Roaming from one neighborhood to the next today, we nibbled our fair share of local delicacies. Starting with a shared deluxe falafel sandwich at Truly Mediterranean which you can find next to the Roxie in the Mission (note: every thing in California begins with "the" - get used to it; i.e. "the Roxie", "the Mission", "the 580").
In the beloved Castro district while we were drenched with sunlight and surrounded by peacefully supported individuality and self-expression, beautiful men slipped by me (including a naked one). With a spicy chai in hand Alon and I stopped at Under One Roof, a vibrant non-profit supporting local artist and various non-profits in the AIDS community, where I purchased my "Support Equal Marriage Rights" pin and tacked it proudly on my purse. We looped back around to Anchor Oyster Bar after passing it once at high noon lunch rush; indulging in a cup of New England clam chowder, sharing a half dozen oysters from New Brunswick and Washington State, and balancing it out with a fresh green salad we rolled out of Castro with full bellies. Two digestive enzyme pills accommodating my foodie journey at this point.
Dim sum sampling followed at Good Mong Kok Bakery, "Nice Food" in China Town -- HIGHLY recommended -- a perfectly steamed boa of pork and vegetables plus an over sized sesame ball ($1.30) followed by a different variety (not as good) of steamed boa and a yellow, slightly sweet, glutenful block of dessert-like-thing that resembled a giggly bar of translucent soap ($1.30) about a block away. I boardered on stuffing myself at this point.
We meandered to North Beach (old town feel, super friendly people). A man with long white hair and a bright purple tank top offered to point us in an interesting direction. We were led to Cafe Trieste in a Little Italy sorta place, gently sipping a hot Americano, Alon enjoying a latte as the air became brisk and the sun started to set. Listening, watching, and smelling the scene unfold around me. I scribble my first entry of three pages into my beautiful new journal, a lotus on its cover. It was a perfect day thanks to my perfect, personal tour guide (and his iPhone), my sweety and Bay Area-expert, Alon.
A kiss atop her head
A blink and they are gone
Punctuated by the man on the corner
checked shirt and bad parallel parking
She sits. Waiting for what?
Tin can clinks
The man in the corner at a table for four
Sits still with hands gently clasped
Staring far beyond the plate glass window
Music dissolves into the background
His gaze a blur
It's not unusual, as they come and go.
She's back, he's gone.
Thump, thump
Thump, thump
Squeeeek
Whirrrr
