but if you also count the suburbs and metro area this number would reach four million.

At first glance, you will notice that San Francisco differ from other US cities differ with its height profile. It is a city of many hills and if you decide to explore it on foot, you will have some pretty tough time going up and down. When traveling by car, you would sometimes secretly hope that it would handle that steep hill in front of you.

Almost every square meters is filled. San Francisco is the most expensive city regarding rents in the entire United States. It is not unusual to pay even in some mediocre neighborhood several thousands dollar a month for a small apartment.

Steep hills and high rents are not the only things that make San Francisco so special among other American cities. The major San Franciscan feature is its culture. I'm sure many of you recall a song by Scott McKenzie If You Are Going to San Francisco or new movies as Milk , Star Trek , Terminator Salvation , Zodiac or from older Escape from Alcatraz . In all of them San Francisco appeared has some role.

Today, San Francisco is primarily a hub of new innovative ideas. It is here where many new start-ups are founded. Start-up is a type of company, which is basically trying to break through various innovations. No wonder, therefore, if you find a private bus service that offers better service than conventional public transport. Regular municipal public transportation is pretty unusual for a Czech used to a great public transportation system in home. There were couple of stressful moments for me. On the other hand SF’s public transportation is cheap, very cheap compared to as much as two times more expensive private bus system.

Another example might be a company that wants to make access to sustainable and inclusive for lower-income households. For sale solar panels on homes they own family rental and for very small amounts repaid while saving on energy. Openness to innovation attracted many people to San Francisco, especially young people. They come not only form the United States but from around the world. Many of them hope that they get the idea, which would make them world famous. Establish a new company and are looking for investors who would support their project. The city is slowly transformed to second Silicon Valley .

Streets of San Francisco live a turbulent life every day. People are constantly in rush, going somewhere or see someone and it seems not to have an end. Thanks to its liberal atmosphere is not unusual when you meet here gay couples who are not afraid to show his emotions to the public.

To be continued...

Text: Maxim Kucer

Photo: Wikipedia.org: Wesman83, Magnus Manske, Andrei G Kustov, marcella_antonio pereira_guzman, Brocken Inaglory