Reflections of a Travel Buff: Part 1
I've been off blogging for a little while, but what better way to come back to it than with a post about what makes me the happiest: being continuously on the move, visiting new places, and soaking in their cultural identity.
Spring Break 2013: Before I knew it, March was upon me and I was on a flight to visit my extended family and baby cousins in San Francisco. I was going back after a year, and I wondered what the Bay Area had in store for me this time.
Bay Area
I never quite understood the charm that San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area had for most people, until this visit. Perhaps it was because during my previous trip, the excitement of visiting the West Coast in the USA was dulled due to the famous Bay Area weather wreaking havoc and changing at will. It was cold, bitter, and wet in March last year.
But no, weather wasn't going to dampen 2013! It was a sunny 80° every single day (although the Bay Area gets really chilly at nights, but that can be dealt with if the days are like this!) and that definitely put me in seventh heaven. I never quite realized how much of a difference the weather could make on your trip until having been in both these situations with two completely different experiences.
San Francisco
Sunny San Francisco is quite a site to see and a place you'll never forget: cute, small, bustling, and rich in multicultural identity! The Mission District is full of history and cultural heritage, with the gorgeous Mission Dolores church towering over the neighborhood and Dolores Park being the perfect hangout spot for kids and adults alike on a beautiful sunny day. Ethnic restaurants dot the district, and cafes are galore. I "Yelped" the entire district and indulged in Burmese, Chinese, Mexican, and Indian cuisines.
But my favorite time of the day was walking into Californian, organic cafes and sitting down with alfajores (Mexican dulce de leche cookies) and sipping a smoothie while studying for my classes. San Francisco is a foodie's paradise. From morning bagels with flavoured cream cheeses and huevos rancheros to famous family-owned ice cream shops with never-before-heard-of flavors, I was bowled over! Ever tried salted caramel and Mexican chocolate ice cream, or vanilla lavender chocolate bites?
Embarcadero Carnival
On certain Sundays of the month, the famous stretch at the Embarcadero is closed off to vehicles, and the carnival begins. The entirety of the San Francisco population descends upon this street with their families for a Sunday afternoon out. Kids are whizzing past on scooters and rollerblades (replacing cars on heavily trafficked roads), music is blaring, markets are springing up by the Ferry Terminal building, and it feels like a true, lazy Sunday. A quick coffee and gelato later, I find myself chalking the path and hula hooping with my two baby cousins while they attempt to draw up picturesque rainbows and suns without getting run over by the numerous, adorable little dogs being walked.
For the intellectuals and artsy people alike, San Francisco has a lot to offer. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the equivalent of the famous one in New York City, was enthralling. I sat for hours trying to decipher the art and add my own meaning to those beautiful paintings and art pieces. Last year, I even had a throwback moment to high school Spanish classes when I chanced upon a painting by Frida Kahlo at the MOMA! I even got a personal tour from a four-year-old around the Academy of Sciences and its breathtaking aquarium!
But to save the best for last, the highlight of my trip was a ride in those famous cable cars up Powell and Hyde Street all the way down to North Beach and the Ghirardelli Square, near Fisherman's Wharf. I always knew summer is a beautiful season, but to watch the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge tower over the entire city of San Francisco, was breathtaking. I also saw the ports getting down to work and Alcatraz and Sausalito hovering by peacefully beyond with the sun blazing down. And at that moment, that little, bubbly feeling of wanting to become a travel writer came back. . . .
I can't possibly keep writing, but in my next post, I'm going to mention why I think this unique Californian city and its culture appealed to me so much and a little bit more of my thoughts on travel writing and blogging. Stay tuned!