l o v e

Once I heard "If you don't love yourself, you can't love others." Afterward I thought it could not be true, however I changed my mind. Since few days ago I've been thinking about it, and I came to the conclusion that you first have to love yourself to love someone else. You have to know who you are, your positive and negative points. You have to know that nobody is perfect, neither are you. So, you have to accept your negative points too. Moreover if you know who exactly you are and accept it, you'll love the person you are! That's the first step of loving someone else.

After this period of getting to know who you are and learning to love you, it's possible to love others. When you make friends or meet people you'll find affinities, which is a little bit of yourself in common with them. Finding affinities with other people is just inevitable, even though sometimes it doesn't happen quickly. And you can only do that if you know yourself. And once you do, you'll love them because of these affinities, which are your part on them. That's why you should love you to love others. I dare to say it's impossible to love someone else, if you don't love the person that you are!

Now you see why it's important to know you well first?! Getting to know ourselves sounds hard, but it's just a matter of time to get it. You should start paying attention to things you like to do, your interests and what are some important things for you. It looks like hard, but no one else can do that for you.

La Belle Crepe!

I've been in SanFran for almost 2 months now, but I lived here before for 6 months. On the last day of that time I went to La Belle Crepe and ate an unforgettable crepe! Had I known I lived so close to this place, I'd have gone that more often. The creps are really great!!

Where is it!?

It's on 2165 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123. It's between Webster and Fillmore.

Hours:

Mon - Thu 8am - 8:30pm

Fri - Sun 8am - 9pm

I'd recommend that my friends go there! It's a good place and well located!

@sanfranotes

Yogorino!

Heey!

Yogorino is a ice-cream parlor in Marina, SF. I've talked about it before, but I am doing it again because some things have changed! Few days ago I was wandering around and noticed that on tuesday you can pick 2 topics up!! If you have been there before, you might have a card. Each time you eat they stamp your card, and when you have a certain number of stamps, you take a free yogorino! So, on fridays, I believe you buy 1 yogorino, but you take two stamps to your card! Great, isn't it?!

If you have never been there, I think you should go there!!! It's so tasty and healthy, because it's 100% organic!

Adress and work time:
2144 Chestnut St, SF (between Steiner and Pierce)
Mon-Tues noon-9pm
Wed-Thurs noon-10pm
Fri noon-11pm
Sat 11am-11pm
Sun noon-9pm

Have you been there?!

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Chantal Guillon!

This is the best place to eat Macaron in SF! I had never been to a place which sells only macaron! Anyway, I liked it because the Chantal Guillon is really nice, a lot of flavors to pick up and the place is really pleasant!
I tried the cranberry and lemon ones! They are very, very nice! I'm a big fan of lemon things! The other pic is almond, which I didn't try but I am sure it's nice too.

So, it's located on 437 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102, EUA Map here!

More info: http://chantalguillon.com/

Hope you like it!

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Lights!

Which one is your favorite?!

Write me!

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Saturday: Greens Restaurant!

Greens is a vegetarian restaurant located in Fort Mason! They have plenty of options of vegetarian dishes and tasty wines. I have been there several times, and I've noticed that the place is very comfortable and relaxing! There is a beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge and you can take amazing pics from the window.

The food is amazing and the place is really nice! The Risotto, second pic, is my fav! If you never tried it, I think you should do that! Check the location here

More info: greensrestaurant.com

Hope you like it!
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Black Friday!

Black Friday is the name given to the day after Thanksgiving. This day is traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping and many stores open very early and get big discounts!

It's not an official holiday, however many employees have the day off. Since 2005 this day has been the busiest day of the year to go shopping! Did you know about that?!

Curiosity: Why is it Called Black Friday?!

This day is originally called Black Friday because there were a terrible traffic and many people went out to the best store deals. This term started to be used before 1961 in Philadelphia and around 1975 the term started to be used in the whole country. Another possible reason of the name is that the stores which are at retails begin to turn a profit, or to be in the black.

So, if you didn't go shopping, I have a list of other things you might be interested in:

During the day there are seven guided walking tours in SF. All the information are here!

Macy's Great Tree Lighting is at 6pm at Union Square. There's gonna have a special performance by Chris Mann and a visit from Santa!!

Hope you like it!
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Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving was first celebrated in 1621 in United States. The hard winter had been difficult for the Pilgrims, besides many of them had died because of the lack of shelter and illness. The first Thanksgiving celebration was held after the Pilgrims had gathered the first crops of the first harvest!

The Pilgrims were thankful for the harvest and for the help of the Wampanoag in teaching them to grow crops in America.

The feast included venison, fowl, sea bass, cod fish, fruits and vegetables. Nowadays the families typically prepare turkey, green beans, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.

On that time people were playing games, singing and dancing, as part of the celebration. They also gave praises to God for the harvest and for the Pilgrams that survived the harsh winter.

Nowadays people count the blessings they've received during the year and say what they've been thankful for.

