Literary Street Car Ride

It's our last night in San Francisco... wanted to tell you about the street car we rode today to Fisherman's Wharf. Many of the street cars in San Francisco were used in other cities. It just so happened that the one we rode today came from New Orleans where it was used on the Desire line. Playwright Tennessee Williams named his play after a street car like the one we took today. And becausethis is San Francisco -- a truly literary town -- there was a quote from Williams's famous play on a poster inside the trolley. I wrote it down so I could share it with you, dear blog reader. The line really gives a sense of Williams's talent. Here it comes... Blanche says: "brutal desire -- just -- Desire! -- the name of that rattle-trap streetcar that bangs through the Quarter, up one old narrow street and down another." What do you think of it? I love the words "rattle-trap" and "bangs." It's as if we're listening to the street car make its way through the streets of New Orleans.

On the subject of street cars... yesterday, I befriended a woman street car driver. She wanted to take a break, but she couldn't because people kept asking her questions ("Is this the street car to Market Street?" "Do we need exact change?"). So I said I'd take over from her while she took her break -- not that I'd drive the street car, of course (!!), but that I'd answer questions ("Yes, this street car goes to Market Street" and "Exact change only!") When she came back, the street car driver insisted on letting Mike and me on for free. Mike took a picture of the two of us. If I can manage it, I'll try to post a copy of the pic for you next week. Okay, we're catching an early flight, so it's time to go. Next blog entry will be from my sweet house in Montreal!!