>>>>>>San Francisco (where I was born and raised) has 43 hills within its 49 square miles. If you want to get your legs and lungs developed fast or die trying, then I suggest you try our hills! :)
>>>>>
>>>>>That was the most interesting ride in a cap I ever had. Those steep hills that seem to be more than 40 degrees at time really knocked me off.
>>>>>
>>>>>Walter,
>>>>
>>>>I have been in SF a few times, the last time was three years ago with my family. We had a very funny experience, which can describe how steep these hills are. We bought a one day ticket for the cable cars, and rode with them for more than an hour. At one time the cable car had to do an emergency break at the top of one of the hills, and since the top was a flat crossing road, the driver lost the grip of the cable which pulled the car, and was not able to move it. We were told to leave the car since it would take approximately 20 minutes to get it going again, but we stayed there to watch. After about ten minutes a big van came to rescue. This van had a huge metal plate mounted in the front, and it reminded me of the cars the A-team used to build in the series I used to watch with y sons. With the help of this metal plate the driver was able to give the cable car the little push it needed, and the ride could continue.
>>>
>>>That sounds like the Powell Mason Street Cable Car line, and the intersection at California, where the Fairmont and Mark Hopkins Hotels are located also called Nob Hill.
>>>
>>>A few years ago they decided to close down the Cable Car line, and replaced it with diesel busses. The busses broke down in less that one-day of service – they could not take the steep hills. So it was decided to keep the Cable Cars. It beats walking and has been in use since 1873! :)
>>>
>>>Here is an interesting link.
>>>
>>>http://www.sfcablecar.com/history.html
>>>
>>>The Irish and Polish side of my fanily arrived in San Francisco in 1849, and there have been many interesting stories about the Cable Cars and other items of our cities history passed from generation to generation.
>>
>>
>>San Francisco without cable cars is inconceivable.
>>
>>My friend I have spoken of here who grew up in SF -- the City, she calls it -- says it has changed more than I know. She lives out in wine country now. Her work still takes her downtown sometimes and she says it depresses her more with each visit. More homeless, more neighborhoods that have gone bad. She says the San Francisco her parents immigrated to from Italy is just a memory.
>
>I have to agree. My old neighborhood was called Eureka Valley, and is now refered to as "The Castro". The Marina may be the only place in San Francisco, that has not changed since about 1915.

That's unusual in this day and age. The marina in Brighton, where I live, has changed beyond recognition since the 80s when I came here. Originally there was just a yacht club, chandlers and some appartments built on the piers. Now much of it has been reclaimed and, apart from a superstore, there are several appt. dev's, a fancy boardwalk with sit-out restaurants, there are pubs, restaurants (one resembling il Duomo of Florence, some like old shingle wharf warehouses), a cinema multiplex and multi-storey car-park, bowling alley, mega health club, and the ubiquitous drive-thru KackDonalds. It's more like a separate town now - must house several thousands.
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