4th of July in San Francisco! Yes, this is almost as amazing as New Year's Eve in Times Square!
Waking up to the beautiful San Mateo sunshine started off the day perfectly. Playing tennis at the park for an hour pushed the perfection to a new high. Oh yes, nationwide tennis match going on in San Mateo between my friend and her mom. :) It felt great to get out and play without rain pouring down on the courts like it would in PA.
The day got off to a slow start, mostly because of the eventful day I had yesterday. After a cereal and soy milk breakfast, a tofu sandwich and fresh fruit lunch, my friend and I packed our gear to meet up with friends in Foster City, a town south of San Mateo.
San Francisco Bay is a prime spot for fireworks on the 4th of July, however, the crowds can be a bit much for those wanting to actually see the fireworks. Also, the fog is usually somewhat of a problem, as it blocks the fireworks show altogether. So, we figured the best spot to check out the fireworks would be out of the city and into a quiet town.
The seating area was on park land overlooking a river-like waterway where people could ride their boats. The scene was set with groups of friends, family, couples sitting around the water and on the grass looking into the clear, night sky waiting for the show to begin.
Once the sun set completely, the show began and we enjoyed a half hour of a great light show.
For a moment I realized that as I turned to my left and right I wasn't among anyone who I've known for more than 8 months! I was amidst strangers. They'd taken me in as one of their friends- as someone they enjoyed being around and mistakened as a longtime friend.
But within that moment I realized this is what life is about, escaping that comfort zone that holds one back from reaching out to others and from understanding that life is filled with change.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
I'm in San Francisco. Though I spent the whole first day with my friend traveling throughout the city, stopping at Haight/Ashbury, Golden Gate Park, and driving along the coast and didn't get much time to do the exploring that I'd wanted. It was very helpful to have my friend with me and especially her car to get us around to destinations of our choice. The transportation system in San Francisco is easy and there are various ways of getting around such as: MUNI, Bart, and bus to name a few. I recommend taking the Bart especially if traveling from outside the city. I took the Bart because I was coming from San Mateo and it dropped me off right in the heart of the city.
Golden Gate Park was beautiful! This is where we saw the Rose Garden and the Japanese Tea Garden. We had to pay to get into the Japanese Tea Garden, which I didn't quite agree with, however, it was $4 well spent. I felt like I stepped into a whole other world of green and natural wonders. Absolutely gorgeous! Because it was foggy and drizzling the weather put a damper on the experience, nonetheless, the flowers and landscaped grounds were still magnificent.
We stopped for lunch in Haight Ashbury at a Thai restaurant. The food was quick and tasty. There are a lot of Thai and ethnic restaurants to eat at on the block. There are various eateries, "hippie" clothing shops, spiritual stores, tattoo and piercing parlors, and funky graffitti designs that line the streets and buildings. Haight Ashbury is very unique and I would compare it to South Street in Philadelphia.
The day ended, quite fast too with a trip to the San Francisco Giants Stadium. Our original intent was to see a baseball game, well that didn't work out. There were so many people waiting in line for tickets and not two seats within the same section of the stadium! We pushed those plans aside and moved ahead to Union Square where luckily, a band was playing. Great music, great friends, great weather! What really caught my attention was the hearts at the four corners of Union Square. I was absolutely mesmerized by the different art inside each of them. The one heart, featured as the main picture for my blog, was of course my favorite. It is the everlasting image that sums up the whole of my trip and allows me to quote one of my favorite singers- "I left my heart in San Francisco."- Frank Sinatra
Golden Gate Park was beautiful! This is where we saw the Rose Garden and the Japanese Tea Garden. We had to pay to get into the Japanese Tea Garden, which I didn't quite agree with, however, it was $4 well spent. I felt like I stepped into a whole other world of green and natural wonders. Absolutely gorgeous! Because it was foggy and drizzling the weather put a damper on the experience, nonetheless, the flowers and landscaped grounds were still magnificent.
We stopped for lunch in Haight Ashbury at a Thai restaurant. The food was quick and tasty. There are a lot of Thai and ethnic restaurants to eat at on the block. There are various eateries, "hippie" clothing shops, spiritual stores, tattoo and piercing parlors, and funky graffitti designs that line the streets and buildings. Haight Ashbury is very unique and I would compare it to South Street in Philadelphia.
