A San Francisco Treat

Mike and I recently returned home from a wonderful trip in San Francisco. Below are a few highlights from our adventure.

Day 1: Arrival

• Made it safely to our hotel via the Bart subway and a two block walk.

• Sought out ZARA, a clothing store, which I was in one year ago in Manila.

• Walked around the Financial District, high-end window-shopped.

• Dined at the Stinking Rose, our favorite restaurant of the whole trip.

• Browsed through books at a historical bookstore in North Beach – City Lights.

• Night capped it at Café Vessuvio, a famous Beat Generation hangout.

Day 2: Exploration

• Took our first of many walks through Chinatown.

• Watched the seals on Pier 39.

• Strolled through Fisherman’s Wharf up to Ghirardelli Square.

• Broke a sweat climbing one of the steepest hills to get up to Lombard.

• Laughed when a homeless person spooked Mike.

• Feel asleep under the sun in Washington Park. Woke up to more people sleeping beside us. They smelled fine.

• Got tortured by a Chinese person. Never get a massage in Chinatown.

• Ended the night at Fog City Diner.

Day 3: Day Trip

• Took the Ferry over to Sausalito. It was just as I had remembered it when I was younger.

• Spent the day, shopping, eating, sitting along the harbor and getting a little burned.

• Snacked in Chinatown where I was the only white person in a packed diner.

• Ate at one the best Pizza places ever. Tony’s in North Beach is a must.

Day 4: Hippie Luxury

• Brunched at the Sheraton, perhaps one of the most beautiful and sturdiest hotels.

• Jumped on a bus to Haight Asbury and was welcomed to many of crazies.

• Took the longest most Asian speaking cab ride back.

• Stumbled upon a sister resturant to the Stinking Rose where after every bite, Mike closed his eye and “mmmm-ed”.

Day 5: In Flight

• Specifically timed our getway only to find out the plane was delayed and hour and a half. This was your third strike AirTran!

I’m not Irish

I’m not Irish but I’ve had some pretty good memories on this day

1 year ago: Since it was SO nice outside, Mike and I sat out at

Fiesta Garibaldi after work. We enjoyed the patio, ate wonderful Mexican and drank one really strong Margarita. Mike drove home and I feel asleep on the way. It was only 7pm and a 10 min car ride.

4 years ago: Carrie and I had spent most of our time in the Milwaukee airport trying to alleviate our headaches, piecing together the previous night and investigating our phone history to see who we didn’t manage to drunk dial. We made it on to our plane to Charlotte, North Carolina. The warm weather, dogwoods and an itinerary of wine tasting lifted any pain we had been feeling. Best wine ever: Yadkin Gold from RayLen

5 years ago: I celebrated St. Patrick’s day twice in two different cities in two different weekends. The first celebration was in Brisbane, Australia. An intern from Cali and I walked the city, stumbled into street festivals, toured their campus and ran into a St. Patrick’s day parade. When the night entered, we dazzled Australian lads, I left that weekend in a taxi cab while one handsome guy with puppy dog eyes scratched his phone number and smiley face onto a paper and watched me go.

Round two was in Sydney, Australia. I had rented a car so that I could drive six hours to a design conference in Sydney. It just so happened that my friend, Nic was headed that direction too. Nic really taught me how to enjoy the world and the people in it. He read from Jane Eyre while I tried to stay on the Australian side of the road. Once we made it to Sydney we decided it best to part ways. The next morning I walked from King Corners down to the harbor for the conference. I remember pausing, writing in my journal and that I was late. By the door, there was Nic, waiting. I don’t quite remember the words he said but it was beautiful and it was the nicest thing any man had said to me. (Well until I met Mike.) That night we walked all around Sydney, seeing the Opera House, parks with possums, cool statues, we probably ended at an Irish bar. But if it weren’t for him waiting there I would have never seen Sydney in the same light.

Eight years ago: I had woken up on a Sunday early in the morning. It obviously wasn’t early enough because my roommates had already gone to the bars, ate breakfast, drank and left the kitchen table covered with lucky charms, green beads, t-shirts, plastic cups, green hats, etc. No part of that table was visible.

Eight years ago night: Danielle asked my mom, “You like this song (Spirit in the Sky)?” Mom said yes.