Surprise Around the Corner

Have you ever taken a wrong turn that took you to an unexpected and amazing place? It happened to me the other day and for a brief moment what I saw took my breath away.

I was driving up a steep hill in North Beach, looking for a shortcut to the Financial District. When I got to the top, the street came to a dead end. I looked left, another dead end. The only way out was to go right. As I turned I saw the most incredible view of the Transamerica building.

For a few seconds I forgot about everything, as I stood in awe of the giant pyramid. I’ve seen the iconic landmark hundreds of times, but not from this perspective. It looked so imposing and powerful, perfectly framed by the Victorian style homes.

If you want to check it out, drive or walk up to the top of Green and Montgomery.

San Francisco is such a beautiful city. You never know what treasure you’ll find around the corner.

A Taste of Wine Country

Most people think of Napa and Sonoma when it comes to wine in California, but there are hundreds of excellent wineries across the state. I recently spent a beautiful evening with wonderful friends at Clos LaChance Winery in San Martin, about an hour and a half south of San Francisco.

The vineyard welcomed us with open arms as we drove through the iron gates. The Old World European-inspired facility sits on top of a hill overlooking the breathtaking wine country landscape.

I don’t know much about wine, but I’m fascinated by the whole wine-making process. It starts out so basic from the earth and ends up so elegantly in a glass.

We never had wine in my house growing up, my family preferred beer. The first time I remember having a glass of red wine with dinner was at my friend Kim’s house when I was 22. I thought it was a bit strong, but I enjoyed it and still do.

Clos LaChance was having a sale that day and the place was filled with wine lovers. Picnic tables were set on the lush green lawn and live music played in the background. The relaxing atmosphere was inviting.

My friends and I sipped wine and ate some tasty snacks as the sun began to set. Not a bad way to spend a Thursday evening in the Bay Area!

A Walk To Remember

You never know what you’re going to see when you go across the Golden Gate Bridge. Several years ago I watched as police stopped a man from jumping to his death and I’ll never forget running through the dense fog with thousands of others during the San Francisco Marathon.

I’ve crossed the bridge hundreds of times, but today’s walk was one to remember. The weather was beautiful, sunny and unusually warm. The majestic span stood tall against the backdrop of the clear sky and the deep blue ocean. The beauty of the bridge still amazes me, like the first time I saw it. People come from all over the world to catch a glimpse of the mighty Golden Gate and I feel so lucky to be able to see it whenever I want.

My friend Laurie joined me for the walk and we headed out towards Sausalito. Along the way we ran into hundreds of tourists taking pictures and riding bikes across the bridge, but the rock stars of the day were the bridge workers. They were painting the railing on the eastern side of the bridge and they looked like they were having a great time. Dressed in their overalls and hard hats they smiled at everyone that walked by and even posed for pictures with their paint brushes.

Adding to the great scenery was the special appearance by the Coast Guard helicopter. We could hear and feel the thumping of the rotor blades, but we couldn’t see it. Then, all of a sudden the bright orange chopper emerged from under the bridge! Everyone around us stopped in their tracks. It was so cool. I had seen the Coast Guard chopper do that maneuver before from a distance, but this was a whole new perspective.

We eventually made it across the Golden Gate and down to Sausalito. Laurie and I enjoyed lunch at a small water front café and headed back to San Francisco. We topped off our fantastic walk with an iced coffee at Starbucks, just another wonderful day living in the city by the bay.

San Francisco, Love At First Sight

I was 12 years old when I first visited San Francisco. I immediately fell in love with its waterfront views, steep hills and charming architecture. I felt invigorated by the energy in the crisp air and for the first time I could picture myself living somewhere else besides the East Los Angeles neighborhood where I grew up.

My mom and I were in the Bay Area visiting my uncle who lived in Oakland. He took us on BART into the city. That short train ride would take us into a different world I would never forget. I thought it was freezing, compared to L.A. My mom bought me a purple hooded sweatshirt with a very 80’s looking logo on it that said San Francisco. I thought I was so cool.

We hit the usual tourist stops, but the biggest thrill had to be riding the cable car from Union Square to Fisherman’s Wharf. Of course, I had to ride standing up, hanging from the side of the car. The hustle and bustle of Fisherman’s Wharf was so exciting. The smells of the freshly cooked crab and the sourdough bread filled the air. I felt so lucky to be there and couldn’t wait to brag to my brother and cousins back home about the wonderful things I had seen. We were waiting in line to ride the Red and White Ferry when I told my mom “I want to live here someday.” My dream eventually came true!

I’ve been living in San Francisco for over 5 years now and I still feel like I did when I was 12, seeing this great city for the first time. The older I get, the more I appreciate how lucky I am to live in one of the best places on earth.

Today I went for a walk at Crissy Field. It was a post card day, clear and breezy and buzzing with tourists. I walked all the way to Hopper's Hands at Fort Point and back to the Marina Green. I could have spent all day out there soaking up the sunshine and people watching. The dog walkers are always a sight to see, trying to control their pack of dogs as they tangle themselves with the leashes. There’s also the men fishing off the pier near the Warming Hut patiently waiting for the big catch. And then, there are the busloads of tourists speaking every language in the world, taking millions of pictures and captivated by the majesty of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Weekdays are my favorite time to stroll through that area. It’s less crowded and you can always find a spot to sit down and enjoy lunch while looking out into the bay. I go out there when I need to clear my mind and relax.

I’m not sure how much longer I’ll live in San Francisco, but my list of things to do before I leave keeps growing by the day and I’m determined to make the most of everyday while I’m here.