The day ended, quite fast too with a trip to the San Francisco Giants Stadium. Our original intent was to see a baseball game, well that didn't work out. There were so many people waiting in line for tickets and not two seats within the same section of the stadium! We pushed those plans aside and moved ahead to Union Square where luckily, a band was playing. Great music, great friends, great weather! What really caught my attention was the hearts at the four corners of Union Square. I was absolutely mesmerized by the different art inside each of them. The one heart, featured as the main picture for my blog, was of course my favorite. It is the everlasting image that sums up the whole of my trip and allows me to quote one of my favorite singers- "I left my heart in San Francisco."- Frank Sinatra
Friday, July 18, 2008
Wednesday, July 2
Yes! I am flying out to the West Coast. The Coast untroddened by my own two feet. I had only paid $286 for a round trip ticket to Oakland, CA, but it was a red-eye flight and I had a layover in Las Vegas. Of course I didn't mind because when you are looking for affordable and cheap prices, your best bet is to be open to stopping in cities along the way. My layover lasted three hours and during that time I stopped at one of the airport eateries for enough food to hold me over until tomorrow. As I sat alone eating my sandwich, an older man asked to sat with me and being the trusting and friendly person that I am, I let him. I couldn't shut him up after that! We had conversations about San Fran, life, traveling alone. Honestly though I couldn't wait to get on the plane and find myself in San Francisco. Luckily the hour and a half plane ride got me to Oakland by 1:30 AM for my friend to pick me up! A breath of fresh California air filled my lungs and I let it out nice and slow...for once I was relaxed.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Tuesday, July 1
First day of the month. First day of a new beginning.
Traveling alone to San Francisco was not my original plan, but I have learned that when those original plans don't work out, you have to improvise. Hm. Improvisation. Never really a strong point for me- quite scary actually. I'm used to the play by play method of making itineraries and purchasing tickets ahead of time.
Well that method went out the door over the bushes and crashed into the lake. I was on my own in pretty much a physical AND emotional way. Let me try and put it in perspective for you: Have you ever asked your mother about a week in advance to make you your favorite dish for a weekend dinner and you spend all week anticipating that delicious meal your going to be having? Well, what happens when come Friday night your mother tells you that she won't be making you that meal because she didn't get a chance to go food shopping all week? I'll tell you what happens- you break down. Your stomach growls, your palms sweat, your heart races and you feel confused and bewildered not knowing where to turn. Uh huh, yea well we have both experienced that feeling of desertion. Don't worry though because you manage to rise above the situation because of a little thing called leftover surprise.
Immediately, I wanted to hop on the plane and leave all my troubles behind in Philadelphia, which coincidentally acted like a safe haven for me. I was running. Escaping maybe? But mostly leaving as a means to seek a new environment where maybe I could find peace. I was running thousands of miles west with no one chasing after me. Maybe that is how I wanted it deep down inside and how it needed to be. I finally (and when I say finally I mean after months and months) realized the importance of my needs, my wants, and my life enough to inspire me to begin my lifelong journey.
Tears no more.
It was time for me to live. I know there is a world of people to meet and places to visit that I must experience in order to deepen the awareness to my life's purpose.
Let the traveling begin...
Traveling alone to San Francisco was not my original plan, but I have learned that when those original plans don't work out, you have to improvise. Hm. Improvisation. Never really a strong point for me- quite scary actually. I'm used to the play by play method of making itineraries and purchasing tickets ahead of time.
Well that method went out the door over the bushes and crashed into the lake. I was on my own in pretty much a physical AND emotional way. Let me try and put it in perspective for you: Have you ever asked your mother about a week in advance to make you your favorite dish for a weekend dinner and you spend all week anticipating that delicious meal your going to be having? Well, what happens when come Friday night your mother tells you that she won't be making you that meal because she didn't get a chance to go food shopping all week? I'll tell you what happens- you break down. Your stomach growls, your palms sweat, your heart races and you feel confused and bewildered not knowing where to turn. Uh huh, yea well we have both experienced that feeling of desertion. Don't worry though because you manage to rise above the situation because of a little thing called leftover surprise.
Immediately, I wanted to hop on the plane and leave all my troubles behind in Philadelphia, which coincidentally acted like a safe haven for me. I was running. Escaping maybe? But mostly leaving as a means to seek a new environment where maybe I could find peace. I was running thousands of miles west with no one chasing after me. Maybe that is how I wanted it deep down inside and how it needed to be. I finally (and when I say finally I mean after months and months) realized the importance of my needs, my wants, and my life enough to inspire me to begin my lifelong journey.
Tears no more.
It was time for me to live. I know there is a world of people to meet and places to visit that I must experience in order to deepen the awareness to my life's purpose.
Let the traveling begin...
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