North Beach, San Francisco: Love it, or Beat it

America's most "European" city (shoulder-to-shoulder with New Orleans) has plenty of Victorian charm, misty greens and wild blues to put you in the mood. And, ah, that monumental intoxicating red that is the Golden Gate Bridge.
The hippy culture has left its time-defying memorabilia in every corner (and window-display) of Haight Street; but it's the Beats skid marks on North Beach - where they started or ended just another of their holly journeys into the American unknown - that captivate the adventurous and sophisticated visitor.
On 261 Columbus Avenue the City Lights bookstore lies - and lights the way to our quirky literary thirst. Ginsberg, Kerouac, Corso, Ferlinghetti (co-founder of this unorthodox poetic edifice), all met here to fire out passion, ideas and poetry.
Right opposite City Lights, in Jack Kerouac Alley, Vesuvio cafe oozes decadence the second you venture through its doors. Pictures of the above wild bunch of intellos create an unlikely backdrop, their malign presence almost instructing you to dash out on another street adventure.
The stilo italiano predominant in the surrounding area of North Beach (though you will see no actual beach here!), invites stylish visitors and bookworms to elegantly (or entirely distractedly) sip a cappuccino.
And when dusk sets in, jazz reminiscent of the Beat-freaks that once coloured these streets begins to echo from the nearby bars, screaming for adventure.
Nothing to do but... Hooowl!

(The above pictures were found on the internet;they're, obviously, NOT property of rockets4solitude)

Soundtrack: Spell (Footnote to Howl) by Patti Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaY7P4kqxCw