The man was holding his date’s head so she could take a picture with shaking from the cold.
Jill and I needed to take some pictures of City Hall for our website, SF Tourism Tips.
We went down a few days ago and were reminded why we love San Francisco.
You could say, without question, that we left our heart here and have found it again.
The City Hall is so beautiful and lit up so nicely that it took our breath away.
Of course, it could also be the incredible winds we had lately that blew over trees and cut people’s power but I think it is more likely the beauty of San Francisco.
It definitely was much colder in Beijing and it is nice to walk around in a windbreaker or a fleece sweatshirt and be warm. No need for massive jackets, gloves, scarves and definitely no need for air quality masks since the air quality here is fantastic.
We cannot explain how amazing it is to have fresh air, every day, and not take it for granted.
Almost everyone in the USA would take it for granted, as we did, before we lived in Beijing.
I also don’t think anyone that hasn’t lived in a polluted city won’t be able to realize what it is like, even if I explain it, because it is such an overwhelming and all-important feature of your life each and every day.
There were days when we wouldn’t leave our apartment because it was so bad and we could barely see apartments 1 block away. It is like San Francisco fog but your eyes start to tear up, you feel your throat tighten up, and you are lethargic for no logical reason other than the air is not breathable.
If Jill or I had babies, there is no way we’d raise them in Beijing. I’d be afraid for their health and their lungs being born into that toxic mess.
One doctor stated that living in Beijing is equal to smoking 1/6 of a cigarette a day because of the pollution. I would have to think it is more equal to smoking a full cigarette a day when the air quality gets bad enough.
Suffice to say, we are unbelievably happy we are home.
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- City Hall with a few people taking pics.
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- The man was holding his date’s head so she could take a picture with shaking from the cold.
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- A side view of City Hall.
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- Closer to City Hall.
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- The guards were sitting inside and seemed quite bored.