Take me out to the Ball Game...!

Baseball! Alexandra has this tradition every year in which she invites Brittany (beautiful friend) for her birthday to AT-T field in San Francisco to see the San Francisco Giants. Which, incidentally, is the best team in the world. Fact, they won the world series last year. (Go, Cubs!)

This year, Alexandra will be in Europe for that happy day, so we she decided to go earlier, namely, May 22nd. And since Katie and I were going to be there, she bought tickets for us too (gee, thanks, madam!)

I have to say, that this is not my first time with baseball, despite Alexandra's efforts. I was organizing games in Fun and Learn and I had a visit to Target Field in Minneapolis to go see the Twins (wah yeah!). But this time was the funnest. I finally understand the rules of baseball. And I love some of the players (FEAR THE BEARD!) And the field was amazing this time, too! Right on the bay and with great views of the city! Yay!

It was absolutely perfect. The Giants were winning most of the time (they swept the Oakland Athletics), I got beer, a hot dog and lots of shouting! I guess one of the things I'll miss will be baseball, believe it or not. Damn yee, Alexandra and Katie! I was a Barça girl!

At night, just a quick shower and out to downtown Novato for a nightcap. Maybe it was a bit too much after all that excitement of the day. Maybe I was a bit too happy. What the heck, you can't never get too happy in California.

Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head.

Off to San Francisco again. Weeeee!!! And you know the best part? I got shotgun! Both on the way in and the way out. Katheryn, thank you. I can be aggresive with my shotguns, but you never mind. Such a sweet soul.

Even though it seemed like a perfect day, surprise, surprise! It was a miserable autumn/fall day. Rain and rain and rain and rain and more rain. Boooo. It wasn't precisely a warm day either. So we just looked like this all day:

Идет дождь, бабушка! I could have been worse. And anyway, I'm used to it. I have that magic ability that, wherever I go, I bring coldness and wetness with me. We should find ourselves happy that it wasn't snowing or raining cows from the sky. Meanwhile, I wait for that day in which I will be able to put my coat away and stop looking like an eskimo.

The rain didn't stop us, though. How many lifetimes will we wait until we are in San Francisco again? So we took a fair promenade under the rain and we went to a wonderful Greek restaurant in which they served better food than in Greece. And I'm talking from experience here.

After that, off to H&M. Yay! I love them so... I know, I know. You are in San Francisco and you decide to get into H&M? We are not that water-resistant, though. We need warmth and happines from time to time.

After that impasse, China Town! We went walking there, so I think it is a good place to introduce my love for walks in the city. I love walking in San Francisco for two reasons: 1) It feels like Europe and 2) boys are beyond yummy! San Francisco feels like a mixture of Berlin, Barcelona and something else that I guess is native to San Francisco itself. So I feel at home and at the same time I feel like I'm in a new place that I want to explore. Yay! And boys... are they beautiful! And hipstery! A dream come true! Of course, 80% of the male population in San Francisco is gay. And I am certain than 97% of the boys I met in the street are so. But, do you go to the museums because you want to buy the paintings? That's what I thought.

So, China Town. China Town is a lot of fun. It was a gate and a couple of lions (like the ones in the Art Institute in Chicago):
We didn't have much time there. So we were just souvenir shopping (I <3 SF) and picture taking. In one corner we counted as many as 5 nationalities, if I am not mistaken.

And after that, run run run to The City Lights. It is a book store in the carrefour of 3 neighbourhoods: big buildings and ties, stripper paradise and Italian. Of course, I'm making up the names for the sake of literary impact. You get the geist. If I am not mistaken, that is the place where Howl was first read by Ginsberg. And the area has a Beat feeling to it. Not a block away you find the Beat museum.

However, it was time to go back home. It felt like fall. And what is the big day in fall? Thanksgiving! First Thanksgiving dinner for Flavia! Yay! And wasn't it amazing? It was. Oh, and in what levels!
I was soooo happy. I had seconds and thirds. And yes, we had leftovers. And yes, we are still eating them. And yes, I loove Thanksgiving. One more reason to come live in California. Thanksgiving every year!