This holiday is always celebrated in U.S. on the forth Thursday in November. However, it's also celebrated on the second Monday in October.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
@sanfranotes

Pre-Thanksgiving: Curiosities!

Wanna know some curiosities of the Thanksgiving?!

I've read things like that 7.9 billion of turkeys were produced in 2008. Or that North Carolina were the state which produced more sweet potatoes in the whole U.S. with 847 million pounds! That's so much! I can't even imagine that amount!

I do know that might be difficult to read the information, so if you wanna read it clearly, Click here

What shocked you the most?! Hope you know something now you didn't before ;)
@sanfranotes

Transamerica Pyramid!

I remember clearly the day I was hosted right across the street, facing this building. I got curious about this building, because there were people taking pictures of it all the time. Then, I asked one of the guys in the front desk, but he didn't even know why there was always someone taking pictures of that. Some time after, I ended up finding that this is an important building, because several good movies were edited there. 

It made me think of some things, like that guy, who I'd asked about the building. By that time, he worked probably five or six days a week, at that hotel right in front of the Pyramid, and didn't even know what it is. It made me think that sometimes it happens with me too. This kind of situation when you live in a city with a famous bridge, building, store, but you're just too busy that you can't even look around and realize these things. Probably that guy should be working there for a while, but he is so adapted to it that he didn't even get curious to know about the building. 

Anyway, it happens with me all the time too! I remember that when I found it out, I was like "how can he not know about it?! It's right in front of his work." After, I stop to think of some times that it happened with me too! Haha, it's funny the way we see things happening with other people, but if we stop to think, we'll see it's happened with us too! Interesting, huh?!

Have you been in a situation like that?! How was that!?

See's Candies!

See's Candies is a chocolate store not only in SF, but also all over United States! They also have in two asian countries! It's surprising!

Whenever you go there, they'll give you the sample of the day! Which is good, because that's how I found my f-a-v-o-r-i-t-e one, Scotchmallow! The last picture is of a Scotchmallow, which it's a mix of caramel below, marshmallow above and chocolate covering it all! It's so delicious!

They also have special candies in box for each season, mugs with chocolate in pieces and much more. I know that for Thanksgiving they have the classic Pecan Pie Truffles!

I love eating chocolate and I think it's even better to do it when it's cold! Here is the map with all the stores in SanFran!

So, if you have never been there, I recommend that you do that! Enjoy ;)

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Relaxing

Delicate drops of water are falling down to meet your body. You are bent right to let the warm water meet your body and take off all stress of your day. It's about a half hour you have only with your own. You lifted a little bit your head, and slowly your hair gets wet. All the stress, hurry and tiredness are going off your body. Very slowly.
And that's when you close your eyes for a bit, and slides the soap in the top of your left side back. You can feel your muscles starting relaxing as you do that. Then, you catch the soap and keep turning it in front of you. Your hands get soapy in a bit, and right after you bring your hands close to your face. You can already feel the great smell of the soap, you favorite one! Then, you touch your sweaty face tired from a long and hard day.
After a while, you turn around and let the water reach your face. It's all going off, all stress built up during the day.
Now you are getting used to the idea of stopping hearing the sound you've been hearing for the last 20 min. The water has fallen down into your body, and sounded as a big waterfall. You like it, but now it's time to turn off the shower.
You reach that favorite towel after you turned that off.
You know that starting from now the place is gonna get more and more cold. As you don't wanna do so, you hurry to dry yourself.
After a while you are in your favorite pajamas, reading a book and eating a little bit. You are sat down in that old and adorable armchair that you do like. Your legs are tired from a long day and your eyes starting to fall asleep.
It's late at night. All your body is begging for is to sleep. You can't fight against it, and give in. You know you can't sleep in the armchair because if so, you will not be able to work on the following day. So, before you give in, you take the way to your bedroom, replace the book on the bedside table, cover yourself with the blanket, turn off the lampshade and finally close your eyes. Sleep well, darling!

Only once

I knew the start over's day would come. I knew I would have to look for something new, because I was changing and my acts had to change, too. I knew the last thing I wanted was to take that bus and put those memories alive, over again. I knew if I did so, I would go crazy. That's why I am still good.
I've got life goes by, and we have to change as it does. That's why I knew I was doing the right thing by changing my routine! That's why I found out another place to study at.
On my very first day, I knew that it was just the beginning of a new stage. The very first day was better than I thought it would be. Funny, unpredictable, a little stressful. I was a little bit sick, but it didn't interfere in nothing. I've got that there is just one thing that would not change at all! The past! The only thing anyone can never change! So, why would I want to do so?!
I've got that the world rotates, cars go from some place to another, the time goes by and all these things never ever go back. And I am so happy they don't, because life would be boring if we could go back to change. It would not be cool if we could go back and forth everytime we wanted to do something differently. Life is only once! There is no way to go back and that's what makes everything be so special and irreplaceable!
I knew my first day would happen only once. That little and important day. Those quick 24 hours would happen only once. I could do nothing to change its way, because it would happen and I could live that only once.  Doesn't matter if that would be funny or sad, good or bad... It would definitely get the start of a new stage and would be the way it should be. Because everything happens for a reason!

