First day in San Francisco
Leaving DC Saturday morning was probably one of the toughest things I’ve done. I’m not even going to get into what I left behind and what I’m most likely going to miss out on - so… I arrived Saturday at around 11am. The flight was fairly uneventful but by far one of the best I’ve ever been on domestically. If you’ve never flown Virgin America, I’d highly suggest a booking at your earliest convenience, to San Francisco preferably.
The cab ride to my sublet (where I’ll be staying until Oct 1) was an interesting mix of anticipation, sudden fear, and lightheadedness (I hadn’t slept for over a day at that point). I tried not to think about all of boxes that could not be there when I got to my new place and how unfriendly my new roommates could be when I got there.
I arrived at 1165 Church St. without a hitch and with all of the luggage I left DC with. Twice a miracle in my case, as some may know. Unfortunately, none of the boxes I shipped a week earlier had arrived but luckily I did bring enough clothes in my small carry-on for about 4 days. I intelligently decided to pack the rest of my 2 huge check-in bags with hangers, a hiking backpack, a piggy bank, random electronics, and my snowboarding helmet. On the bright side, if ever I needed coins to wash laundry and then hang them while listening to my ipod on a hiking trip at a ski resort I would not be out of luck.
However, I didn’t brood for too long as I quickly made friends with another pair of sublettors in the house, a couple from Missouri, and decided to trot off with them immediately to Dolores Park.
Stupid awesome day in Dolores Park
It was really nice day, around 80 degrees (hot for San Francisco), and the couple I was with, who now are pretty good friends of mine, had been going out to the park almost every weekend since they arrived from the Midwest a few weeks earlier. I could see why. It was packed with every type of person you can imagine. Rarely had I ever seen businessmen in polo and loafers walking around with stoner types smoking what definitely did not smell like cigarettes laying around with hundreds of sunbathers taking up the same space as teenagers slip-n-sliding on nothing but wet grass facilitated by a random water hose.
After staying for about 2 hours enjoying the sun… well… shade I followed my new friends to yet another park, Washington Square Park for a bon voyage party with a girl from UC Berkeley.
Il Postino
A few hours later there happened to be a free movie also being played in the park on a huge, inflatable screen. The movie was Il Postino, an Italian movie about a postman, and it was pretty damn good and definitely a plus for being free. We ended the night with a few hoppings around the North Beach area.
I’d like to think my first day was successful or else a nice appetizer for what the west coast has on the menu for this recent convert. Wow.. horrible metaphor… ha.
*On a side note: If anyone is interested now and forever… or something like that… I will be posting all/most of my pictures on Flickr for your own viewing enjoyment. Pics of the new place in downtown coming soon…
September 18th, 2008 at 4:52 am
I heard you living in Noe Valley. Fresca is a really good Peruvian place there or Savor a nice cafe for brunch both on 24th St.
Also the best coffee I ever had was at Blue Bottle in Hays Valley. Not in the neighborhood, but worth the trip. http://bluebottlecoffee.net/
September 18th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I am in Noe Valley currently. Though I’ll be moving to Tender Nob (Nob Hill/Tenderloin) in 2 weeks. Thanks for the suggestions! I’m definitely going to try them out.