The city is bustling with tourists and locals, getting together at bars and restaurants for a holiday gathering. It’s become difficult getting a reservation, unless of course you’ve planned ahead. But even still, here are a few more of my three bars and cafe recommend in the city by the bay: Click on the photo to be redirected
I have to repeat, I love traveling and also love it when I find an article taking a vote about traveling, like the one here about the Ten Best Cities In The World. It’s hard to make such an assumption or conclusion when each city in varying destinations around the world, has it’s own charm, beauty and personality (if you will) and can in no way be measured against another. I get it some places are dodgy and lack character, but to title an article TEN BEST CITIES IN THE WORLD versus SOME OF THE BEST CITIES IN THE WORLD is, in my opinion, bias (never mind the fact, I have been to each and every one of them on the list and agree to some extent 🙂 ). But in any case, just to apease the curious, here are the 10 cities per the Conde Nast Traveler article to be dubbed the best: {photo and article credit, click here}
If someone were to ask me where I’d like to spend each season of one entire year, I’d have to say the following: What about you? 🙂
While Tuesday was the first actual cold day in San Francisco. Let me clarify, Fall cold, because technically our summers are cold too. Anyway, while yesterday we got a taste of bitter cold, I couldn’t help but check the weather for Paris – something I crazily do on a daily basis to compare. It showed the same temperatures as we had in San Francisco. low 50s to cool 70s (F), throughout the day and I have to say, I smiled. Although the two cities are often compared in so many ways, all I ever see are all the difference, favoring Paris all the way. Trivial you might say for this blog entry. I suppose. But just the thought of Paris makes me smile, any time of the year and I needed to express that right about now.
Every Fall I pay homage to the farmers of America by dedicating a weekend to visit a different farming community. This year I gathered my family and drove up to Apple Hill – past Placerville, California on the way to Lake Tahoe to appreciate their hard work and give back, in this case by hopefully by picking apples and enjoying a picnic with wholesome food and local wines. What I got was much more. What I love the most about simple farming communities are the reminders of how ‘uncomplex’ life used to be up until the early seventies.; best described through Norman Rockwell paintings. I’ve always been fascinated by the era and wish I had the opportunity to live through it as a child.
When I plan my annual trip, privately, and once confirmed send a global message to my co-workers announcing that I’ll be out of the office, some frown upon the fact, that I choose to travel. Although I respect their opinion, I cannot for the life of me understand how they go an entire year, without taking a single day off from work other than the usual weekends and company sponsored holidays. The ten days I spend away from the norm, not only revives my soul, it helps me think, plan and make a list of goals I would like to accomplish in the upcoming year. Not to mention the fact, gives me the courage to push for what I really want out of life. Call me crazy, but how do people go on, bypassing any type of vacation and saving their earned time off for a rainy day instead? On my last and only day in Paris to catch a flight back to the U.S. the sun came out miraculously from a week or more …
I always make a pit stop in the French Riviera, particularly Cannes and spend about 3 nights at the least in a part of the world I would like to retire to someday. Usually or in the past, the weather had cooperated in early September, my annual visit to the region and I normally left for Paris on the TGV with a wonderful tan. Not so much this year. Although sunny, it’s been unusually cold and windy or perhaps usual from the locals point of view. I just have never experienced it. What I also found interesting is that this is actually the first time, there was only a handful of people at the beach. I know it was because of the weather, but still, it all seemed unreal. I did my touring, shopping, sunbathing a little, wonderful dining and a stroll along the promenade – even though I was freezing my buns off – it mattered not – I was in the French Riviera for only three days.
Genoa is a good base if you want to explore the Italian Riviera. (In my opinion anyway). So, I included the destination on this year’s trip to Europe to do just that. After a stormy day in Lake Como, (a day trip from Genoa) we loaded up on esspresso and pastries and got on an intercity train for a half hour journey to Camogli from Genoa. A fishing village I haven’t been to for over 15 years. The easy going small town, adorned with charming pastel colored buildings, put me at ease right away and I had a difficult time leaving the place to catch the last train back to Genoa for the night. I can see myself spending at least a week, if not more there, simply existing, eating focaccia, plenty of fresh seafood and rum balls, in between napping and oh yeah simply existing. 🙂
Two days in Rome is plenty of time for anyone who’s been there many times. So after 48hours we took a train to Genoa. A city I use as a base when I want to enjoy the Italian riviera. The weather prediction for day one was rain and thunderstorms, hardly a good time to lay on the beach. So we took a day trip to lake Como instead and spend the entire day leisurely walking about the small town after taking a one hour bus ride to Bellagio first to have lunch at our usual eatery tucked away in a neighborhood not frequented by tourists. I don’t recommend day trips to Como from Genoa but it is something easily done from Milan. Anyway being a seasoned traveller helped and we accomplished seeing e an unplanned destination thanks to the not so pretty weather in Genoa.
I’ve wanted to see Cortona for years, even before the book/film Under The Tuscan Sun put the quant destination on the map. But the reason I haven’t done so, is because I Had a list of places I wanted to visit in a particular order. Well, this year, after finishing my novel (waiting for the publishing company to finalize), I felt the need to include Cortona in my annual trip to Italy, just to pay homage to a story which inspired me to write mine. I wasn’t disappointed, but I do have to say I was surprised to discover, how beautifully small the town was and how breathtaking the view. It is certainly worth adding to your list of places to see, if you haven’t already. {I apologize the internet is very slow in the hotels and thus, cannot seem to connect with everyone through my blogs}
rawsilkandsaffron.com 