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Macaron!

Good Morning!

Today is Saturday, therefore I should publish something about a restaurant. However today is cold and rainy, so I guess anyone is in the mood to go out like that. Then, today I am gonna teach you how to cook Macaron! I always wanted to do a post teaching how to cook sth, and it looks like today fit the bill! Anyway, it's a typical french sweet, which is very famous in SF!

Let's get started!

I watched the video below and really liked it!  It explains you exactly how to cook macaron in about 5 min!

I have never cooked that, and I will probably do it today! ;)

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Golden Gate Bridge Pavillon!

There is a new Store near by the Golden Gate Bridge! It's called Bridge Pavillon and it sells things related with the GGB! I guess it has run since one or two months ago! You can find either post cards, miniature of the GGB, key rings and things like that.

If you wanna go there, check this map! Probably, in the map there will not have a picture of the place, because it's very new, but you can be sure it's right there ;)

Check the pictures! :)

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Ghirardelli

Ghirardelli! It's the second-oldest chocolate company in United States! They have great, tasty, delicious chocolates! Ah, they are so awesome!

In SF there is Ghirardelli Square! It's a landmark with shops and restaurants in Fisherman's Warf! It's beautiful inside there. If you have never been there, I recommend that you do that! Map here!

Hope you like it!

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Conservatory of Flowers!

Every first tuesday the Conservatory of Flowers, as other museums, get free! So, it's like you can get in there for free! Generally, each museum has a specific day. Anyway, I went there on last tuesday and liked so much! It's fresh inside because of the plants. There are many kinds of them, as you can notice looking at the pictures. It's very silent, too!

It's located at the Golden Gate Park! Map here ! I recommend that you  go there at least one time! I think you'll not regret it!

Have you ever been there before?!

~~

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Definitely love!

Some days ago from now I was thinking about what specifically moves the world. I mean, our world. Cash, business, travels, interests... You can write a list with varied things. 
Have you ever stopped to think about... If the mankind just did things for interests and business. I think that everything, or at list the main part of the things would be done in a messy way, without care and without... love! If you do what you really like, with love and every care that you can, just imagine how many good things you would do! 
I think that when the people focus in cash, cash and cash they certainly will do things that they don't like and they would be unhappy. Come on guys, the life is too short to spend them with care in things you don't like.
Do you remember your the last time you have been happy?! How much was it?! Would you want to feel it again?!
If you do what you love, you will do it with pleasure and feeling happy. It probably will be done in the best possible way. 
What is the thing that you really like in your life?! Let's imagine you without this thing just one day in your life. You probably would be without direction, I mean, we follow our interests and we need them to feel happy and to keep searching them. This moves the world! Love moves, but partially indirectly because our goals and desires keep us following our "path" to achieve them. We need to follow our real interests and then the love will keep us going. If you do what you don't want, you will certainly want to give up! If you do anything with your love, you won't want to give up because the achievement will be compensator, and you will be feeling happy, then all the efforts will have been minimized by the happy... by the love!

Veterans Day

Veterans Day is an official United States holiday honoring all soldiers armed service veterans. This holiday is always on November 11st. It celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day is the day of remember all those men and women who died serving the country. So, it's quite different, ok!?

Happy Veterans Day!

Dolores Park and Ice Cream!

Yay!

I can't believe I have lived here for so long, and haven't talked about the Dolores Park! So, this park is located in Castro, which is a neighborhood. When I first went there some things surprised me, like the kids area and sport courts. The park is also very open, because there aren't many threes as Golden Gate Park, so it's perfect to relax on the grass.

From the park you can have a beautiful vision of downtown! Which was a surprise for me, too!

And the delicious news! If you just cross the street, you'll be in a very nice ice-cream parlor! It's called and it's very famous because all flavors are delicious! I've tried and liked so much!!! And it's perfect because you can buy one tasty ice cream, and right after enjoy it at the park!

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

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Saturday: Restaurant!

This time I am gonna talk about a Japanese Restaurant!

It's called YOKOHAMA and it's at 229 Columbus Ave, SF! I do love japanese food, and this restaurant is just awesome!

It's easy to get there, too, and the place is quite and comfortable! Sometimes, I think it's nice to eat something fresh and health. So, this place is a good option! Besides, they have either on website and menu, plenty of options and combinations of food with picture. In my opinion, it helps a lot when you don't know what to order. Don't you agree?!

This is the website: http://www.yokohamarestaurant.com/index.html and today they open at 5pm-11pm.

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Hope I helped you! Enjoy your saturday!

Lights

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." - Plato

What is your favorite?! Follow me: @sanfranotes