WOW...(used this word so much this journey) has it been a few days of California fun. Yesterday we left Mendocino in the early morning. Farewell you beautiful California coastline...for now....we were off to the Valley for the California wine vineyards. Yesterday afternoon we spent the day in Calistoga, CA at the Sterling Wine Vineyards. It was simply marvelous. The drive from the coast to the Valley and onward cannot be adequately described in words. Gorgeous, beautiful, breathtaking are a complete understatement. California has so much to offer: coast, hills, mountains, valley's, Chronicle of Narnia, larger than life trees. I want to thank my dear friend and wine connoisseur friend, Christina, for suggesting Sterling Vineyards. The Vineyard was designed in the style of the Mykonos Islands in Greece. Sterling has a tram that takes you 90 feet above their property. It was spectacular. After our leisurely tour the frugal travelers made sandwiches for a late lunch, enjoyed the scenery, and hit the wide open Cali road for Berkeley. We have spent the last few days with my wonderful friend Aliou who I last saw and spent the Holidays with in Paris a year and a half ago. Since he lives in Berkeley that gave us the opportunity to visit this super duper hippy and historically significant town. What can I say about Berkeley? There's two sides of Berkeley, the town occupied by non-Berkeley students and then there's the neighborhood occupied by the people that make Berkeley exactly what we know it as. Telegraph is the street where all the action takes place. The first thing we saw was an upside down American flag hung on a fence with the declaration of the the pain caused by the USA to the indigenous peoples. Defamed flags always make me extremely uncomfortable and the chalk covered sidewalks with socialist leaning sentiments was not particularly in my favor: But why did I love it..Because only in America can people do this. And that is what made me so happy about Berkeley. It's a true example of exactly what this country is about. Aliou took us around the University which was great. Berkeley has the third highest and largest clock tower in the world. Last night we spent time with Aliou and his law school buddies. Our BBQ and karaoke party was halted by the police. As the police officer told us, "Your neighbors do not think you're as good as I do." =)
This morning we awoke to a cloudy Bay Area day. We took the BART Train into San Francisco and headed to one of our favorite San Francisco spots, Sears Fine Foods. They have terrific waffles and we have been waiting since the start of our trip to conquer those waffles. We were lucky enough to get a fantastic window seat that allowed for terrific San Fran people watching. After lunch we decided we would check out the areas we were never able to see the last time we were in San Fran, which was a few years ago over Memorial Day weekend. We made our way to Castro, the very very gay friendly neighborhood of San Francisco and the Haight/Ashbury district. Berkeley was just apparently not hippy or weird enough for us, so we had to hit up Haight. Along the way we were diverted for a few hours due to a Laos Independence Day Festival at S.F. City Hall. On our way out of the Festival I had to use the porto-potties and because of this bathroom delay we were able to run into the Mayor of San Francisco, Mayor Gavin Newsom. Now of course I initially did not know this and I approached this serious looking man and inquired whether this gentleman was well known (due to the crowds of camera clicking San Francisco-ans). He looked at me and said: Yes, that is the Mayor. I of course felt rather dumb, but that feeling did not equate to how I felt when I realized the gentleman I had asked was the Mayor's bodyguard. Mayor Newsom is running for California Lt. Governor. He is somewhat of a celebrity due to his active involvement and promotion of gay marriage in S.F. To our excitement after the Laos Festival there was a Greek Parade, so we watched the parade. The culmination of these afternoon events nearly brought tears to my eyes. I love this country so much because of its' embrace of these many and wonderful cultures. The people of Laos, the people of Greece, Crete, and Cyprus that call San Francisco their home is why this nation is so strong. Hours later we finally made our way to our initial destinations Castro and Haight. I loved Castro because of its rainbow love and embrace. It is wonderful to be in such an open-minded city. Haight was a funky area, but not even as close to being as weird as Berkeley. Berkeley you take the cake for being the oddest, leftist, strangest town. =)
Tomorrow we go to Yosemite National Park. Storms are moving in and we are keeping our fingers crossed that it will not affect us. Unfortunately we can only stay at the park for the day, the Park hotels are completely booked. We will make the best of our time, however.
Aliou thanks for having us!!
LOTS of love to you!
Bisous Aliou.
Bisous San Francisco.
We will miss you!!
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