I Brought My Heart to San Francisco: Blogging Around with Rommy Week 16



Hello Groovers! This post is being birthed at 30,000 feet in the air, somewhere over South Dakota. My husband and I are just getting back from our vacation to San Francisco. This is the first time we’ve been on a plane without our kids since our honeymoon!

To say we’re a bit different from the twenty-somethings we were back then is an understatement. While the hubs is still very much a foodie, we’ve had to plan meals very carefully around his diabetes. And though my city-walking skills are still pretty strong (thanks to skills honed when I visit a certain Marine in her NYC home), those San Francisco hills are no joke. Also my right shoulder gets achy if I try carrying anything on it for too long.


This picture does not do the insane angle of this street justice, but you get the idea.

But one thing we still do pretty well is respect each other’s needs and compromise where we can. My husband’s shoulders were well equipped to carry some of the fun stuff we bought when my shoulder was screaming “Uncle!” His legs got tired more easily than mine, which meant we had to scrap some of our more ambitious walking trips this time around. But since our hotel was in the heart of Japantown, we made plenty of visits to the local shops (I got some nifty tea dogu).

The door to our room at Hotel Kabuki

He got to have what he called the best cup of coffee he’s had in his life at CafĂ© Trieste after we paid a visit to the famous City Lights bookstore (of course I got a book of poetry). Dodie Smith once wrote, “I shouldn't think even millionaires could eat anything nicer than new bread and real butter and honey for tea.” It wasn’t the poshest Saturday night ever, but it was a really pleasant one, topped off with good conversation with friends we met up with while there. With such lovely simple pleasures to enjoy, in such good company, what more could I ask for?

So how was your week dear Groovers? What’s exciting in your world? Talk to me a little bit about it in the comments section. And do drop in a link to your cyberhome if you’d like to elaborate upon it there.

In the meanwhile here’s a bit of San Fran inspired poetic thoughts I’ll be sharing at Imaginary Gardens with Real Toads’ TuesdayPlatform.

I’ll bumble my way
buzzing over flowers
I’ve never seen before.

But those can wait for me
to stop and share nectar I've found
from my lips to yours.  


The stripes on my socks made me think of bumble bees.
Of course that could be the jet-lag talking. 
Thankfully I bought a lot of tea to help me through it.



30 comments:

  1. Sounds like fun! Love your shoes and socks too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a lot of fun. And OMG, I adore those shoes. I packed them on a whim but they were more comfortable than my sneakers. I wore them everywhere.

      Delete
  2. Those are the cutest shoes I have ever seen, Rommy!❤️ It's Ramadan in my part of the world and the sun is blistering hot as usual! I am so glad you guys had fun in San Francisco! I am thinking of visiting that certain marine and you in late future! *wink*❤️

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Blessed Ramadan Sanaa! I hope the fasting goes well and the heat doesn't take too much out of you. And yes, said Marine and I would LOVE to meet you should you ever head out here. :)

      Delete
  3. Oh yes, great socks. And shoes! The poem is a delight too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Rosemary. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. :)

      Delete
  4. I enjoyed this, had a little mini outing while I read. And I LOVE your shoes, and seriously want a pair. LOL.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are soooooo comfortable. I had brought my sneakers too, but ended up spending the bulk of my vacation in these shoes.

      Delete
  5. I covet your socks and shoes, Rommy!
    Now I’ve got that off my chest, may I say that I enjoyed this post immensely and am delighted that you enjoyed your holiday! I know what it’s like planning meals around diabetes and admit that I cheat and eat things I shouldn’t because of cravings for something forbidden. I don’t think I could manage the hills of San Francisco – well done for keeping fit!
    I’m afraid my world isn’t very exciting at the moment, Rommy, as I’m tied up with my seasonal job of moderating and marking exams. I’m much to busy for someone who’s retired. But not to busy to read and write poetry.
    Your poem bee sweet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My husband planned his small cheats very strategically. He didn't have any spikes or dips on the trip. He even ended up losing weight because of all the walking!

