snapshots_sanfrancisco

I am not a frequent journaler. Though I do wonder if it would help with my memory. I often struggle to remember what I did just yesterday. So to better absorb the experience, I resolved to journal my whole trip to San Fransisco I took with Adrian back in 2019. The experience failed to convert me to the Church of Journaling, but it was an encouragement to turn to this tool more often for reflection and remembrance.

Below are excerpts from the trip:

July 10, 2019

Arrived before A at SFO... Made it to the BnB without incident. Went to sleep.

July 11, 2019

Our first stop was Sightglass. They had a good cappuccino. We planned out the day.

We went to see the Painted Ladies and walked around Alamo Square. I love how fog drifts through the buildings... constantly changing the landscape.

After, we walked up Russian Hill to see the house from The OA. The hills were very steep...

Took a break at a coffee shop called Saint Frank. We shared a table with another woman. She was working, and A & I were writing and talking about notebooks, pens, and process. Stephanie joined in when A brought up washi tape and journalling. This led to writing tools... Before she left, we discovered she was a professional photographer.

Leanne K happened to be in town for work and we met for dinner. Leanne and I hadn’t seen each other in five years, or as she put it, “ten years!” So not since we graduated.

We decided to visit the original Swensen’s Ice Cream. I was determined to walk since it was less than a mile away, but it was up an extremely steep hill. A and Leanne called an Uber. Swensen’s was as sweet as always. The shop was decidedly different from what A & I were used to in Thailand. But it was a fun pilgrimage all the same.

Leanne had a plane to catch so we said goodbye... A & I took the train back to the BnB and immediately crashed due to the long day of walking the hills of SF.

July 12, 2019

We started the day at b. Patisserie with coffee, croissants, and quiche. The quiche was made of the lightest, creamiest eggs. 10/10, best quiche.

Next, we made our way to Golden Gate Bridge. It was shrouded in fog... I prefer it this way. Movies usually show it on clear days. I’m glad I saw it cloaked and mysterious.

We went out on a pier (or wharf?) for a better vantage of the bridge. There was a seagull eating a crab, and one of the several fishermen had pulled up a stingray. It was windy, chilly, foggy...

Everyone records a podcast on vacation, right? A had been messaging @bojackhiddenjokes on Instagram and Leca, the creator of the account, invited us to participate in her podcast. We met at SalesForce Park which took up the entire rooftop of a high-rise.

Leca thanked us for taking the time, we thanked her for having us on, and we parted ways. We had dinner at House of Xian Dumpling and ate soup dumplings (a first for me).

July 13, 2019

Ferry day. Left early for Fisherman’s Wharf to get tickets to Angel Island. We ate bagels and pastries, and drank coffee while we waited for departure. On the way to the wharf, we had the opportunity to ride the classic SF trolly cars.

The wind was bracing on the ferry. We had a good tour of the bay on the way. Saw Alcatraz up close, another view of Golden Gate, and the skyline of SF itself.

Angel Island was beautiful. Nature trails to hike, azure vistas of the ocean, and fresh air. We hiked to the Immigration Station and spent a couple hours at the museum there. I learned more about the Chinese Exclusion Act, how asian immigrants were detained for months on end in terrible conditions. Chinese detainees took to carving poems into the walls. Lines of despair, frustration and hope.

History repeats itself.

We missed lunch. By the time the ferry returned us to the mainland, we were famished and exhausted. We took the bus to Japantown and ate at Ramen Yamadaya. Best bowl I’ve had to date. Stuffed, we explored the area and ended up walking around a mall full of Japanese shops and restaurants. We ate crepes stuffed with bananas and Nutella at Sophie’s Crepes.

July 14, 2019

Today was dedicated to the MoMA. We started at Blue Bottle Coffee with pastries and coffee. I had a savory pastry with roasted cherry tomatoes which liked to spray juice every time I bit into it.

It was supposed to be a “light” day but we spent six hours looking at art. My right hip and leg ached by the end. They had an installation devoted to photography... There was a room filled with prints of every photo uploaded to Flickr in a 24 hour period. My favorite pieces were created by mailing a pinhole camera made from a box. Photographic paper recorded abstract images of its travels.

I was most drawn to the works of an artists know as Jess... His work involved intricate collages pulled together from detailed illustrations found in old books and bits of text. He also made a few Curio Boxes. I love the idea of assembling a curated collection of objects and presenting them in a single container. The physicality and mystery.

I also saw Zapatistas by Alfredo Romas Martinez. It was an arresting painting. I kept leaving and coming back to look at it.

We headed to Mission Dolores Park after the MoMA. On the way we ate sandwiches at a deli (I had pesto chicken on a baguette) and bought a pint of ice cream at Bi-Rite Market to eat at the park. We sat on the grass an enjoyed our dessert.

July 15, 2019

Our last day was spent at the San Francisco Zoo. While we waited for the zoo to open, we went to Philz Coffee. We ate bagel sandwiches and drank their signature Mint Mojito iced coffee.

We took our time walking around the zoo. Again, it was supposed to be a “light” day. We had fun looking at and photographing all the animals. We even took a few pictures of us riding a lion (statue). I got to pet a ferret.

From there, we took the bus North to Golden Gate Park. The plan was to explore it a bit before heading to dinner. The bus dropped us right beside Ocean Beach though and we had to take the opportunity to see the Pacific. It was beautiful. White sands. Dunes. Fresh, brisk ocean breezes. People enjoying the sun, walking their dogs. In the distance, the faint shapes of ships traveling to and from the bay.

Reluctantly, we plunged into the park. I marveled at Central Park when I visited New York City. The amount of green carved out of the concrete blocks. Golden Gate Park is similar but on a different scale entirely. Massive. It’s a marvel how much space it takes up in this urban sprawl. There were Dutch windmills (plural), ponds, forested paths completely isolated from city, a bison paddock (!?), a museum... we were only able to see a small portion.

We ended the day at Burma Superstar. I’ve only had Burmese food once before (in Burma) a long time ago, so I did not know what to expect. It was fantastic. We started with a fermented tea leaf salad full of nuts and berries. The main course was a mango pork curry with coconut rice and a side of naan like bread.

Toy Boat Dessert Cafe was our last stop before riding back to the BnB, just up the street from Superstar. A got a sundae. It was massive and messy. Two scoops, hot fudge, caramel, whipped cream to overflowing. I got a giant slice of cheesecake. Smooth and delicious.

July 16, 2019

We slept in a bit, packed, then rode the train back to the airport. I shot the last few frames on my last roll of film and packed it away. We went through security without incident, and ordered breakfast burritos and coffee near my gate. My plane was scheduled to take off at noon, A’s a few hours later. A and I reflected a bit on our trip, what we enjoyed, things we learned (there were a few arguments). I thanked her for making San Francisco happen. It was her idea after all. Then it was time for me to board. We hugged, exchanged I-love-you’s, and said goodbye.