Wandering around Town

I have been thinking a lot about the joys of wandering around town in the last few weeks. Partly, it's been because I've gotten back in the habit of exploring since I've had some time off from work. In years past I really enjoyed exploring new places that I've moved to- First New York and later San Francisco.

But what I'm learning is that you don't have to be someplace new to take in the joys of exploration.

David Byrne has written a sort of wandering sociological book of cities based on thoughts that occur to him as he as he travels around the world, often with a bicycle.

I'm really enjoying it.

And I've been charmed by Tom Graham's tales of walking every street in SF. He does a great job capturing the joys of discovering little sights and sounds as you walk at pedestrian level. He says:

"There's so much to see and learn. About the city and yourself.

I discovered where San Francisco was founded (at the corner of Camp and Albion) by Father Francisco Palou on June 27, 1776 -- a couple of blocks from Mission Dolores. A bronze plaque marks the spot in the middle of the sidewalk. It's the place where the Spanish missionary pitched camp and later said mass near Dolores Lagoon -- five days before the signing of the Declaration of Independence."

It's a little disappointing that San Francisco is so small. You feel like you could someday possibly exhaust the delights of stumbling on to something new. I hope not.