Letizia in CA: COVID Be Damned!

After a couple false positive false starts to her arrival, Letizia came to San Francisco in late January for a work trip.  It was a pretty special, unexpected, post-pandemic international friend visit. We hung out a bit in the city and then made our way to the coast.  Here are some highlights of the trip!

I was so glad we were able to get this group together.  Maryana and Letizia had never met, and I was happy to finally be introduced to Patti, who Letizia has worked with many times on her U.S. work trips.  And what a rare occasion these days, a dinner party with people of different backgrounds but all connected, together for a fun evening of conversation.  It was truly joyful!

Leti, Patti, me, Brittany and Maryana 

at Brenda's Meat & Three

Together again later that week, we had a surprisingly delicious, fun dinner at Sushi Toni downtown before Leti's colleague Patti headed back to NYC.  

Why is Leti pointing?

The world will never know.

On our first full day together, I finally got to try Mama's brunch in Washington Square, which often has hours long waits on the weekend.  How lovely to have a free weekday to enjoy fresh air, yummy food, and a good friend in the city.

Letizia loves City Lights Book Store so much that she chose her hotel by one main criterion: that it's within walking distance of it.

Inside/outside COVID masking struggles

After our day in the city, we drove south along Highway 1 to Half Moon Bay, where I had reserved an Airbnb with a hot tub and ocean view.  

We made it in time for sunset and later got Peruvian food, which we got to enjoy beside a fire pit on the patio.

We packed a lot in on our one full day in HMB, starting with a hike through Eucalyptus groves up near our Airbnb.

She has a way of making you stop 

and appreciate the little things

After having worked up an appetite, I took Leti to the incredible hidden taco shop in a gas station mini mart in Pescadero, and we made it a progressive lunch by having just one taco each and then going farther inland to a really cute spot called Loma Mar Store and Kitchen.  Highly recommend this cozy, redwood-surrounded cabin that balances a local feel with a delicious, refined menu.  (And the locals will entertain you, perhaps by talking loudly on their cell about how they're enjoying listening to the girls next to them speak...French.)

Pescadero

Loma Mar

Later, we made a quick stop by Harley Goat Farm where we said hello to these little guys and picked up some of their amazing cheese for dinner, along with artichoke bread and other tasty treats from Pescadero for our aperitivo dinner back home.

Needing to get in some actual beach time (which during the winter in Northern California consists of a lot of layers and hot tea), we stopped at Pomponio Beach for a walk and impromptu photoshoot at sunset.  We were the only people on the beach - it was magical being just us, surrounded by imposing cliffs on one side, and the endless Pacific Ocean on the other.

And then sunset hit.

To cap off our lovely getaway, we spent way more time than one should in the hot tub, drinking wine and chatting about, well, everything.  I never have enough time to discuss life with Letizia, and am always grateful for her perspective, conviction, and sense of humor.  We swapped songs, I introduced her to Wordle, she fell asleep on the couch.  We packed a lot into the day!

Our last morning we were up early to pack, check out, and get Leti a COVID test.  Our last meal together was near the airport at a Mediterranean spot with so-amazing-they're-hard-to-believe reviews, called Mazra.  Let me tell you, it lived up to expectations!  This will be my new go-to near the airport.

And that was it!  Next time, Leti, I'm coming to you.  Can't wait!