I remember I used to really dread traveling to San Jose in the late 1970s and early 80s. Downtown was falling apart - especially when compared to Sacramento's downtown which was then on the rise - and seemed to be unsafe. The then San Jose State College (now SJSU) appeared to be isolated from the rest of the community, and most of the best lodging was near the airport.
Things are much different now, for the better. Downtown San Jose is highly developed, with both fine and inexpensive restaurants, very good high-rise hotels with state-of-the-art wireless hot spots within easy walking distance of the McEnery Convention Center, theater venues for live drama and films, The Tech Museum, a great light rail system, and other attractions such as the still-fascinating Winchester Mystery House and shopping at Santana Row.
SJSU has also benefited from a lot of attractive new buildings on campus and high quality condos surrounding the campus. SJSU and the City of San Jose joined in co-constructing the ultra-modern Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, which serves both residents and students. The King Library serves as a true town and gown facility.
Downtown San Jose now feels alive and hopeful, especially when compared to downtown Sacramento which continues to feel the effects of a poor economy. I'm headed back there next week and looking forward to my stay; yes, I know the way. Most of all I'm looking forward to having dinner at Don Pedro's restaurant at 43 Post Street, which offers authentic and very reasonably priced Mexican food.
While downtown San Jose now feels mostly brand new, Don Pedro's is a pure 1960s era style eatery. At Don Pedro's the regular patrons drink Mexican beer, speak Spanish and watch either Spanish language soap operas or soccer on the non-state-of-the-art fuzzy-picture TVs. What more could one ask for?
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