San Francisco - Alison Bing [237]
If you don’t have a computer to download images from your digital camera, Walgreens can burn digital photos onto a CD for $2.99. Those traveling without laptops can surf the internet for free at almost any public library, or the Downtown Apple Store (Map; 415-392-0202; www.apple.com; 1 Stockton St; 10am-9pm Mon-Sat, 11am-7pm Sun; & Powell St; ), which has high-speed wi-fi access and internet terminals. The San Francisco Main Library (Map; 415-557-4400; http://sfpl.lib.ca.us; 100 Larkin St; 10am-6pm Mon & Sat, 9am-8pm Tue-Thu, noon-6pm Fri, noon-5pm Sun; 5, 6, 7, 21, 31, 71, F, J, K, L, M, N; & Civic Center; ) has 160 terminals, including some available to non-library-card-holding visitors on the 1st floor; internet access is available on a 15-minute basis, and there’s spotty wi-fi access.
Brainwash laundromat Click here offers pay internet terminals as well as food, coffee, beer and occasional live music.
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LAUNDRY
Bernal Bubbles (Map; 415-821-9530; www.bernalbubbles.com; 397 Cortland Ave, near Bocana St; 7am-10pm; ) Free wi-fi, coin laundry, wash and fold service, video games and a bulletin board for stray socks. Mark your calendars for free-soap Tuesdays, half-price-dryer Wednesdays, and terrific free Soap Box Lectures on the first Saturday of the month.
Brainwash (Map; 415-431-9274; www.brainwash.com; 1122 Folsom St; 7am-10pm Mon-Thu, 7am-11pm Fri-Sat, 8am-10pm Sun; 12, 19; ) Come with laundry, stay for breakfast all day, cheap beer, live entertainment, pinball, free wi-fi and pay internet terminals ($3 per 20 minutes).
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LEGAL MATTERS
San Francisco police usually have more urgent business than fining you for picking a protected wild orange California poppy (up to $500), littering ($100 and up), jaywalking (ie crossing streets outside a pedestrian crosswalk, which can run from $75 to $125) or failing to clean up after your puppy ($30 in some places, plus shaming glares from fellow dog-owners). You may be let off with a warning for being caught taking a puff on a joint, but don’t count on it – possessing marijuana for personal use is still a misdemeanor in this lenient city, though legal with a prescription inside a medicinal marijuana club. In recent years the police have cracked down on park squatters, so maybe you should change your plans if you were hoping to relive the Summer of Love in Golden Gate Park.
Americans are eligible to vote at 18, the legal age of consent is 17, and driver’s licenses can be obtained by passing the necessary tests at age 16. Visitors old enough to drink back home might not be here, where the legal drinking age is 21. Drinking alcoholic beverages outdoors is not officially allowed, though drinking beer and wine is often permissible at street fairs and other outdoor events.
If you are arrested for any reason, it’s your right to remain silent, but never walk away from an officer until given permission or you could be charged with resisting arrest. Anyone arrested gets the right to make one phone call. If you want to call your consulate, the police will give you the number on request.
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MAPS
Besides the handy pull-out map included with this book, you might pick up the San Francisco Street Map & Visitor Guide for free at many of the city’s hotels, and the Muni Street & Transit Map, which is free online (www.sfmta.com) or $3 in hard-copy form at the San Francisco Visitor Information Center or any large bookstore.
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MEDICAL SERVICES
Before traveling, you should always contact your health-insurance provider to ascertain what types of medical care they will cover outside your home town (or home country). Overseas visitors should acquire travel insurance that covers medical situations in the US, where nonemergency care for uninsured patients can be very expensive. For nonemergency appointments