Haight-Ashbury

Some of our generation may remember the events of 1968 - the student riots across Europe and the flower-power, peace-not-war, movement sprouting - excuse the pun - in San Francisco. The latter was centred around Haight-Ashbury and I persuaded Emily and Greg to head there today so that I could buy a psychedelic T-shirt, some beads and John Lennon type glasses. That was the theory, but practice turned out a little different.

We had no trouble funding the district and ambling along Haight, the main drag - excuse another pun. After a very nice lunch in a Puerto-Rican cafe - another first for me, we looked out for the above-mentioned items of attire. It soon became clear that Haight is somewhat the worse for wear. Well, I suppose that 43 years is a long time and hippiedom is in retreat. Some buildings were gloriously decorated and maintained as the pictures show, but the merchandise was either touristy and living on past glories, or recycled. Some of the latter was stylish, but not in my exalted league. Nor was I particularly interested, Dot will be glad to hear, in a tattoo or bongs! I ended up with yet another T-shirt, but a stylish one in modernist style and something of a work of art.

I'll certainly go back one day soon because we didn't manage to cover the whole district. Maybe I'll have Dot in tow next time to relive the late 1960s. Now have a look at the street-scape.

AS