The North Beach area is where the famous City Lights Bookstore is situated. The banned books are certainly more interesting than the not yet illuminated "Roaring 20's" sign. "Gods without men" by Hari Kunzru, "Ulysses". Is Ulysses a banned book ? Poor James Joyce. I wonder what is so dangerous in these books. And could we find a banned books zone in a French bookshop ? Never saw one. And what are banned books anyway ? Here this row of forbidden literature seems to be just a frame for the view on the dreary "fun places" outside, on the other side of the road. In the day time, the sex clubs are more discreet. The pole dancers are still asleep and the future clients are not yet ready to go beyond decency. On the shop window, there is the back of a photograph showing by transparency the ghost of one of the many towered mansions typical of the city. The effect given by this white bordered grey rectangle with the tiny wheels of the parked cars is that of a truck so huge that its wheels are dwarfed by the charge. Strange world indeed.