Went to a Russian Cruiser today

[filsdepac]

At lunch today, I headed over to see this:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/22/BAVP1E2O3N.DTL

I was hoping to tour it, but the line was incredibly long and wasn't moving, so I just checked it out from the pier. There were a lot of Russian sailors downtown, a lot of them were at Walgreens getting American food and sundries (with a cross-pacific trip tomorrow, I don't want to know what else).

I thought it was pretty interesting to think of my grandpa living here in the late 40s and 50s and if he ever thought there would be a day when his grandchild would see a Russian Warship docked in the Bay Area in peace.

[PaloAltoCougar]

I thought it was pretty interesting to think of my grandpa living here in the late 40s and 50s and if he ever thought there would be a day when his grandchild would see a Russian Warship docked in the Bay Area in peace.

Up until around '89, I would have thought it impossible as well. Had this occurred during the late '60s, I would likely have been conspiring with my high school pals to go Wolverines! on the thing during the dead of night. True, our main weapons would have been eggs and water balloons, but the Rooskies would taken a major hit to their pride.

[Katy Lied]

At lunch today, I headed over to see this:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/22/BAVP1E2O3N.DTL

I was hoping to tour it, but the line was incredibly long and wasn't moving, so I just checked it out from the pier. There were a lot of Russian sailors downtown, a lot of them were at Walgreens getting American food and sundries (with a cross-pacific trip tomorrow, I don't want to know what else).

I thought it was pretty interesting to think of my grandpa living here in the late 40s and 50s and if he ever thought there would be a day when his grandchild would see a Russian Warship docked in the Bay Area in peace.

I would love to have taken a tour. Did you notice what kind of people were in line? Were they local San Franciscans, or were they from all over the US?

[falafel]

I would love to have taken a tour. Did you notice what kind of people were in line? Were they local San Franciscans, or were they from all over the US?

How, exactly, do you make that distinction?

[Katy Lied]

How, exactly, do you make that distinction?

I would think that SFans would be dressed in business suits or professional clothes, on their lunch break. I would think the Maude and Harold from Omaha may be dressed a little differently. The Utahans would be wearing a creepy smile.

[PaloAltoCougar]

How, exactly, do you make that distinction?

The venerable, and sadly now deceased, local columnist Herb Caen made a living out of describing tourists in SF. They're often underdressed, thinking SF in the summer is summerlike (ha!). And back in the day, pastel polyesters were a dead giveaway. His favorite outfit was the visitor with a camera around his neck, clad in a light blue leisure suit, with white belt and shoes. This outfit is known locally as "The Full Cleveland." Thanks, Dayton!

[happyone]

I'm suprised that they have any ships that are sea worth -TIC. I would have loved to tour it.

[il Padrino Ute]

Up until around '89, I would have thought it impossible as well. Had this occurred during the late '60s, I would likely have been conspiring with my high school pals to go Wolverines! on the thing during the dead of night. True, our main weapons would have been eggs and water balloons, but the Rooskies would taken a major hit to their pride.

Hell yeah!

[filsdepac]

I would love to have taken a tour. Did you notice what kind of people were in line? Were they local San Franciscans, or were they from all over the US?

Seemed like a number of tourists and I heard A LOT of Russian (although there's a pretty big russian community in SF). But I'd guess at least half were from the Bay Area, taking a break from work.

For anyone that knows SF well, the pier is just south of the Bay Bridge (barely) and if the line didn't snake around, would've been long enough to reach AT&T park (like I said, VERY long). Understandable, but frustrating since I really wanted to get on. Oh well, my Jack Ryan moment will have to wait for another day.

[il Padrino Ute]

Seemed like a number of tourists and I heard A LOT of Russian (although there's a pretty big russian community in SF). But I'd guess at least half were from the Bay Area, taking a break from work.

For anyone that knows SF well, the pier is just south of the Bay Bridge (barely) and if the line didn't snake around, would've been long enough to reach AT&T park (like I said, VERY long). Understandable, but frustrating since I really wanted to get on. Oh well, my Jack Ryan moment will have to wait for another day.

Why not jump in the water and swim to the other side of the cruiser and climb on?

[filsdepac]

Why not jump in the water and swim to the other side of the cruiser and climb on?

I was thinking about finding a lone sailor and yanking him into a back alleyway, and swapping clothes. I realized my dental hygiene would be a dead giveaway though.

[statman]

Sounds like a gay thing...

[filsdepac]

Sounds like a gay thing...

No, despite any innuendos from the cruise missiles, this Saturday would be your best bet:

http://www.sfpride.org/celeb/generalinfo.html

[Katy Lied]

No, despite any innuendos from the cruise missiles, this Saturday would be your best bet:

http://www.sfpride.org/celeb/generalinfo.html

According to the dowager female reporter in your first link, they sail on Friday.