San Francisco is My Home

26
Sep

Summer smells

Author: kris, Category: Seen

San Francisco’s true summer happens in September and October (and sometimes, for reasons passing understanding, in February, but let’s leave that out of it for the moment). There is nothing so charming as a summery September walk through the Duboce Triangle, a small, flowery neighborhood that abuts the Castro. The architecture is interesting, with lots of our patented turrets, scrollwork and purple paint jobs; the sidewalks are wide and lined with potted plants and flowers; and the people are friendly and smiling. And every lamppost and tree seems to be wound round with star jasmine, which exudes a uniquely sweet smell that almost serves to overlay the stench of the backed-up sewers. Something about summer just makes the Duboce Triangle sewers run wild. It’s particularly pungent today. In fact, I’d recommend you avoid this lovely summer stroll altogether until they do something about the fumes.