The picture symoblises his city, the one that is filled with fun and colour, and mac’n’cheese. Their mom’s plan for an early start for San Francisco, so as to be back home in time for their afternoon nap was upset by Siddarth who took his time over the morning oats meal, and potty; brother Nikhil took a nap, forcing their parents to drop their plan for a 9.30 start. It was 11 a m when we got moving, eventually.
Contrary to expectations, traffic was thin for a three-day weekend, when bumper-to-bumper traffic is considered the norm, particularly, over the Bay Bridge. Perhaps, this was because it was July 4,start of a long weekend.And unlike us, most people chose to stay home and take it easy. Besides, they had two more days for planning any day-trip to San Francisco.
A pre-lunch merry-go-round at Yoruba Buena Garden,
a meal at the Westfield Mall;
and a run-round chasing pigeons at the Union Square,to work out his macaroni-and-cheese was Siddarth’s agenda.
And he condescended to sit in the double-stroller to give company to Nikhil; and to show him the sights of San Francisco.At Westfield Siddarth ordered his favourtie – macaroni ’n’ cheese.
Nikhil had brought his apple sauce from home. The food court at the mall is a virtual United Nations of food-stalls. Conspicuously, there isn’t desi eating joint there. Wonder why. Incidentally, The Forum Mall in Bangalore, they say, is modeled on the Westfield. Young Nikhil was on his own trip.
At the Union Sq. he ran into a Japanese girl (15 months). Our seven-month old attracts fans to ‘wow’ him wherever he happens to be.
And Nikhil is never short of a smile in response, even when he has a sippy-cup in mouth. Between his rounds of running in the Union Sq. Siddarth dropped in for ice-cream break.
To update his grandparents on how he is doing, chasing an elusive pigeon or two. Oddly enough, there weren’t many around. Maybe the Union Sq. pigeons were out for their own July 4 weekend.
Siddarths spares a few moments, in response to his mom’s request, to pose for a picture with Nikhil.On the streets we passed by a vintage car put up for sale. Siddarth had no problem identifying it as a Ford Thunderbird, of which he has a model in his play-room in San Ramon.
Asking price for this 1959 model is $35,000. Considering that it wouldn’t give more than 12 to 15 miles at today’s petrol price $5.12 a galleon, the vehicle can’t be of much use on the road. Its seller is, presumably, looking for a millionaire with Siddarth’s mindset for cars to buy this Ford.The day-trip to SF was not complete for Siddarth without a ride in a city taxi. So we took a cab from Union Sq. to the parking lot, a couple of blocks away. And Siddarth spent the few minutes’ ride, gazing out of the window, in awe and amazement of a country bumpkin on his first trip to the city, says his daddy.
Our friend having a good look at the taxi as he said ‘thank you’ to the driver for the ride.
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