LEFT: The flag of Italy as seen here- is painted on all street posts thus it leads one to know he/she is in North Beach, a.k.a. Little Italy. Is there a beach in North Beach? No. None. There is no beach in North Beach.When husband and I first started coming here last year, all at once- we fell in love with the place! We chorused to say on how fantastic it would be to live in this haven (if we could afford it-that is- ayayay)! And from that day on, we dreamed of living here and be a part of the montage of this beautiful neighborhood. Yes, we had taken ownership of this place- early on in our fantasy (***smile***) and in our hearts (***sigh***) and mind, we meditated and prayed all the time (and up until now) that we'd be given the chance to experience living in this location. And so far, we have been blessed! We are relocating here this Sunday! Back then (last year) all seemed to be far too remote but now it is not.
(SOLILOQUY: "Gee, am so ecstatic writing my journal...I still have to pack!!!" TRANSLATION: "I don't want to pack anymore, I just want to fly and be there in North Beach right now!!!)
Once we move here come Sunday, June 18, we will be called "San Fransicans" like the rest of the locals who live here. Our flat is located in between two churches: the shrine St. Francis of Assisi (this is not a regular parish- no baptisim, confirmation or wedding is held here) and the Saints Peter and Paul Church (this will be our parish).
Where is North Beach?
North Beach is the area in San Francisco that lies in the boarder between Broadway and Columbus Avenue and it is very close to the Chinatown district. If you are coming from Union Square (where Macy's is), North Beach is at the deeper end of it; a few blocks' walk to Ferry building and Fisherman's Wharf.
HOW DID WE GET SO LUCKY FINDING OUR PLACE?
Try www.craigslist.com It works! But you must be patient and diligent to deal with not-so-warm apartment owners, managers and real estate brokers. They rarely reply to emails or make return calls. But once in a blue moon you meet one who is good enough to make a return call. So last Saturday morning, when Mr. Ong called back Blue-Eyed husband (same day husband called, minutes later- actually), we were happy about it; went travelling all at once~ fronto style~ from Ripon to SFO. It was impromptu but worth it.
THE ANTICIPATION AND THE GOOD KARMA LEADING OUR WAY
We finally found our haven in San Francisco. At the free way at a little past 11 AM, we were visualizing things. All we could say was, “Oooh, aahh, wow…Santa Banana! It’s going to be wonderful!”
Our ally is across NORTH BEACH PIZZA, raved about by food connosieurs and browers at yahoo as the best pizza in town and a must-see and must-eat-place-to-be when in North Beach. We are 4 minutes to everywhere we want to be: Chinatown (for all our food supplies and shopping needs); St. Peter and Paul Church (for the religious aspect of our lives), the Washington Square (for space and nature tripping) and The Condor House of Sea Foods (for dining and dancing). Parking space is close by, 2 blocks away, 4 minutes on foot. Cost is hefty and paid on a monthly basis. City living is costly~ one is paying for what it's worth ~a potpourri of things in living color but for us, it's worth it. Sure, there is a compromise of staying in a smaller living quarter versus staying in a larger house with a front and back yard. It is all a matter of taste and or and for us, San Francisco is just about it.
(***Click photos to enlarge***)
L to R: The Washington Park (see the Italian flag colors on the street post); husband pacing towards the ally where our flat is; our neighborhood cafe- filled with avid patrons watching people go by.
Left: the Washington Square and across it, the Saints Peter and Paul Church
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