San Francisco, CA, USA

San Francisco is the sister city of Lisbon, a city that holds a special place in my heart. More importantly, San Francisco is currently home to two of my best friends on the planet, so a visit was a no brainer (and long overdue). I spent the long weekend at my friend Sofi’s house in Pacific Heights. This location was peaceful, yet just blocks away from bustling shops, the beach, the scenic Presidio, and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

 

The steep hills were like nothing I had ever seen before and gave my legs a much-needed workout following a long flight from the East Coast. In January, the weather was mild and pleasant to walk in, but the key to dressing correctly is layering. One minute the sun pops out and you are sweating, the next, the bay covers in fog and you need a raincoat. No matter where you are though, the city buzzes with the energy of tech companies and startups. The culture is laid-back and liberal, very much fitting with the West Coast stereotype.

 

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Despite the immense wealth concentrated in the city, San Francisco also has one of the largest rates of homelessness in the United States. A brief walk from the gentrified Nob Hill will take you to the Tenderloin, a neighbourhood where it wouldn't be uncommon to see used needles on the streets. This area is considered relatively “affordable” for the city - the median rent for a one-bedroom here would cost around $2,345 a month. Noy exactly cheap for the average American. One of my best friends, Sam, is dedicating her career to helping the less fortunate in her hometown (SF!), so she was able to tell me a lot about how the city is working to accommodate low-income individuals in such an affluent corner of the globe. If you are interested in learning more, please check out the non-profit where she works to house, feed and clothe SF residents in need - St Anthony's.

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Tourist Attractions:

• Golden Gate Bridge: Sofi and I went for a walk down from Pac Heights to the Marina, along Crissy Field Beach, to the West Bluff Picnic Area. The three mile trail leads you to a viewpoint and, ultimately, right under the red suspension bridge.

• The Presidio

• Cable cars

 

Activities:

• SF MOMA: Sam took me to the city’s Museum of Modern Art. My honest review would place it below NYC's MoMA, but it still had some interesting pieces.

• Sonoma & Napa Wine Tasting: Sofi's boyfriend hired a bus for 40 people which we used to take a trip up to Sonoma. The group was a mix of Brian's friends from Tufts who were in town visiting like me, as well as their coworkers and friends. The weather wasn't great - but what can you expect for January - but the company and the wine made up for the lack of sunshine. We went to three vineyards and had a huge, private tasting room at Ledson Winery & Vineyards. Be sure to call ahead if you have a large group!

• Silicon Valley: Sam took me out to Silicon Valley, the home of Facebook and Google. On our way to dinner in Palo Alto with her dad, we drove through Stanford's gorgeous campus. 

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Food:

• The most memorable meal I had in SF was with two close friends from Georgetown, Joey and Mere. We ate dinner in the Mission at a trendy restaurant called Central Kitchen. We followed up with cocktails at the bar in the back, Trick Dog.

• If you are like me and have an obsession with ice cream, be sure to try Salt & Straw. The smell of fresh waffle cones is heavenly.