12 DAYS IN MAY Part 4 of 5 "Oakland California"

12 DAYS IN MAY

~PART FOUR~

*PART ONE*

**PART TWO**

***PART THREE***

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

I was born beneath the rolling Oakland Hills, a proud child of the Bay Area.

 I used to ride a bike around my neighborhood without any thought of danger. I was raised to be courageous, to not let fear rule my life. When part of the Bay Bridge collapsed during a massive earthquake, my beloved Oakland Hills were engulfed in flames, our home was robbed while we were at church, and our car was stolen in the middle of the night- my parents would encourage me to not be afraid. I fell asleep some nights to the screams of sirens, the distorted voices of police speaking through megaphones, and the buzz of helicopters, woken up by the flashing of their spotlights...

This is the hospital where I was born!

I lived in Oakland for about 16 years of my life. Even after moving to an adjacent city, some nights my Dad would take me for drives around our old neighborhood, the schools I attended, our old church, and we would simply enjoy the time talking and being together. 

My Dad & I at Sqaw Valley. 5/2014

Even though I grew up in Oakland, I went to school in Alameda which is a really quiet and pretty community. After our extensive tour of San Francisco, my parents and I went to one of the best breakfast restaurants in the world (my opinion) called OLE'S WAFFLE SHOP

After the filling breakfast (my meal pictured above) we drove around our old neighborhood and to a church I featured in my Oakland city drawing.

St. Elizabeth's

My childhood home featured in my "OAKLAND, CA" drawing

Driving up through eucalyptus tree lined streets, our journey took us to the side of the Oakland Hills where a magnificent LDS temple stands as a beacon, shining as a watchman over the entire SF Bay Area.

Every year during Christmas we would drive up to this temple (even though we were not Mormons) and we'd admire their magnificent manger scene, lights, displays, and enjoy the music of their choirs echoing over the bustling river flowing from the foot of the beautiful temple.

Our short trip through Oakland continued through Downtown. I have only recently come to appreciate the glory of architecture, the history of buildings, and the details in structures so this was a very special time for me to see vaguely familiar places with a new eye. (All of these buildings are in my drawing by the way! Can you find them all?)

Our time in Oakland was an important part of my yearly visit to the Bay Area and I'm so glad I got to spend time with my parents talking about old stories, our times together, and my hometown.

My journey was nearing it's conclusion, but first we went to Sacramento...

12 DAYS IN MAY PART 5 OF 5

THE CAPITOL

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12 DAYS IN MAY Part 3 of 5 The City

"12 DAYS IN MAY"

~Part Three of Five~

*PART ONE HERE*

**PART TWO HERE**

THE CITY

My parents and I stayed three days and two nights in the supernaturally beautiful city of San Francisco. This was an experience I'll never forget & will always cherish.

The first day began with a drive over the new Bay Bridge. It was surreal to be driving next to the old, dismantled bridge I fondly remember driving over for so many years of my life growing up in the Bay Area.

We checked into the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero.

next to the Port of San Francisco's Ferry Building

 and enjoyed a nice view of the bay from our balcony!

For many years when I was growing up across the Bay in Oakland, my parents and I would visit San Francisco and they would let me play in the fountain seen above and let me run wild through the Hyatt's huge atrium. I have such fond memories there so it was nice after all of these years to be back there with them.

I was still feeling a little weak from my travels, but in the pursuit of seeing beautiful places and things, I felt revived! As a lover of old films, I remembered the classic scenes in Alfred Hitchcock's "VERTIGO" which took place at the Legion of Honor; this was our first stop of the day!

The LEGION OF HONOR

We even went inside and toured the museum! :)

From here, we drove beneath forests of fragrant eucalyptus and around steep curved roads over the ocean and through beautiful, quiet streets. I even got some nice photos of the Golden Gate Bridge through some trees!

We parked alongside Crissy Field and I remembered bike rides with my parents on the weekends and afternoon walks along the Bay with my grandmother before she passed away. Sweet memories! And to make everything even more memorable, one of my favorite sculptors, MARK DiSUVERO's iconic works of art were featured in the park thanks to the SFMOMA

MARK DiSUVERO at Crissy Field

I literally ran around Crissy Field taking numerous pictures from every angle of the beautiful structures. By the end of this it was time for dinner and my parents and I went to CIOPPINOS (a restaurant we used to go to during the holidays). Since this delicious Italian food restaurant is on Fisherman's Wharf we also walked around and smelled the fresh fish, clam chowder in bread bowls, and watched the boats tied to the pier sway above the clear blue water.

FISHERMAN'S WHARF

And then on the second day we visited a building I'd never been to or appreciated growing up in the Bay Area- the majestic
 San Francisco City Hall.

 No visit to "The City" would be complete without a trip to the Golden Gate Bridge and this time, my parents and I walked halfway over one of the world's greatest achievements of modern engineering.
The Golden Gate Bridge

*my grandparents at the Golden Gate Bridge*

I was still yearning for a view of the Pacific Ocean, that sea that was forever on the other side of the hills. 

I have fond memories of Golden Gate Park, but I never really appreciated the beauty, magnitude, and its contents until this trip! 

We only had time to visit the Conservatory of Flowers, but since my Mom loves nature, this was a special time for she and I.

It went by so fast. At the beginning of the third day we were dragging our feet about leaving the gorgeous city by the Bay.

But we were all excited to visit the city I'm proud to call my hometown- 

PART 4 OF 5

"OAKLAND - CALIFORNIA"

THEN FINALLY-

THE CAPITOL (SACRAMENTO, CA)


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