Here is one of the fringe benefits of living in Bernal Heights: Because our glamorous ‘hood is kind of gorgeous and kind of a secret, outsiders often experience a sense of heightened awareness when they discover Bernal and all its myriad charms. And because everyone these days is wired up like a mobile multimedia production studio, we regularly get to see Bernal Heights through the eyes of those who are seeing it for the first time.
Leah Giberson showed us one such perspective earlier in the week, and now comes this amazing photo submitted via the Bernalwood Flickr group by giggie larue. In her caption to this photo, giggie writes:
My ex now lives in a part of sf called bernal heights. less than a mile from where we lived together. for some reason we had never happened upon this neighborhood before.
visiting him these past weeks, i’ve discovered one of the most amazing hidden jewels in this gem of a city. narrow streets that curve up and down and round and round, often interrupted by stairways where the road can’t follow through without razing a hillside, even the thought of which mortifies.
the houses range from tiny, quaint, gorgeous late 1800’s to crazy tacky 50’s kitsch, 60’s mod, 80’s spaceage, and contemporary japanese-inspired; mostly compact abodes, with various styles of fencing and courtyards, and masses of foliage and flowers, including in community gardens. everyone has dogs, and there are tiny little dog parks tucked in the most surprising of places. the views are stunning, more than 180 degree points of view. tres old-world euro village.
as is my wont, i’ve been wandering to see what i can see. turned one corner and up this increasingly steep hill were these 2 people. having nothing to do with one another, but sitting and reading the same. no, no bus stops here. just what people do in san francisco, without feeling conspicuous, or “weird” as a pittsburgh friend once told me i looked while doing yoga stretches outside, at his mailbox as we talked.
Wish i would’ve known of this neighborhood long ago.
Funny thing is, a lot people who now live in Bernalwood would probably say the exact same thing.
PHOTO: giggie larue
Bernalwood 
I lived for nearly four years in a neighborhood adjacent to Bernal. I sometimes looked up to the hill, mostly perceiving only the western slope, and wondered in passing what that place was.
I didn’t know it was even called Bernal Heights. I never once was on Cortland Ave. My, how that has changed.
word!
and great post!
I remember seeing this momentary scene from my window, since I live on this street. It looked like people waiting for the Streetcar named Proust. Thanks for the picture!