Travel Buggy: City Lights Bookstore

Not knowing my way around San Francisco, I had no idea how to get to this bookstore. On a return trip to our hotel via Chinatown, I spotted City Lights Booksellers, and was pleased that the bookshop was within walking distance of Union Square. I was hell-bent on visiting the store the following day,

Iconic is a appropriate description of City Lights. I found navigating San Francisco streets weren't the easiest streets to  navigate and within a short amount of time, I was lost. Keeping the mission in mind, I asked four people how to get to the store, and every one of those pleasant folks gave me directions to City Lights. The first man said, "I haven't been in that bookstore in 30 years!" The fourth man said, "I'm headed in that direction. I'll walk you there." This place must have been as famous as the Golden Gate Bridge! I thought how easy it was to fall in love with San Francisco -- from its ain't sweatin' it vibe to its mesmerizing terrain to its delicious food! And I had even found a wellness shop!

City Lights reminded me of the bookstores found in 60's and 70's -- crammed with books for those who want to know about the history of human beings that suffered under bullwhips swung by human traffickers, the US military's attempts to clear out indigenous populations, and whims of those who saw labor unions as forces that undercut profits. I saw popular titles, but time was limited. Had I more time to spare, I would have walked away with more books than Zora Neale Hurston's Baracoon, Thich Nhat Hahn's The Art of Communication, and Justice Malala's The Plot to Save South Africa. A tee shirt from this book shop made as good a souvenir as any. According to the bookmark that accompanied my purchase, City Lights celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, and they'll post what they have in store on social media..