tranzparency

Climbed shasta with my brother and a friend. Never knew how tough the Mountain would be to me. But I learned what it meant to overcome one’s self not once but hundreds of times in a day.

I’ve been here over 10 times in my life and I can’t get enough. The trick to Yosemite is to not be a camera toting tourist (if you get my drift).

Spend a day and see the Valley. Check out lower Yosemite Falls, the Ahwanee Lodge, Yosemite Village, El Capitan, and Camp 4 (where the climbers hang out). Then head up to Glacier Point and enjoy the view from 3000 feet above the valley. There are few places greater on earth to enjoy (by car) than here. It is breathtaking.

Aside from the Valley: Tuolumne meadows, the Falls Trail (valley day access), and Mirror Lake during winter (valley access) are great places to see. Don’t forget.. If you need a shower, head over to Curry Village. These people pay good money to stay there but this is nature. No hi-tech key cards needed for the showers. Just act like you belong and you’re in.

Now, the real secret of Yosemite: a wilderness permit. I have been many times. But the key to seeing yosemite is grabbing a backpack, cooking gear, food, and heading into the wilderness. You’ll need a bear canister but they will rent one to you for a could of dollars. Use this this mini-plasic keg. It will keep the bears out of your tent. Been there, done that. It sounds complicated but you’d be amazed that with a little planning enjoying Yosemite away from the crowds & the solitude of nature is super easy.. Worried about bears? If you come across a bear , act crazy and make lots of noise They will will take off quick. Believe me, I should know. I was the lone human with bear contact in the SF Chronicle one year.

I went to Yosemite on Memorial Day Weekend. They had record attendance in the park. The valley was a parking lot, like a packed freeway. We went to Wawona and got a wilderness permit. 3 hours hike, we were sitting on the top on a 500 foot waterfall while a thousand or more people were frustrated with each others presence in the valley. I think I saw 20 people the whole weekend. It was heaven!

Even on the busiest of holidays, grab the permit, and Yosemite is yours! Even locals don’t know about how easy it is to have Yosemite to yourself.

What can I say?? Growing up 45 minutes from here in Beaver Cleaverville, I didn’t waste a moment getting out to the most European city in the United States. From great food to a very open attitude toward people’s individual choice of who they want to be, I couldn’t image living anywhere else in the US, and I have..

If you are coming to the city let me know. I live in the heart of the Mission and try to offer up space once a month to travelers who need a place to stay for a couple days.

The cheapest bomb sushi in the city. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. My promise.

But there is a price to pay. It’s in the outer Richmond so it’s a long cab/bus ride from downtown (30+ minutes by the 38 Leary-Geary Bus). But once there plan on a treat to your taste buds. On any night plan on a 45 minute wait. I told you it rocked. If you have to wait, 1 block up Geary (toward downtown) is a great Russin Deli. Burn time by tasting free amazing meats and cheeses from their counter samples. You’ll be hard pressed to find english on a product in here.

Back to sushi. Once in, you have a goal. Eat, drink, and get the fuck out! Kitaro prides themselves on afforadability and quality, but speed is where they make their margins. I think they must own the record for most tables turn per night in the city. When you’re done you gotta go. So eat slow, drink, and eat more, then the gods of “you must go now” will give you time”.

Enjoy a dragon roll on me. Well, that is if you invite me..

If Pier 39 fell into the bay most locals (except the city treasurer) wouldn’t give a shit. But there are a few gems if you know what you’re looking for. Stay away unless you are an experience hunter..

This place is a tourist trap.. If you must, check out the sea lions. They are impressive but based on their behavior you’d think thy are on lifetime welfare.

Cruise west along the waterfront to fisherman’s wharf and get yourself a crab sandwich. Once you got crab in hand, run!

Nothing to see here, keep moving. Continue west to the Cannery. If you are a musician, check out the Meadowlark Music shop then split to Ghardelli Square. If you are an Irish coffee nut, then do the cliche and stop at Buena Vista cafe on your way to Gharadelli, do not pass go & colect a buzz. Get yourself an amazing Hot Fudge sundae.

If you have time, walk the seagull shit covered Aquatic park concrete path. Beautiful view. Then get the hell out!

If you are a comedy lover, then head toward downtown (up Columbus) and check out Cobbs Comedy Club. They have the best consistant talent in the city to cap your post-dinner/pre-bar-hop evening.

A sweet little Wine bar on Rose just down from the Zuni Cafe. Brick walls, candle light, and always great art. It’s a hidden place som very few people know about it.

Doesn’t look like they are keeping their website (http://www.hotelbiron.com/) up to date but it’s definately worth having a glass of Cab in transition to your next venue. Chris was the owner, last time I was there. A Chicago native he is a rabid Cubs fan. Beware if the Cubbies lost the day you go in, Chris might be a tad feisty.

I live a block from this place and finally got to check it out. Wow! What a great view of downtown and surrounding areas. It closes at 11pm due to noise issues but the terrace is covered with space heaters so you won’t freeze your ass off.

The benefits? It’s in the heart of the mission (best neighborhood in the city, no bias here :), and also has a really nice hostel (Mission hostel?) costing about $25/night. I was stunned at all the international people I got to meet right in my backyard. A definate must as you are bar hopping through the city. Not hopping? Get moving.. This city has way too many spots to enjoy to stay in one place more than a couple hours.

After Majool, drop over to the Makeout Room for a lively crowd(23rd & Bartlett/Mission), Papa Toby’s open front cafe (23rd & Bartlett) for a coffee and live music and then on to the Elbo Room (18thish & Valencia) for great music.

Spent 3 weeks with my girlfriend’s family cruising around the county. Went to Saigon, Da Lat, Nah Trang, DeNang, and a town in the country to pick up Kim’s grandmother. The hospility was incredible everywhere we went. It also helped to have Kim’s mother (who is Vietnamese) with us.

Spent an awesome month here in 95. After hanging with a friend’s family, we went south and rented an aprtment in Agadir and hung out. What an amazing time! But I must warn you. It’s a tough place to get the hang of. A lot of people you will come in contact with as a tourist (and they know who you are) will try to take advantage.

Casablanca was a joke. Everywhere we went, we were getting bombarded with obviously shady people. We even had hung out with a really cool guy who’s whole agenda was to get us to marry his friends. He took his time over a week to breech the subject. So to throw him off, I immeadiately acted like I had a hookup for fake passports and played the fool on him. Within 15 minutes he left, never to return. Rule #1: If you think someone who has spent time with you is running a game, run a bigger game(verbally) on them but make yourself look like a huge liability. Guarenteed they will take off and look for easier pray.

Agadir was another scenario. We befriended a cool guy at a beach cafe. We stayed at his family’s house one night then introduced us to his cousin. We rented a 2 bedroom place from his cousin and let our new “friend” stay anytime he wanted. I even spent the Fet with his family and helped slaughter a live Ram for the festivals. Wow! Never seen a gall bladder hanging from the door before.

He and the cousin slowly figured out our patterns and drinking habits then slowly stole from us. They were smart enough to blame it on the Senagalese guy we were haning with too. Man, the black people get so little love everywhere I go. Whats up with that?? Racism was huge in Agadir.

In the end, these Moroccans stole from us and talked shit behind our backs to the women we were hanging out with. This sounds like a shitty story, I know.

Keep in mind. I had a fantastic time with some rough times mixed in. Keep your eyes open, trust people but don’t test them, and you’ll have a great time too. Make sure to have a companion for perspective!

Meeting a friend here in May. He’ll be hoping off a cruise ship for a day.