      I'm glad that business doesn't keep you away from your poetry. :)

      Delete
  6. Sounds like you had a wonderful time... I have been in San Francisco a few times, but mostly in work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was! It's a fun city to run around in.

      Delete
  7. San Francisco has pleasant memories for me... from a very long time ago. Always good to travel- unscrambles the mind...and makes poetry!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The mind unscrambling was definitely needed. I'd been running pretty hard with work, getting the eldest kiddo back home, and doing Passover. And I definitely cam back with more poems in my head.

      Delete
  8. Your post title reads like that of a book. It’s got a romantic ring to it that goes well with your delightful poem.

    How lovely to have this breather; travelling without kids and having quality time with your husband! City walks can be taxing. But it sounds you had great fun exploring, nonetheless. And by the way, it’s not the poshest that brings joy but quality time shared with loved ones!

    And like most people here, I covet both your socks and shoes!

    Here’s my response: https://www.khayaronkainen.fi/a-gift-id-rather-have/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very true! We enjoyed the heck out of ourselves, eating street food and chilling on benches. LOL, my husband particularly loved our time at the cafe because of the good conversation and the great coffee (though he's now a man on a mission to find equally as good coffee in Bucks Co).

      Delete
  9. Glad you enjoyed your trip! We're going to San Fransisco this August.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awesomeness! It's such a neat, chill city. I highly recommend Sweet Maple's for breakfast or brunch.

      Delete
  10. We are totally going to Staten Island (again) when you visit next, but this time we'll do a little walking (beyond the Chinese Scholar's Garden). That hill in the picture looks like the dad of the hill where I used to live in Staten Island. It was almost easy to walk up and down it 5 or 6 years ago. I suspect that these days, we'll walk it staring at each other's sweaty faces, hoping for the other to say, "Let's take a break, please!"

    I love reading about your trip. It sounds like so much fun. I can almost imagine your faces, and grins and wicked giggles, traveling on your own after a couple of decades. He got the perfect coffee, and you got a book of poetry (and probably half the tea things in the city). So, what's the title?

    I've absolutely enjoyed reading this poem, especially while looking at your socks--they bring the colors of fiery flowers and bees to mind. I love the dance between "bumble" and "buzzing". They are so good at giving us glimpse of you running around shops full of delight (and, most likely, talking a million miles a minute).

    Welcome back! And here is my bit for this week (late, I know!):

    https://magalysblog.blogspot.com/2019/05/teeth-flashing-lightning.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! I welcome putting my cute shoes to the test. LOL and I shall up my workout game so I don't embarrass myself too badly on the hill!

      It's simply called "Love Poems from Spain and Spanish America". It's from City Light's own press. When I realized I was going to get to go into City Lights, there's no way I wasn't leaving without a book of poetry. It was tough to pick which book to take home, but I loved that Peru was represented here and that the poems were written in English and Spanish.

      Delete
  11. LOVE THOSE SHOES!!! San Francisco is such a great city. I love the food and the sights. Sounds lovely to hang out in bookstore and good friends with the best coffee ever.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a really lovely night. LOL, my husband said it felt like a scene from a TV show we both watch. He loved San Francisco, but he missed home too. Of course, now he has the quest for the most perfect cup of coffee in Bucks County to keep him busy.

      Delete
  12. What a lovely trip to take with your own love! I'm glad you had a nice time (poetry! Japantown! coffee!) and held each other up. And I love those shoes!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A vacation with just the two of us was long overdue. While part of me is a little sad about the kids getting bigger and taking their first test flights outside the nest, another part is thrilled to start "dating" my husband more regularly.

      Delete
  13. This is so lovely, Rommy. That Saturday night sounds just perfect, I'm a bit envious. :) Wonderful

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was one of the best Saturday night's I've had in awhile. :)

      Delete
  14. What a great time! I love your socks and shoes and I love your poem! Big Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Stacey. I look for any excuse to wear those shoes now. :D

      Delete