#transportyourself

some days you just need mental health days…..these are not the days that you want to adventure too far, but you still want to capture that familiar feeling of being far away from the doldrums of your daily world.  How can you find this, you ask? I usually start with a coffee at my local bakery, the coffee is divine, and just perusing that case with all its sweet and savory treats takes me away to the streets of France or Italy, just for a moment.  I then carry on to one of my favorite coffee houses where the waft of the coffee is just right, and take out a book or my journal as if I were channeling my deepest emotions along a river or cobblestone street.  When I really want that feeling, I sometimes opt for Belden Lane in the Financial District and swap a yummy glass of red wine for that double espresso.  It usually involves outdoor seating and some fabulous accessories.  That’s the beauty of mental health days, they usually double as faux holidays, where the pace of life is slower, you have time to accessorize just right, and you can stop to smell the coffee (or cabernet) as it were….

#ridelikethewind

I have traveled a fair amount, and one of my fave pastimes is seeing the sites by bike, I have done this in England, Austrailia, Mexico, France, Thailand and Indonesia to name a few.  There is something about the freedom of a bike; none of the responsibility of a car, but all the perks of traveling as fast or as slow as you would like.  I have also had the pleasure of doing this in my fair city, and let’s face it, I might as well call myself an adreneline junkie as well. Being that you take your life into your hands getting on two wheels in San Francisco.  Nonetheless, not parking the bike while I peruse the farmers market, lay in the local park, or stop for a mid afternoon treat reminds me of the beautiful flexibility of a holiday. It gives me permission to take an entire day of doing relatively little, while feeling incredibly productive…I mean, who doesn’t like that spin? (no pun intended, ha) While at home I would almost always choose alternate modes of transport (sometimes even my own two feet!) I still hanker for that vacay feeling that only spokes and pedals can provide.

tulum

south of france

#holidayblissyourway

You know when you are on holiday, even as an adventurer, and some of the most satisfying and contented moments are when you are quiet, by yourself with a cup of whatever the cultural fare appeals to you? You might be reading a book, or checking your Facebook page, posting on a blog, or just being.  You know how that feels? It feels like you are miles away from your everyday life; away from the monotony of routine, from the beat of the hum drum. I am so lucky to feel like that many weekend when I am no further than a few blocks from my apartment. For me, it is found in vibrant coffee houses in the mission, or a quiet neighborhood wine bar on in nob hill... Sometimes, it comes from my “local” the fave breakfast spot down the street, or even at my local pub (don’t judge me, it’s five o’clock somewhere!) The point is friends, that sometimes finding that holiday feeling, the vibrant chatter of diversity like you might find in the streets of London, or the quiet rolling sounds of waves that wake you on the beach outside your hut in Ko Phi Phi, doesn’t even require a drive….only your willingness to roll out of bed and take a walk in your neighborhood….

#kaberetkon

so my man and I are jonesing for a movie on a random saturday nite, and while you may judge me when I tell you that we decided to take a cab the 1/2 mile to the theater I will remind San Francisco wind and hills can be treaturous after a large meal of sushi and sake.  Sometimes you just need to say, “TAXI!!" so we hop in a cab, that amazingly took only about 30 seconds to hail and we proceed to sit back, relax and begin a conversation with the cab driver. (or he started one with us rather) I noticed almost immediately, as he chatted, he actually began turning the radio up…which I thought odd…but cab drivers be crazy, so I thought..whateves! When all of a sudden, the music turned louder, the conversation took a turn and the driver did nothing other than start singing.  That’s right peeps, San Francisco’s own, The Caberet Cab.  Never had I wished so much that “cash cab” could have made its way over to SF. So while we were being serenaded (I use that term loosely) I was once again reminded of not only the crazy of our fair city, but how lucky I am to have this on my random saturday nite that transports me somehow to a far superior adventure that deserves some good storytelling.  Like every good starving artist our singing sleuth attempted to sell us something….his CD. While we politely declined, we walked away with something that was most valuable…..  Never discount the saturday sushi and serenade. The movie was sold out….who cares?? It’s saturday nite and somehow the possibilities seem endless!

#hipsterhaven

so last year I took a trip to Tulum, thinking I would get away, do some yoga, find my center and meet some new people. Admittedly, I did read that it was where many people from the bay are finding their “inner hippy” however, I was not deterred.  I had been to Tulum many years prior, and was taken by it’s quiet charm, and rustic feel. As soon as I arrived to my new residence for the next seven days, I was immediately struck by the european contingent of people that for whatever reason, I was not expecting.  There were certainly Americans about, but not nearly as many English words as german were being spoken at the hotel bar. As I set out to explore the town on my bike with it’s basket and charming “click, click, click” of the pedal on its way out….I noticed something, there sure are a lot of fabulous people here, beautiful in that retro vintage way, the re-invented hippies….those who said “namaste” in passing instead of “groovy”.  Wait a minute, I recognize these people.  I have seen them before. Where have I encountered this new breed of hippies….oh my god……the hipsters have bread, and infiltrated Mexico!  Well, at least Tulum.  If you can’t beat em, join em.  And I happily pedaled myself off to my yoga class. “Namaste”…..