Hiking Above The Clouds

My friend Miriam is training to climb Cerro Aconcagua in the Central Andes in Argentina. It’s one of the Seven Summits and the highest mountain in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. As part of her training, she goes on long and grueling hikes around Bay Area peaks and this weekend she invited me and my friend Laurie to come along.

Early Saturday morning we drove up to Stinson Beach, where the Mount Tamalpais hiking loop begins. The fog was thick when we started at the base of the Dipsea Trail. The cool and damp air was perfect for our ascent up the hillside.

Most of the 7.3 mile trail was shaded by Douglas firs and California bays. Along the way we saw waterfalls, a variety of ferns and countless other plants. The sound of the water flowing down the creeks was soothing. Everything was so green and full of life. I felt a burst of energy every time I took a breath. There was something almost spiritual about it.

The path eventually crossed over to the Steep Ravine Trail and then to the Matt Davis Trail. The last trail took us up through a sunny grassy hillside with spectacular views! You could see all the way to San Francisco’s Twin Peaks. The fog at the base of the hillside had not burned off yet and looked like a giant puffy white blanket covering the coast side. It was like hiking above the clouds. Our descent took us through some tight switchbacks and more gorgeous forestry.

We finished our amazing journey in 3 hours and then enjoyed a nice lunch in Stinson Beach. This hiking loop is now one of my favorites in the Bay Area and I’ll definitely be back soon!

Coit Tower

After 13 years of living in the Bay Area I finally made my way up to Coit Tower today. I’ve driven up to the parking lot atop Telegraph Hill, but I had never gone inside the tower. Taking advantage of the great sunny weather, I made the trek up to the iconic landmark. This time I went walking. I didn’t want the hassle of trying to find a parking space.

Filbert Street in North Beach takes you right up to Coit Tower. If you’re in decent shape, the steep hill shouldn’t be too bad. The walk is short and they have steps to make it a little easier. About halfway up the hill I saw a young guy out of breath, sweating bullets, sitting on the sidewalk. Maybe he should have taken a taxi.

Once I got to the base of the tower, the views were amazing! I then went inside the small circular building. The first floor walls are covered with beautiful murals depicting life in San Francisco from the perspective of different communities in the city.

There is a little gift shop where I bought my $5.00 ticket for the elevator ride to the top of the tower. About 13 of us packed into the old and noisy elevator. When I got off the elevator, I still had to walk two short flights of stairs before I reached the top.




The views from the top were breathtaking! I had a 360 degree view of the city. As I walked around I could see from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge and to the Transamerica building.

Coit Tower was built in 1933. Lillie Hitchcock Coit donated the money for the tower. It was her way of honoring San Francisco firefighters.

Trolley Dances

I am always looking for new and interesting events around San Francisco. So when I saw a story on the news about the 6^th Annual Trolley Dances, I knew I had to check it out. The production takes the audience out of the theater and on to the streets of San Francisco for a unique journey into the city’s diverse dancing community. All you need to pay is $2.00 in train fare!

The guided tour started in the middle of Mission Dolores Park. The first performance was a Son Jarocho from Veracruz, Mexico. A group of local musicians sang as two members of Grupo Folklorico Los Mejicas danced for the crowd.

From there, we moved over to the pedestrian bridge near 19^th and Church. Members of the Deborah Slater Dance Theater danced a piece called “Men Think They Are Better Than Grass.”

The next stop was the Muni trolley. We packed onto the crowded train taking us to Balboa Park in the southern part of the city. As we approached 30^th and Church the Muni driver announced over the loud speaker to look out the left side of the train for a special performance. Of course I was on the other side and couldn't see much, but I did catch a few glimpses of the couple dancing on the sidewalk. Everyone on the train started cheering as the man lifted the woman into air with her puffy, black and white polka dot skirt. We all clapped and waved good bye to the dancers as the train moved on. It must have been quite a scene for people walking down the street wondering what was going on.

When we arrived at Balboa Park we were greeted by the Oakland based company Deep Waters Dance Theater. Their lively hip-hop style music and energetic moves really got the crowd going, dancing under the trees.

We then headed to the parking lot area for a performance called “Blue Ramp.” Two women in long flowing dresses ran around dancing, splashing water from a bucket and hugged a tree as a third woman played the accordion.

Our last stop was inside the Balboa Park Pool. The first routine was a solo by a young male synchronized swimmer. For the grand finale, the San Francisco Merionettes Synchronized Swim Club performed to a medley of superhero theme songs.

I had no idea what kind of ride the Trolley Dances would take me on, but it turned out to be a very entertaining and memorable journey through the streets of my favorite city.

Blue Angels Flying High

Thousands of spectators gathered along San Francisco’s waterfront this weekend to catch a glimpse of the Blue Angels. The blue and gold jets are the stars of the annual Fleet Week festivities.

Every year, I can’t wait to see the Navy’s elite squad show off its mid-air acrobatics. The roar of the F/A-18 Hornet jets can be heard across the city, as they hurtle through the sky rattling windows. Of course, not everyone appreciates the noise, but most people welcome the spectacle.

Friday’s practice run was a big crowed pleaser. I got to watch it from Crissy Field, along with hundreds of other excited fans. The sky was clear and ideal for flying, but it was a different story on the weekend.

On Saturday, the Blue Angels abruptly stopped the show after the fog rolled in, leaving a lot of people disappointed. The Sunday performance also had to be modified and shortened because of the cloud coverage.

The weather may have put a damper on the weekend air shows, but hopefully they’ll be back next year!

Opera at the Ballpark

There are a lot of cool things to do and see in San Francisco, but this one is among the top five on my list. Opera at the ballpark! And the best part, it was free!

Thousands of opera lovers showed up at AT&T Park on September 19^th to watch a live simulcast of the San Francisco Opera’s rendition of Giuseppe Verdi’s Il Trovatore. It’s the suspenseful story of a corrupt count, a dashing warrior and a Gypsy who plots to avenge her mother’s wrongful death.

The best seating was on the baseball field, where people laid out their blankets and enjoyed the evening under the stars. You could even buy a gourmet picnic basket that included everything from a bottle of cabernet sauvignon to house made chocolate truffles.

By the time my best friend Young and I arrived at the park the field was already full, so we had to sit in the stands. We ended up at the next best spot, right behind home plate.

The weather was great, clear skies and a slight chill in the air. We were in heaven! And everyone around us also seemed to be thrilled to be there.

At 8 o’clock the stadium lights dimmed down and the show got underway. The performance was broadcasted on the jumbo screen with subtitles. The beautiful music and the singers' powerful voices filled the ballpark like a rock concert.

Opera at the ballpark was an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend it for the entire family.

The Fog

One of my favorite things about San Francisco is the fog. Some people find it dreary and depressing, but I think it’s comforting and mysterious.

I love how the fog slowly creeps into the bay through the Golden Gate Bridge on a sunny day. In a matter of minutes it can blanket the city with its chilly breeze.

And there's something so soothing about the fog horns. It's like listening to a lullaby.

It rarely gets hot in San Francisco, but when it does, you always know nature’s air conditioning will soon return to cool you off.

Candy Land Treat

The popular children’s board game Candy Land came to life in San Francisco today, so I decided to go check it out. The event was to celebrate the game’s 60th anniversary.

Lombard Street, known as the world’s most crooked street, was transformed into a life-size version of the game. Organizers closed off the street to traffic and covered the road with multi-colored foam pads and posted signs leading to “Lollipop Woods” and the “Chocolate Swamp.”

It was fun taking a walk down memory lane, remembering when I used to play Candy Land as a kid. Apparently it was also fun for the hundreds of others who showed up to take pictures next to the colorful display.