A Quick Peek At Sausalito

For my second San Francisco visit (October 2013), I made sure that I sneak into this charming seaside village across the bay called Sausalito. The place is brimming with classy boutiques, artsy galleries and quaint cafes that punctuate Bridgeway, the main thoroughfare where people take a stroll on their way to the water's edge and elsewhere.

Touristy during the day, I can sense that Sausalito unveils its hidden face or character as the sun goes down, once visitors have sailed or driven back to San Francisco.

My friend Rachel, together with her friends, took me by car on a half-day visit to Sausalito. Some visitors bike their way to the place but judging from the line at the pier, it looked like most of them take the ferry that regularly departs from San Francisco for Sausalito and back.

It was a fairly quick introduction to the place that somehow allowed us to have a taste of Sausalito's flavor. I believe that there is still much to see. I hope to be back and probably stay for 3 days/2 nights to experience and feel the place more. I want to see the boat houses, try some restaurants and further explore the village.

Meanwhile, my beautiful memories of Sausalito are in these snapshots.

 These burgers were a hit so we went with the flow,

 lined up and grabbed some. Yummy.

 Where people are, that's where we went.

Same is true for this ice cream parlor. No regrets.

Along Bridgeway, the main street dotted 

with boutiques, galleries and cafes.

Visitors stroll along the street at a relaxed pace. 

Some visitors ride their bikes from San Francisco to

Sausalito. Others take their bikes onto the ferry and

ride the same once they disembark in Sausalito.

 

A public park along Bridgeway near the ferry landing.

People stroll leisurely towards the seafront wherein they

converge to enjoy the view and a whiff of sea breeze.

One of the many galleries along the main street.

The ferry landing. Day visitors are boarding the

ferry that will take them back to San Francisco. 

 San Francisco in the distance.

With San Francisco-based friend, Rachel,

and her cute daughter. 

With Rachel's friends - some came in from Manila

and one flew in from LA.

Going towards the seafront; San Francisco as backdrop. 

 The sun(light) and the sea are perfect elements

for these shots.

Some guys play tricks by the

shoreline with their feathery pet.

I like Sausalito. I hope to be back there someday for a more in-depth visit. Until then.

The Long Road To Oenophilia

Getting to love wine takes quite a while, at least for me whose drinking fare consists mostly of milk, tea, fresh juices and water. Besides, drinking wine triggers my hyperacidity which is such a darn spoiler. Definitely, it's not like second nature to me whose wine encounters are mostly functions of time and place, pretty much situational and neither due to culture nor upbringing.

I can count with my fingers the precious moments that I kind of liked wine - when it went with Morton's steak in Chicago, Ruth's Chris steak in LA and surprisingly, right at home with tender juicy Wagyu given to us by a relative from Australia as a Christmas gift. I also take to liking wine when I'm in Napa Valley, with charcuterie to match.

Although Napa is new world, it's good enough for me, quite good that I was fortunate being there twice. But after Napa, what or where? Well, still Napa and more of Napa with plenty of vineyards to visit. Better yet, some of the old world vineyards in Italy and France. Just wishing.

My first time in Napa was in 2010, spent evenly between two vineyards - Artesa in Sonoma and Joseph Phelps in St. Helena; second time was in 2013 at Sterling in Calistoga. All were memorable experiences. If I'd be lucky enough to visit Napa again, I'd be interested to try a vineyard with sparkling wines or with cave tours for a change.

In the meantime, let me share with you some Napa sceneries I captured on cam during my second visit.

 



 Our friend Chelly drove us to Napa Valley. Stopped over at

classic Oakville Grocery (since 1881) to grab some sandwiches

to fill us up prior to wine tasting. Empty stomach is a no-no.

 

Colors of autumn greeted us as we entered our

chosen vineyard - Sterling - in Calistoga.

Sterling is perched on a 300-foot hill; we had to take

an aerial tram (more like a small cable car) to get

us to the winery for the wine tasting. 





 

The aerial tram surely gave us an initial thrill

in getting to the winery. The view on the

way up was definitely breathtaking.



Touring the vineyard is a DIY which is good because we

were able to do it at our own pace. It's very educational

with all the relevant signage in place. 

 



 The views to behold while up there. Vineyards galore.

Anyone who is staying in the estate below is

assured of absolute peace and quiet.



Holding on to our welcome drink prior to wine tasting.

 

 

There is really so much to learn in a winery.

This is the area for fermentation. 

 

A treasure trove of vats full of wine.

A nice place to chill and to just enjoy the view.

The best part of it all. Let the wine-tasting begin

with some charcuterie to go with wine.

 The Chardonnay was more to my taste. And the Riesling too.

The reds are just too strong for me. Or maybe my taste

buds are not yet mature enough for the reds.

So there goes the long road to oenophilia. It's far from over and a couple of visits to Napa Valley is never enough. There is so much more to come back for. And we can only wish for life to be like wine - that it gets better as it ages . . . 

Thanks so much.