I'd link to my original post titled "Everywhere We Go, I Want to Live There", but it turns out that I posted that during my Flickr stage and the photos are not viewable until I have the chance to update them.
In any case, here is a list(icle) of seven things I found out about Houston by visiting San Francisco:
1) Houston is not really the prettiest.
Actually, I learn this every time I go anywhere. But it seems to be really driven home in San Francisco, where so many buildings ooze history and the hills make even the littered streets look like a roller coaster ride.
In Houston, people who are boarding an elevator wait for the people inside to exit. It’s a clear and congenial process. In San Francisco, I found myself wondering if I’d be able to exit the elevator at all.
3) Except when we’re not.
In Houston, crosswalks may as well not exist. Sure, it’s nice to have that bright white paint ensuring us that we’re not breaking any laws. But far be it from anyone in a car to actually yield to to the poor, hapless soul who happens to be trying to cross the street. In San Francisco, on the other hand, cars slow down and may even stop.
4) Everything is bigger in Texas. Except seagulls.
Texas has small seagulls. Apparently.
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| Of COURSE I would be more than happy to act as a giant umbrella for TWO people. Just hand over the french fries first. |
I know, everybody already knows that. But I thought that being non-bike friendly meant that bikers took their lives into their own hands when they got on a bike, and that there was really no where to go anyway.
I had no idea it meant we lacked separate lanes for bikes and their own little traffic lights.
As far as I can tell from the always-correct internet, the actual number of homeless in each city is not so very different. Yet somehow homeless people seem to be everywhere in San Francisco. In Houston you could conceivably go about your merry way thinking that every resident has a home.
I can only speculate that in Houston they are more spread out and seeking air conditioning, while in San Francisco a nap on the sidewalk is a much more reasonable proposition.
On the flip side, San Francisco has way more dancing in the streets.
Let's finish this out with a good word for Houston, because why not I ask you?!?
7) Houston is THE best place in the entire world to rollerblade.
I always consider bringing my roller blades with me whenever I travel. But seeing how miserable I would be on rollerblades in places with hills reminds me that Houston's not so bad after all, especially for rollerbladers. Because it is flat as a pancake. A crepe even! It's like water that way - seeks it's own level and its level is flat, flat, FLAT!
So that's it folks! Slap on the rollerblades and come out for a visit! Unless, for some absurd reason, you're too busy vacationing in San Francisco, Kemah, Jerusalem, New York City or New Orleans, Houston is DEFINITELY the place!
6 comments:
HAha sucha fun post :) Each place has something new and different and better about it!
Elle
Southern Elle Style
Having been in both cities, I enjoyed reading your post. Houston is definitely not set up for walking or biking and for the most part to public transportation. You really do need a car there. But I miss the diversity in Houston. And the food.
I love visiting San Fran! Looks like you had a good time!
I haven't been to either city but I love this post. What a great way to compare two cities. Hopefully I'll check them both out someday!
I love this. I also want to live in the places we visit, at least for a few months. Everything seems so exciting and new when you visit. But I've driven through Houston in mid afternoon in broad daylight and didn't breathe until I reached Katy.
We suffer from the hills syndrome here too. We put bikes in the car and take them somewhere flat if we fancy a ride! Mind you, I'd love to live somewhere with all that dancing in the streets. Think I might feel very 'at home'.
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