Spending time in our home in Colima, Mexico is always relaxing and productive; JJ loves gardening and I usually get busy doing stuff around the house. I have been discovering a new talent about myself and I'm enjoying it a lot!
We usually take breaks of two to three months between our travel adventures so when we're home we don't have much to do, which is not good for me; I can get anxious having to much free time so I have to keep my mind occupied.
I started building some rustic furniture for our house and I feel very content with the results; it might be a good business opportunity in the future so I'm thinking of taking some classes that can help me develop other skills to refurbish furniture. I find this very therapeutic and artistic so it's a project I would like to do once we settle in one place... All dreams come true so never stop dreaming, we just have to make it happen (I'm a dreamer and optimistic person).
While in Colima we accepted a house sitting assignment in the city of Seattle starting in January, it was the beginning of November when we closed this deal so we decided to make it a west coast adventure during the holidays. We were lucky to find three more house sits in three different cities; making our first stop in San Francisco, then Portland, Oakland and last but not least Seattle.
We arrived at the San Francisco international airport on a chilly morning so wearing a jacket and a scarf was good for a change of style. We took the BART (subway) to Union Square then walked to the hotel; the public transportation system is excellent, plus the city is very walk-able... we love that!
Union Square has a great vibe; the trolley station, the cafes and all the multicultural businesses give this place a distinctive touch. We arrived here in the second week of December so the Christmas decor was up, making this area feel very festive and warm.
We stayed the first night at The Cartwright hotel and were able to rest from our long trip. The following morning we were ready to start our adventure but not without having a good breakfast first... remember that a full belly keeps a happy heart. We found Lori's diner right on the corner from the hotel, it has a cool retro theme so we were transported to the 50's era; food was delicious and kept me smiling till I was hungry again... two hours later ha ha!
That afternoon we were introduced to Bazel, a new little friend we took care of for ten days. The apartment we house sat is located in Nob Hill, a nice neighborhood close to all the conveniences so it made our stay very comfortable.
Walking is the best way to explore a city; this is how we discovered some cute hidden places and some amazing views of the bay, plus we burned all the extra calories from eating so many tortillas and bread. :)
After a long walk through steep streets lined with beautiful trees and looking at the excited tourists riding the trolley; we finally made it to the wharf. The first thing JJ saw was a churros stand so he had to have one... sweet treats make him smile :)
The Wharf is a nice place to visit, walking along the water front can be relaxing and fun; if you're a foodie, this is the place you want to be.
San Francisco has so much to offer, its architecture is something that draws me in; that's what I love about taking long walks because there are so many beautiful buildings and houses to appreciate. The eclectic life style, international food and diversity of people make of this city a perfect multicultural destination.
One morning we took our little friend, Bazel, and started our daily walk. We wanted to visit the Golden Gate Park, we read about it and were told it was a beautiful place to spend the day; with granola bars, treats for the doggy and water in our backpack, we went for the adventure.
The park is a beautiful recreational area in the middle of the city; here you can visit the Botanical and Japanese Gardens and many other places of interest. We spent the whole day walking around appreciating the beauty of the landscapes and, we also had a treat at the Japanese Tea House :); by the time we returned back to the apartment, we realized we had walked about ten miles... we had a great day exploring this area!
I've been to San Francisco before but never gave myself the opportunity to explore the city as much as JJ and I did this time, perhaps I was younger and I only cared for the nightlife; now I'm glad to enjoy life and all the travel adventures with the person I love, spending more quality time together... I think I'm getting old! :)
We can see ourselves living in this amazing city but unfortunately it's way to expensive. I honestly think there are so many other beautiful places where we can have a more affordable cost of living and a quality way of life... so our adventure continues!
Safe travels my friends!
