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Summer Holiday Day 14 : Vacation of a Lifetime

9 Jun

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Quick Notes: If anyone tells you that the Acropolis is the best place to get a steak in town, they are either severely mistaken or lying to you. Not only is the “A CRAP” is not the “best steak in town”, it is also the worst strip club you will ever go to in your life. You will be praying that these women will keep their clothes on. “Oh God. Please tell me she is a waitress and not a dancer. Oh no She is going on stage next. When will those flipping steaks be done?” These were just a few of my thoughts that night.

Seattle is a lot cooler than it was when I first visited 10 years ago. It is still ridiculously white washed, but is a more palatable place to spend time than San Francisco. Spent the day getting drinks with friends in the Capital Hill area, and swam at Colman Pool in the afternoon. With a heated saltwater pool overlooking the Peninsula, I thought my weekend couldn’t get better. Sunday morning I left my phone in the hotel room and had a 45 minute complimentary breakfast, going back for seconds, enjoying every gulp of orange juice and every bite of bacon,eggs, and roasted potatoes.

Seattle is popping. If I made 6 figures, I could see myself entertaining the thought of moving there. The traffic is a little insane, but I do like their Roasteries. Seattle is definitely on that next level.

Quote of the Week: “Only black people.” ~Worker at Tugboat Annie’s (in Olympia)  when asked if the Killer Whales had ever been know to eat people kayaking in the Puget Sound.

Summer Holiday Days 12 & 13

8 Jun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu1NuUJqdC0

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Summer Holiday Day 12

7 Jun

Summer Holiday Day 11

6 Jun

Summer Holiday Day 10: PDX > SF

5 Jun

It is amazing how little money I have spent here in Portland in comparison to my time in San Francisco. Dining out in San Fran is akin to buying 3 meals a day at the airport for a full week. “Yeah I’ll take the 14.00 Grilled Cheese please on gluten free bread. Oh, that will be a dollar extra? Fine.”

Fuck that city. It deserves everything that is coming to it in the next 10 years when the cyborgs take over. I think the Warriors are making a serious mistake moving over there. It will severely neuter that fanbase, and I doubt the new arena will get anywhere as krunk as the Oracle. Anyway, Portland is just as dope as ever. I can’t believe it has been 2 years since my last visit up here. I need to come back ASAP like Rocky.There is nothing like summers up here. Just plain gorgeous.

BM

Summer Holidays Day 9: What about Bobby?

5 Jun

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Summer Holiday Day 8: Eve of Departure

2 Jun

If I had forgotten how lame San Francisco was, then this trip served as a reminder. In fact, I’d go as far as to say it has gotten lamer since I last visited. San Francisco sucks. The same things I’d thought about Vancouver years ago apply to San Francisco. The women here are ugly. Most of the pretty ones have ugly souls, are too uptight, or are men. There is always some form of (human?) feces to look out for on the sidewalks and streets.

All the jokes about the town being taken over by awkward techie bros are true. Think of a new computer or phone app and you can bet the headquarters is based here in the bay. As a straight male who enjoys cities with a vibrant night life and true ethnic and cultural diversity, there is no reason for me to return here for free. If I ever come back, you better believe there is some money in it for me.

Oakland on the other hand is a city that resonates with me. A walk around Lake Merritt reminded me how much I love being in the East Bay. It’s always sunnier on this side of the bridge. People have more style and pizzazz here. The food is better, and slightly less expensive. It is just easier for me to breathe coming out of that tube into the bright sunshine of Oakland’s shipyards.

I do like Berkeley, but it seems so neutered compared to Oakland’s edgier neighborhoods. I have the feeling that the differences between the communities will decrease as the tech industry’s influences keep seeping in. Housing prices are steady going up, and the absurdity of food and entertainment is laughable. If you live here long enough you lose your basis for comparison.It is only when you leave for a long period of time and come back that makes you question paying 11 dollars for a goddamn sandwich.

I’m glad I moved here ten years ago. It is impossible to imagine my life without the people I met during my time on the west coast. It certainly chilled me out living in a region with so much natural beauty, but the reasons for coming back are decreasing with time.

This week: Portland and an appearance on “Who’s the Ross?”. Week 2 and still a lot left to do–like pack for Portland.

Peace.

BM

Summer Holiday Days 5,6,7

31 May

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Summer Holiday Day 5

28 May

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Summer Holiday Day 4

27 May

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