|
By Sean Lee
|
|
Apr. 27, 2009 |
|
Ten dollars. No car. One day. What does one do? I found myself in exactly this predicament. My task was to spend only ten dollars over the span of one day while relying only on public transportation or my own two legs.
So what did I do? I could think of no better way to start my journey in the Mission District than by buying a sandwich from Roxie’s on San Jose Avenue. But as I stepped out of my house and realized the nearest bus stop was five blocks away, I thought of a much better idea— to take my car instead. I immediately drove myself first to Roxie’s, and then to Dolores Park where I greedily and ecstatically savored the delicious smoked-ham with provolone cheese on a toasted Dutch Crunch roll sandwich that I had been craving all week. In retrospect, it seems like it could have been a bad idea; the sandwich cost me eight dollars. But it was so worth it.
Sitting on a park bench on top of Dolores Park overlooking the beautiful San Francisco city skyline on a sunny Saturday afternoon enjoying the most ridiculously incredible eight dollar sandwich was most definitely one of the best experiences I've had lately. Also one of the sleepiest. I dozed off with a smile and some mustard staining my face.
One hour later…
I woke up on the grassy hill on the south end of Dolores Park full and content. I checked my funds. Two dollars left and it was only 1:30 in the afternoon. Crap.
I started walking down Dolores Street admiring the poorly crafted graffiti that adorned Mission High School and a bust of the Madonna on the sidewalk. I walked past Mission Dolores and its adjoining basilica. Intrigued, I spent three dollars to enter and tour the church. Mission Dolores and the basilica boast some impressive architecture and sculpture, but what I liked the most was the small patio with a fountain. There I fell asleep for another hour after watching two pigeons stab at each other with their beaks for a couple of minutes.
I woke up to the foreign accents of some old women walking through the patio. Dazed, I stumbled back onto Dolores street to continue my journey. I was one dollar over budget. So it was with a very guilty feeling that I bought some ice cream from El Cafetazo on Valencia and 16th for $2.25. But that feeling of remorse immediately vanished with the first bite of sultry strawberry ice cream that slid down my throat. Its lusciousness kept me going for the next hour or so as I walked down Mission street, poking my head into various dollar stores and Chinese open air meat markets and watching shady looking men walking quickly in and out of the adult video store while carefully scanning their surroundings.
After watching a couple of pony-tailed guys that looked like drug dealers hustling people on the sidewalk, I decided my journey was at its end. I walked back up Dolores Park, past the swings and gay couples holding hands and guy playing bongos and half-naked emo kids passed out on the ground back to my car and drove home and took a nap. So was my day a success? Yeah, I think so. I went over my budget a little and spent $15.25, but that's not too bad. No matter how poorly you save your money, an incredible sandwich, great weather and a couple of naps here and there can make any day beautiful. Oh, and I had to fill up on gas so I guess that puts me at more like $45.25. |
