Revisiting the Bay

This time its been a more casual, less "how soon can we move on to the next tourist spot for more patelgirl" kinda trip to the Bay area. And the day we chose was perfect, if one could orchestrate the just right sunny, warm but not cold, clear sans foggy day to visit SFO, this would've been just it. And a master stroke of luck. So we set off.

My first Bay area trip was my very first touristy trip after landing in the US. And it had been a packed long weekend- visiting Yosemite and squeezing in a day of sightseeing. And like I said before, I was an FOB with lots on my travel plate, and hence it was all about how soon to see a place and move on to the next.

Not this time. And so there I was, with a camera and a bottle of water- viewing the city with a new pair of eyes.











This embedded slideshow has some of my favorite pics. Of course, the Golden Gate bridge was my favorite pick to photograph, next was the Grace Cathedral and lastly the sail boats on the bay. Here goes...


Whilst waiting for the tour bus to arrive, we stopped by at a local Arts and Crafts fair right across Fisherman's wharf. While I aimlessly walked around, I stopped briefly at a stall.....at a stall that had some wonderful bookmarks, luggage tags and paintings in water color. And my mind wandered, while my body was thus tethered. Watercolor has been my favorite art medium and it always frustrates me to realise that I am bad at it. I love the simplicity of the medium, the basic color palette, the skill of having to control as simple of a medium as water with a brush. Yes, I am enamoured by it. I have been to many classes but never have been able to master it, though it needs some practice and letting go of oneself to let the hands flow along with water to create art!

And thus I was immersed in my thoughts, when I heard a voice "You know, I just picked up a brush and went at it, when I was 50 yrs old. I'd been a full-time tax consultant till then."

We both looked at each other and smiled. Thus I met Heidi. More about Heidi and her works here. I was very encouraged and her message came at the right moment, when I needed the reassurance that I too, had hope. So thanks Heidi, I will try my hand at watercolor once AGAIN. Heidi had an interesting collection of art work. One of her customers suggested that she make luggage tags, and I totally agree that it is a wonderful idea. Yup, you guessed right. I got myself an artsy luggage tag that looks thus :

Footnote : The farmer's market over the weekends are just awesome. Some of the picturesque homes in downtown SFO makes one wish moving out there. Food tastes so much better as well, maybe it was just a break from my own boring cooking?
Another to-do whilst in SFO is to use the streetcar. I loved the leisurely and packed(like sardines) ride :) but hey its good to do as the SanFranciscoans do while in SFO, right?