Making peace with the laundry room

When I moved here I discovered the laundry room. It’s one of those things I thought it only existed in movies. I have to get out of my house to wash clothes? It didn’t make any sense to me.

The first time I used it, it was tragic. This little annoying man walked into the room accusing me of stealing his money and misplacing his clothes. He was also offended by the fact the he hadn’t been informed of the fact that I was living in the building.

I fought back: ‘If somebody gets a girlfriend in the building do they have to inform you?’ I managed to shut him up. I walked out of the room in a complete rage, but also secretly proud of my answer.

Today I adventured in the laundry room for the second time and I was a little nervous. This handsome, kind man had replaced the nasty little man. He removed his clothes from the washing machine to make room for mine; he loved London and smiled a lot.

I guess some things are getting better. 

Roaming around

These days I just walk and walk and walk. Sometimes aimlessly. I get the feeling that if I walk long enough one day I'll feel this city is my city.

A view behind my back - Twin Peaks

I’ve been staying in a flat in Twin Peaks for almost 3 weeks now and I didn’t know I had the most amazing view of San Francisco literally behind my back. Sometimes we can’t see what’s right in front of us, but maybe sometimes it’s even harder to see what’s right behind us. 

Sacred and profane

Sacred and profane live seamlessly in San Francisco. Charming shops sell everything from St Mary statues, native American totems, Mexican masks, skulls and who’s to say what is sacred and what is not?

More from the Mission

As I mentioned in another post, the Mission is my favourite place in San Francisco so far. There's always something going on, something to look at.
Today I met a guy that takes his little disabled dog around on a pram :)

A non-day in a normal Cafe'

Today is was a non-day. Being far from home sometimes feels completely non-sensical. Thank God for this unfancy Café. Average food, quiet, not pretty, not pretentious. A place that made me feel home because it doesn’t scream to get noticed.
Cafe' la Boheme.

Ciao Nonna Adina

My Nana passed away today.
It feels hard to be so far from home right now.
Her last words to me were: Do what you’ve always done.

Amazing woman. My heart is with her. 

Under San Francisco spell

I'm meeting new people and enjoying every little corner of this beautiful city. It's getting exciting around here!

San Francisco literary classics

Inside and outside the City Lights bookshop.

San Francisco snapshot (The Old, the New and the Odd)

Vesuvio Cafe' (historical hangout of the beat generation), the Exploratorium (the museum with the best name I've ever known), a street named after Jack Kerouac, a psychic shop sign, an ad and the skyscrapers at the back.

What is that smoke?

It’s something we’ve all seen in American movies. I still don’t know what it is. I googled it and got vague answers. I took a picture of it because it’s one of those things I’m going to stop noticing if I live here long enough.
I’m making an effort to keep a childlike point of view while I try to fit in the city. It’s more fun!

If you are still curious here is a possible answer to the smoke question:
http://ask.yahoo.com/20041130.html

Hugging the sun

Today it was so beautiful and sunny I felt like hugging the sun. I couldn’t so I tried to capture it with my camera. That was hard too so here is what is left of a gorgeous day in the sunshine state. Noe Valley, San Francisco.

Pillow fight!

I love moving to a new country, but it can be a little frustrating. Everything is new and sometimes I feel a bit lost. Plus I have to get a new bank, a new phone, a new flat, a new everything.
San Francisco has given me the best San Valentine's gift to help me vent my frustration: a pillow fight in the street. So liberating. I think we should all do it at least once a month. I want more!

Odd bar in the Mission

The Mission has already become my favourite area. Quirky, fun and full of life. Apparently is also one of the warmest neighbourhood in the crazy San Francisco micro-climate where spring and summer can be just a mile away.

I was walking in the street and someone grabbed me (literally grabbed me) to check out some drummers in this unusual bar. Loved it.

Ocean beach and the blue light

The light overhere is amazing. There are no filters in these pictures, but they come out blue like in the movies.