San Francisco – Nicci Carrera

June 18, 2014 Nicci Photography, San Francisco, Travel

San Francisco impressions 2, Hayes Valley and Pacific Heights

I liked the 3-dimensions shown in this San Francisco Pacific Heights apartment building. To make it a bit more interesting I added some art effects.

Here is an interesting dresser made out of rulers, spotted in a shop in the Hayes Valley area.

Here is some “hula art” hanging on a cyclone fence around some Hayes Valley restaurants.

After the 1989 earthquake, some of the freeway ramps in San Francisco collapsed. The city used the opportunity to relocate some of the ramps from gorgeous (the Embarcadero) or interesting (Hayes Valley) areas. They redeveloped the areas that were now free of transportation blight.

There’s a lovely park in the Hayes Valley with interesting shops and a coffee vendor serving cold-brewed ice coffee (delish) and an ice-cream shop.

I didn’t sample the ice cream, but the flavors looked interesting.

The park is a nice place to relax.

The stores are trendy. This clothing store is built out of shipping containers.

June 15, 2014 Nicci Photography, San Francisco, Travel

San Francisco impressions

February 20, 2014March 19, 2014 Nicci Local, Photography, San Francisco, Travel, Writing

Spring is coming

I’m very happy to be on a “writer retreat.” One of my critique partners moved away almost 2 years ago and is back for a visit. We’re spending a few days surrounding a Donald Maass workshop (The Fire in Fiction) to talk about our goals, projects and life. While technology has allowed us to continue meeting via Google chat, face-to-face time satisfies a human need for connection on a deeper level, I find. What do you think?

Although we haven’t earned spring or summer in California because we’ve had a long string of days like this (today):

I’m still excited by the first signs of spring. Look at this little visitor who came to our driveway a couple days ago.

February 2, 2014March 19, 2014 Nicci Photography, San Francisco, Travel

Fisherman’s Wharf and views of San Francisco from a speeding car

We enjoyed a gorgeous day in San Francisco on Friday. I used to live there, but I didn’t feel like doing local things. I wanted to be near the wharf and I was longing for a loaf of San Francisco sourdough bread. We found a funky restaurant upstairs at Pier 39 with an outdoor area that was one long narrow table along the porch. We had garlic fries and onion rings, beer and lemon drops (respectively), and people watched. As an aside, it was a total junk food day for me but I managed to keep it vegetarian! Breakfast was an asiago cheddar pretzel at Starbucks. Lunch was fries, rings and lemon drops, and dinner was sourdough and butter.

We were allowed to sit as long as we wanted, no pressure. I was amazed to find this spot at such a tourist trap area. My hubby spotted it. It was called The Eagle Cafe. Here are views from our table:

We thought this seagull wanted a ride out to where the fish are, but once the ferry pulled out of the marina, he left his post and found another high spot. He just wanted to be up high.

Here’s the view from the entry to the cafe:

The sunset over the city was gorgeous as we drove out. It’s hard to get photos from a speeding car, but I did my best for you:

November 28, 2013March 20, 2014 Nicci Australia, Food, Local, Manhattan, Netherlands, New York, Paris, Poem, San Francisco, Travel, Writing

A Thanksgiving day poem and highlights of a foodie

Love is what it’s all about–
but food is a close second.

Nia Simone, November 28, 2013

I was asking an Australian friend if they have any holidays that are basically about food. Not really. Okay, so I have several Australian friends, many of whom I’ve met through blogging, so pipe up if you disagree! Of course, as you know, the food in Australia is amazing, so perhaps we don’t need a specific holiday centered on feasting there.

Australia is my other home, and this is becoming clear as one fellow blogger thought I was Australian. I love Australia and my Australian friends. Today is an American holiday, though, and I’m going to celebrate it by starting this celebration of food off with home-grown and home cooked foods before moving on to some of my international culinary samples.

Home grown and home-cooked: