A Suitcase and Go

I'm at the airport on the way to my next destination, thinking about the amazing time I had in San Francisco.   Livability for me: 99%, it loses 1% because its so damn expensive, feels even a bit more expensive than NYC to me.  I'm sure I'll be back and could easily see myself making it a permanent home. Off to destination #2 now! A few final San Francisco pictures that didn’t make it in the other posts. Grace Cathedral Palace of Fine Arts Final visit to the Marina area to see the Golden Gate Bridge

I explored Oakland since I really wanted to drive over the Bay Bridge.  I've become obsessed with it after seeing it at night.  It was such a great decision to explore outside San Francisco, I got to enjoy a really nice hike and some incredible views. Highlights: Hiking at Joaquin Miller Park: Such a pretty trail and you get a wonderful lookout point  Grizzly Peak Vista Point: The scenes were like a postcard, you could see everything from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge Treasure Island:   Its a former military base off the Bay Bridge. I got some food and sat near the rocks and enjoyed the scenery Hiking at  Joaquin Miller Park Lookout point at Joaquin Miller Park View from  Grizzly Peak Vista Point Black Lives Matter memorial paintings at Albany Bulb Lunch with a view at Treasure Island

For those of you who know me really well, you know I love some nice street art.  This weekend I spend Saturday in the Mission District.  Its so full of color and energy and the food is great.   Sunday I rented a bike and went through the Golden Gate Park.   Some highlights from the weekend include: The Woman's Building in the Mission District - It has this beautiful mural painted all over the building Misión San Francisco de Asís - The oldest surviving structure in SF Food in the Mission District - I basically ate my way through the district, starting with a latte from Stonemill Matcha, a burrito from Senor Sisig, and ice cream from Bi-Rite Creamery - I recommend it all Golden Gate Park - Everything is great in the park and its completely worth spending a day taking it all in The Woman's Building Street Art in the Mission District Street Art in the Mission District Street Art in the Mission District Street Art in the Mission District Misión San Francisc...

Its been a busy week and weekend, so instead of writing much, here are a couple of highlights and pictures from everything I've been up to recently.  Walked the Golden Gate Bridge - Decided that I would walk it since it was a perfect clear day and I could see for miles.  Good decision because the views of San Francisco  and Alcatraz were beautiful, I would have missed them if I was on a bike Coit Tower - While the tower itself isn't open, I made my way up the hill and watched the sunset Golden Gate Park at twilight - Went to the Enchanted Forest in Golden Gate Park Walking the bridge SF from the bridge Coit Tower Sunset from Coit Tower Enchanted Forest in the Golden Gate Park   Evening at Golden Gate Park The SkyStar Wheel at Golden Gate Park

My first true weekend in San Francisco after working a full week, I took advantage of the beautiful weather and continued to explore the city.  We had a long weekend from work, so I rented a car on Monday, drove over the Golden Gate Bridge and explored Muir Woods.   All the nature in the area is amazing - one second you're in the woods, then on a mountain top, then on a beach and its all picture perfect. Highlights of the weekend: Japantown -  A little part of Japanese history in SF Alamo Square -  Cute little park/neighborhood and home to The Painted Ladies (basically looks like the Full House neighborhood) Golden Gate Park -  Such a beautiful park to just take a walk in  Mount Davidson -  The highest natural point in SF at 928 feet which also features a cross that represents victims of the Armenian Genocide Muir Woods -  Peaceful park to see the redwood trees  Golden Gate View Point in Mill Valley -  Beautiful views of the Go...

Immediately upon arriving I knew I picked a good AirBnB.  Its a lovely little spot in a condo building in Nob Hill.  The building and area seem very safe.  There is a great desk with a view where I can work and watch the sunrise (since I need to start work at 6 am).   The first couple of days were actually a bit rough, my body was still dealing with jetlag like crazy.  I basically just walked all over the city those.   My first weekend I packed a lot of activities in including renting a bike and going through Presidio, Lands End hiking, walking The Embarcadero (to name a few): Just a few highlights: Macondry Lane - A peaceful little lane you can walk through that takes you to Ina Coolbrith Park with amazing views of the Bay Bridge and city,  completely worth the hike up those crazy hills Crissy Field - Discovering the beach and seeing the fog over the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time this trip was amazing Weather - Its been perfect he...

I did something a bit crazy for me, I left the apartment I loved (and I really mean loved... it was this cute little studio apartment in a great building, that had the perfect layout) in Jersey City, NJ and moved my stuff to my parents' house and decided to travel the country.  I made the decision on October 16, 2020.  That's the day I booked my first Airbnb in San Francisco that would be the start of this journey and told my leasing office I was moving out on December 9.  Packing and moving was intense, after 7 years of being in the same apartment, I had so much stuff.  After about 3 weeks with my parents in Boston, I moved to San Francisco, CA.  I'm going to be sharing a little bit about this adventure, since everyone has been saying I should share a blog with pictures and thoughts.  So enjoy!  And for all the awesome and super supportive people in my life - the ones who told me how excited they are to hear about everything, want pictures and wer...