November 3, 2014
Tokyo Japan
Fall has arrived
Can't seem to get my blogging mojo back. Anyhow, will try and blog more as I am really having a GREAT life in Tokyo. So blessed to have this experience and have special friends worldwide. Life is good.
I was going to write about my great vacation week this July to SF and Cabo San Lucas back in September but got distracted by the horrible news about Hurricane Odile which hit Baja straight on as a Category 4 hurricane. My BFF Sandra's house which I had the opportunity to enjoy in July was heavily damaged and many local residents lost everything. Everything including clothes, their homes and special keepsakes. Extensive damage was done to the airport so the military had to help out to evacuate the tourists and other foreigners stranded in this beautiful area of Mexico - Baja California. The area is till suffering so if you can please donate to the Red Cross as it is our duty to help those in our need. Thank you.
And here's a summary of the wonderful week I had with Sandra in SF and Baja.
Arrived safely but had to go to the DMV in Walnut Creek to get my drivers license renewed! Fortunately had an appointment so was "in and out" quickly. But what a pain! Sandra picked me up at the DMV and took me to her georgeous home in Diablo where we celebrated our birthday's with home made pizza and a bottle of Opus One wine.
Next day we got up early to take our fight to Cabo San Lucas. Sandra and her partner Bob have one of the most gorgeous homes I've ever been too in Cabo. I'm so grateful I was able to stay there and enjoy the home. The views were spectacular. As I mentioned her home was severely damaged but I'm sure will be just as beautiful after the repairs.
View from Sandra's home
For dinner we went to a local fish restaurant. Wow! very reasonably priced and DELICIOUS. Fresh fish from the ocean.
Of course, we also took a cooking class. This was the second time Sandra took a class here. All the ingredients are locally grown. We were the only ones in the class so had a great time.
Tamales we made with Hoja Santo leaves - very traditional
Fish in red sauce and rice cooked with cilantro
Very rich traditional sweet potato dessert
And one of the main objectives of the trip was to play golf at her club in Cabo. Gorgeous club with great views.
After a nice long weekend in Cabo, it was time to head back to SF. While Sandra worked, I took lessons at their country club - the Diablo Club which just turned 100.
And played a round with Sandra
The designer of the golf course
And then for the last weekend before heading back to Tokyo, spent the nite in the beautiful city of San Francisco. Sandra treated me to a night at the grand Palace Hotel
And a trip to San Francisco is not complete without having sand dabs at Scomas
I then to the streetcar and bus to the fabulous De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park that had a great exhibition on modern arit
And for the last day, we went to the San Francisco Ferry Building to have brunch but as it was too crowded ended up cabbing to the Marina district to a fab local restaurant called the Tipsy Pig
Ferry Building
Very cool bookstore
Had the best Tater Tots at the Tipsy Pig!
And then headed to SFO for the long flight back to Tokyo. Another great week with BFF Sandra
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