I'm a native San Francisco guy who has been given tours since I was a kid. As an adult, I'm always learning more about San Francisco. How can one love a city and its people if you don't know it? Though it's not my vocation, I've been privately asked by tour companies and many groups to give tours (mainly for students and non-tourists), and have done so for over a thousand people. All that to say, I'm steeped in San Francisco more than the average person taking a tour.
I believe in constantly learning about San Francisco and occasionally take tours myself. I took two tours, the Castro, and the Haight, with Mar leading each of them. She was clearly visible and identifiable. She clearly was very knowledgeable, as most tour guides are. But more than that, like a good song, she made the tour her own. I could tell she invested herself into the stories and facts; Mar drew me in. The tours were not just a bunch of random facts and sound bites.
Speaking about sound bites, I loved how MAr integrated music into her Haight tour. I noted her bluetooth speaker and inquired if that was "standard issue." Turns out she invested in her own weatherproof model so her tours would not be affected by the rain.
The best part apart the tours was being led by someone who is secure in who they are. That's who MAr is, and that made all the difference. I knew a lot of things in San Francisco. When we played "name that tune" in the Haight, I knew the songs within a couple notes, but none of this phased MAr. It could make others feel insecure. in the end, I was able to learn so much more about these two San Francisco neighborhoods and their people. I learned about many more facets of beauty.
As guy who regularly gets asked to do tours myself, I'm so glad I got to take the "tourist" seat with Mar. Walking is the best way for these neighborhood tours, to see, smell, and feel the stories of humanity. So glad I got to walk these two hoods with Mar! She's been the warmest, most personable guide I've ever had.
-- Steve read more
