English Course in San Francisco – The city of gold!
You have no idea for a holiday trip? I invite you to English Course in San Francisco You wonder whether you should take an English course in San Francisco in order to approve your language skills? Congratulations! In our opinion, there is nearly no better choice.
San Francisco is situated on a peninsula in the State of California on the West Coast of the United States of America and homes about 800.000 inhabitants. It is famous for its 42 hills and its historical cable cars. Furthermore, it homes such famous sightseeing spots like the Golden Gate Bridge (called like this in memory of the gold diggers who had to cross the Golden Gate to enter the city of San Francisco) or the prison island of Alcatraz. No wonder that lots of film producers find their perfect film location in San Francisco!
History
In the 16th century, the Spanish conquerors sent two expedition troops to the North of America in order to explore the West coast. Hernán Cortés then found a peninsula between bay and ocean and called it California. The first Europeans settled down in that area from 1776 onwards, when Spanish missionaries and soldiers built up the mission church “Mission Dolores” which is the oldest building of the city and can still be visited. Later they called the city “San Francisco de Asís” in memory of the Saint Francisco, which became Saint Francis in English.
In 1846, after the Mexican-American-War, the city of San Franciso fell into the territory of the United States of America. Two years later, the city lived its first boom due to the beginning of the gold rush in California. Within one year, the population grew from 900 to 20.000 people! (Many gold diggers left their ships behind in the city harbour. In order to make space, the harbour was filled with sand and rubbish/ship wrecks. Big parts of the inner city have been built on these landfills.)
In the 1930s, the Golden Gate Bridge – called like this in memory of the gold rush – and the Oakland Bay Bridge were built and because of the easier acces to the city, the population grew again.
In 1939, the world exhibition took place on the Treasure Island in the bay of San Francisco which had been artificially banked up only for that reason. In 1945, the Treasure Island was the location of the Postwar-Conference which resulted in the formation of the United Nations. San Fransico is therefore often referred to as the birthplace of the United Nations.
In the 1960s, San Francisco was the centre of the hippie movement as described in Scott McKenzie´s version of the song “If you are going to San Francisco”.
In the 1970s, more and more gay people moved to San Francisco and made it to the gay capital and the liberal centre of the United States.
Districts
San Francisco is a very international city. There is a Chinese, a Japanese, a French, an Irish, a Spanish, and a Russian quarter amongst many more. The Chinese quarter is the second biggest outside of the Republic of China after New York city! And the Spanish quarter is one of the oldest districts of the city: it orignates from one of the 21 missions founded by Spanish missionaries along the Camino Real during the Spanish conquest. The district Haight-Asbury is famous as a home of the hippies in the 1960s. The district Castro is the gay and lesbian district of the city.
Means of transport
San Francisco provides a very diversified public transport network. You find a vast net of busses, trolley busses, rapid transit, subway-lines and of course the three lines of the historical cable car from the 19th century. For the exact schedule and prices, visit: www.sfmta.com
If you want to visit other American cities, there are great train connections.
www.amtrak.com
San Francisco is home of the second largest international airport on the West coast of the United States after Los Angeles: San Francisco International Airport.
www.flysfo.com
Climate
San Francisco enjoys a mediterranean climate. The summers are cool and mainly dry. The winters are mild and wet. Frost is seldom. The warmest month is September, the coldest months is January. Famous is the city for its matutinal wafts of mist coming from the sea over the hills.
Must-Do´s
San Francisco is a city of neverending possibilities. Here is a list of only few examples:
Golden Gate Bridge: Bridge over the Golden Gate, the opening which connects the Pacific with the bay of San Francisco. The bridge has been inaugurated in 1937 and is 2,8km long, 25 meters wide and 227 meters high. It is THE symbol of the city.
Cable Cars: San Francisco comprises 42 hills. The cable cars were an invention of the 19th century in order to clim up these hills. Today there is only three lines left. They are more a tourist attraction than actual means of transport.
Alcatraz: Prison island in the bay of San Francisco. Location of many famous movies.
Fischerman´s Wharf: area in the old harbour with many cafés, bars and restaurants, souvenir-shops and sea lions.
Mission Dolore: One of the 21 mission churches founded by Spanish missionaries along the Camino Real during the Spanish conquest. Built in 1776, it is the oldest builing in town.
Lombard Street: Said to be the most curvy street in the world. Because of its location on a steep hillside, the street had to be built in serpentines. It houses very attractive houses and is planted over and over with flowers and plants.
Haight-Asbury: Sistrict in the East of the Golden Gate Bridge. Former centre of the hippie movement and home of musicians like Jimmi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.
Painted Ladies: A street with historical houses right at the Alamo Square.
Parks: San Francisco also comprises a lot of parks. The most populat ones are Golden Gate Park, Alamo Square and the Twin Peaks.
Conclusion
San Francisco is a beautiful, lively town with lots of history and culture, which does not only attract lots of tourists but also film producers from all over the world. We are sure, you will never regret the decision to take your English course here.
We also recomend English Course in London.
