We parked the Westy on Lombard street, the so-called “crookedest street in the world” and walked to the San Francisco Art Institute where we could see young artists at work.

This neighborhood is San Francisco's Little Italy. It is also the historic center of the beatnik subculture and we were quite excited to visit the City Light Bookstore where Jack Kerouac and his friends used to meet for litterature and poetry readings. The Beats' legacy of anti-authoritarian politics and insurgent thinking continues to be a strong influence in the store, quite evident in the selection of the book titles. We actually went to Caffe Trieste, known as the beatnik hangout of the '50s. Their home-roasted coffee is impeccable and its old world charm remains unspoiled.