Secret Agent

 

Little Saigon. Tenderloin.  Haight-Ashbury. Union Square.  The Pier.  Russian Hill.  China Town.  Little Italy.  Pacifica.  Mt. Diablo.  Considering we were only in San Francisco for three days we were able to see quite a bit of the city.  Though I enjoy visiting the California towns and cities I have never really liked one of them enough that I thought I might be able to live there.  San Francisco was different, it seemed more down to earth, a little more welcoming – and not so overwhelming or seemingly as crowded.  This could easily have been due to the time of my visit, but either way it was a lot cooler of a city than I was expecting.  The food was amazing, an Irish Pub that serves quality Indian Food – got it.  Plenty of Chinese Restaurants with no signs in English – not a problem.  We made it from the somewhat interesting Tenderloin and Little Saigon areas to the upscale Haight-Ashbury and over saturated Union Square, and everything in between.  Waking up to sirens and people screaming was to be expected on the border of Little Saigon/Tenderloin, as was being offered every prescription medicine available – umm no thanks.  Name brand stores and restaurants in Union Square, which are easily avoided to find local, unique and far better restaurants in other neighborhoods.  Getting out of the city to Mt. Diablo State Park was a nice change of pace, getting to enjoy nature not far from the city and see some pretty amazing views.

Returning from San Francisco, I realized just how soon it is before I leave for Ukraine, and how lucky I’ve been these past few months to travel throughout the country and see some pretty amazing places.  It seems like I’m constantly reviewing checklists in my head: do I have everything I need, have I filled out all the paperword…and correctly, what else should I do before I leave, how can I spend the best time possible with Cecilia, what’s the easiest way for us to talk when I’m in Ukraine, when should I come home to visit, when will Cecilia come visit?  Then I realize everything will fall into place, I’m not going to Antarctica, there will be stores, telephones, airports; I can always get things I forgot, and we’ll figure out how to keep in touch, and the best time to visit.  Less than six weeks until departure and I’m still not really sure what I’m getting into, which is for the best.