First stop…Paraduxx Winery and four yummy wines for tasting. If you are unsure about a wine as you taste it, take a bite of either cheese or cracker and taste again. The taste of the wine will be different after you have that bite. I guarantee it. Try it…
Last stop of the day…Bouchon Bakery for a lemon tart and cappuccino. What a way to end the day.
No tips today…just San Francisco photos.
The city at night
Entrance to China Town
View from a Cable Car
Even Spys need to eat
Perhaps you want to sample the local food. Get a real feel for what the locals eat.
Search out street fairs to purchase a locally made trip souvenir. Often these are less expensive than what you find in “tourist shops”.
Take a ride on the F Line Trolley car in San Francisco. When you get home, frame your ticket and a photo of you with the trolley car for an inexpensive memento.
Again, sample some local food at a farmer’s market. If you are thinking about an expensive restaurant, check our http://www.restaurant.com/ and buy a $25 gift certificate for only $10. Look at any day or time restrictions, but usually these are a great deal.
Cash in any hotel reward points quickly. Don’t save for a “foggy day”.
Take a stroll to the Ferry Building along the bay and munch your way through the whole building. These are just a few of the places you can satisfy your cravings…
Fruits and vegetables…
Maybe caviar is more your liking…
Try the olive oil…
Stay tuned…more delights will follow.
California’s coast is often called the Jade Coast. For one thing, the emerald green waters can look more like jade than emeralds. Mainly because jade has many different hues of greens, blues, and even whites…much like the coastline.
Another reason is the jade found along much of the coast. Knowing that there are several types of jade in multiple colors has brought gem hounds from all over to search for this beautiful stone. Divers have secret coves off the coast where they bring up jade. Some spots are off limits unless you’re registered.
But…by Bodega Bay all you have to do is walk the beach. Small, various colors of polished jade stones get washed up here. Probably not large enough or high enough quality for gem stone collectors, jewelry makers or carvers it still is fun to come across your find of “gems”.
Quite the collection…for starters. I’ve now been bitten by the “jade bug”. Must go back to search for more…
Whale watching along the California coast in March is popular. This past week-end found us traveling along California Highway 1 by Bodega Bay. Our goal was to watch whales as they migrate north, some with calves in tow.
The whales perhaps did not know we were there as they didn’t cooperate. Or at least they didn’t let us know they were there. So, we amused ourselves with other spectacular scenery as only the California coast can provide.
Nothing like a sweeping view of coastline, waves, and sand on a March day.
Water forms interesting passageways through the rocky cliffs. The surf on this one almost got me.
High Tide coming up.
After a tough day at the beach looking for whales, refreshments were in order. This magnificent Pinot Noir from Gary Farrell soothed our souls.
Spring is definitely here.
Today’s blog is a little unusual but for a great cause. Read about a program P&G has started called Tide Loads of Hope.
P&G has asked us to help get the word out about their efforts to raise money via T-Shirt sales to support families that are affected by disaster in this one-of-a-kind program. The shirts are vintage-looking and support a great cause. Shirts can be purchased through this link: http://tidetshirts.pgvillage.com/c-9-show-all.aspx?_vsc=tide4
This is directly from their site:
Tide Loads of Hope helps in the aftermath of a natural disaster by providing clean clothes and a sense of comfort to families in need. Partnering with Feeding America, we travel to disaster affected neighborhoods with the Tide Loads of Hope truck or vans, our free mobile laundry service.
Details:
Tide Loads of Hope truck:32 high-effiency washers and dryers stationed on the truckCan do 300 wash and dry cycles a day – equal to one year’s worth of laundry for a single family.
Will wash about 9,000 loads of laundry over a four-week periodLeveraged during massive disasters where electricity is unavailable in the region.
Tide Loads of Hope vans:In partnership with a local laundromat, the Tide Loads of Hope vans provide free laundry service at the same load rate as the trucks.
Leveraged during disasters where neighboring communities still have a source of electricity.
To date, Tide Loads of Hope has washed more than 35,000 loads of laundry for over 20,000 families.
Most importantly, the Tide Loads of Hope program means we’re equipped to take action whenever and wherever there is a need in our country.
Tide Loads of Hope Vintage Tees:Tide Loads of Hope can also be supported through the purchase of a Tide Vintage Tee.
All profits go to support families affected by disaster.Where it all started In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the need for clean clothing became critical, and Tide found a way to help. So in November 2005, the Tide Loads of Hope truck headed to Camp Hope in the Metairie, LA area and cleaned over 10,000 loads of laundry.
The spirit of this first venture informs and inspires everything Tide Loads of Hope program does.
The first Chinese immigrants landed in San Francisco in 1848; two men and one woman.
The Chinese were the first immigrants to rebuild after the 1906 earthquake and fire.
In 1908 the Chinese Chamber of Commerce was established.
Chinatown in San Francisco is now home to over 1.5 Million people of Chinese descent.
Start the day off right…stop at the Victoria Pastry Shop in Little Italy.
Pastries were wonderful…cappuccino was Divine.
Now walk off the pastry calories with a trek through Chinatown.
Walk over to Pier 39 to catch the California Sea Lions sunning themselves. They don’t worry about a few extra calories!
End your walk at Ghiradelli Square with a hot fudge sundae.
Time to watch the big ships as they head out to sea.