After that, we had to keep it cool. The plan was to go to Chevy's to get Margaritas for Mel's birthday. But it was too much for our poor wretched bodies. The rain all day and the dinner were too much. And Melanie needed to rest, too. It doesn't matter. I am in California for Thanksgiving. In May.

I'm a BadAss. I Play the Tambourine.

After the clogging the toilet incident (it cannot just be me, I've used toilets before!), we set off for the most beautiful and amazing trip ever... San Francisco! And what do you have to cross from Marin County to get to The City? Yes!! Golden Gate Bridge! With the weather in the happy side, it looks like this:
I know, right? I mean... I was THERE. I really was. And it's very pretty. The bridge and the surroundings and the breeze and the sun. *sigh*

So for starters, we went to Haight, which is the hippy hipster modern side of The City. Oh, San Francisco, how I haight you.

Our first stop was in the Thai restaurant Siam Lotus. I've never had Thai food before (apart from the Pad Thai in Noodles and Co. Mmmmh.... Noodles...) So Alexandra coerced... I mean... "helped" me to choose Emerald Curry with beef. Something looking like this:

It was delicious. Unfortunately, it was also filling. After the last mouthful came that modorra that just wouldn't go away. Not even with the fantastic second-hand shops with designer clothes and ridiculous prices. Damn you, Spanish origin!

There was something else that made the sleep go away... Hookah! In The Pride of the Mediterranean (which is not a boat). Peach and guava hookah with arabic tea. It was delicious. We had a couple of fun hours just blowing smoke at each other. And by each other I mean Alexandra, Katie, Melanie and Joe. And me. The Breakfast Club. Hah.


And that was all, folks! A bit of walking around, some Urban Outfitters, port, playing doggies and home for more toilet clogging. It's turning into a hobby. Beware.

Fladia Goes to Sausalito.

I want to show you something. Look:


Yes! It is! The Golden Gate Bridge. And what's behind it? Exactly! San Francisco! Isn't it gorgeous? I know... it's foggy. But you can't take the fog out of SF in the same way that you can't take the awesomeness out of SF. Wow. I can't stop looking at it! But no, it's not SanFran day (that will be tomorrow, dios mediante).

That was just a quick stop in the mountains, our final destination was Sausalito. A tiny town overlooking the Bay and San Francisco. And so cute. So European. It was like being in a Northern Catalan seaside town, like Cadaqués, or a nice Northern Spanish town, but with better weather. And it looks like this:


I know, right? That town it's a dream come true. If I ever have a couple of millions to spare, I'll buy a house overlooking that view. For real. On a side note, I heard my first Spanish of this period. Chilean Spanish. Maybe because Sausalito is sisters with Viña del Mar. So nice.

Oh! And I saw some friends of my still-to-be-born beautiful Bruno:
Uggh... SO ugly...!!

Absurda Goes to The City.

I woke up this morning in Cary, IL, had my shower, my milk with coffee, my bagel and went outside with Alexandra and Katie to go to Midway. What's that outside? Yes, it is. A LIMO! We went to the aerport by limo. Yuhu! Off to a good start.

From then onwards, everything went better than expected. We flew with Southwest, who proved that you can give free soft drinks, peanuts, crisps and more while having a smily brunette Claudia Schiffer taking care of you. And I saw the rockies. Take that.


In Oakland, when we landed, we couldn't go sightseeing, because the gangs have taken over the city and you have to duck down to avoid being killed by a shotgun. Shotgun! So, instead, we saw George Lucas' inspiration for AT-ATs.


In Novato (Alexandra's hometown), tour in the fantastic house with fireplaceS, swimming pools, trees, hot tub time machines and giantic tvs. Then, best Chinese dinner ever. Good job.