Magic Pond, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 2006
***
Maggy Mason, San Francisco's Mighty Girl of Might Goods, instructs on page 31 of her blogging book: Share your expertise!
When I first read that chapter over the holidays though, nothing occurred to me. I quickly turned the page and felt inadequate and incapable of prescribing a magic recipe of any kind. What do I know after all?
But what I realized since then, is that we all have our special ways of doing things... And as a matter of fact, this gypsy girl here, has no shortage of curious habits either!
This weekend, for example, I had some friends visiting from out of town and I was showing them different neighborhoods and favorite local spots. While doing this, I noticed with how much conviction I recommend my places of choice in the city. I take all my guests to have brunch at Zazie, coffee and delicacies at Tartine, picnic at Dolores Park, free wireless, music, arts and crafts @ Canvas Gallery, the magic pond at Golden Gate park (above)... My list goes on and on, and I'm sure that with a little work, it could even turn into my own little handbook with "100 Gypsy Tips to San Francisco" (no pun intended ;P)! More important to observe however, is the fact that we seem to take our expertise for granted. We end up bypassing ourselves as legitimate resources for all that is juicy and fun...
Could we all hold much more knowledge than we give ourselves credit for?
Another fun silly tip I'm willing to share is my "3 minute rule". I started experimenting with it last year and I swear by it these days. As most of you probably know, San Francisco is a "pain" to park. Or shall I say it used to be? I have tested and proved a brilliant technique to solve that problem. (No... I no longer call on the "parking fairies"!) My rule is that if I am willing to wait only 3 minutes anywhere, or more precisely, in front of where I need to park, a spot will free up for me within that time. This rule has never failed me once yet. It is pretty funny to watch my own disbelief in wanting to circle the block after only a minute. All I need is the patience to hang in there a little longer. If I do, I always get the perfect spot. During the holiday shopping spree, as you might wonder, it was no different. There was even one particular day, December 23, when I waited somewhat doubtful for 2 and half minutes and no cars moved. With my rule practically expired, I turned my engine and was ready to circle the block. Surprisingly, before I pressed on first gear, the sweetest lady came running towards my car and said: "Wait! I see you've been waiting on a spot for a couple of minutes. I'm just picking up my daughter. I can circle the block instead, since I'm not sticking around. A spot is hard to come by around here. Go ahead and take my space, please!" And just like that, I had my confirmation": the 3 minute rule works every time. No stress and 100% success guaranteed!
How about you? Do you have any miracle tips? I'm ready to try them all!!!
Comments (7)
I am going to have to try out that 3 minute rule- thank you for sharing!!! And it is so fun to show someone around your city, to show them your favorite spots which are the city's best spots!, and then you get to enjoy them all over again too! I use to live in San Francisco but I was only a sophomore in college and I feel like if I lived there now it would be a whole new and wonderful experience with so much I never discovered there the first time around as much as I did love it.
Posted by Alexandra | January 16, 2007 10:48 PM
Posted on January 16, 2007 22:48
I would love to come and get the Gypsy tour of San Francisco. I'm also an enthusiastic guide for visitors to my home town(s) - do you think it comes from being a traveller so often? I'd love to show you my Wellington one day - although I suspect you already have your own ideas about the best spots, we could swap gypsy tips.
Thank you so much for your lovely comments. I'm hanging in here and feeling so much better for having acknowledged the problem. Onwards and upwards from here!
xx
Posted by Frida | January 17, 2007 5:52 AM
Posted on January 17, 2007 05:52
Dear little Gypsy,
I like your 3 minute rule and I think you should definitely produce your guide. Why not?
Here is my tip: do your very hardest thing, the thing you are least looking forward to first thing in the morning. Then you can feel accomplished for the rest of the day.
Posted by Maryam in Marrakech | January 17, 2007 8:24 AM
Posted on January 17, 2007 08:24
i think you ought to start working on a book about your 100 gypsy tips. san fransico is one of those places i dream of visiting one day. when i do finally make it there i'd cherish a book with a insider's expert opinion.
Posted by la vie en rose | January 17, 2007 9:29 AM
Posted on January 17, 2007 09:29
Hmmmmmmmm, SF parking sounds more like NY parking, it's a pain here too, especially on the weekends. Love the pic, it looks like a post card.
Posted by cathy | January 17, 2007 11:14 AM
Posted on January 17, 2007 11:14
I like both your ideas - share what you know and the 3-minute rule. San Francisco is definitely one place I'd like to visit one day and I'd certainly like to know where to go from someone who lives there. I just know that your gypsy girl SF travel tips would be interesting and more up my alley. Hey, maybe that could be a side link on your blog?
As for my own magical tips...um...what comes to mind are photo tips...when photographing something or someone, focus in on an area near your subject that is mid-grey in tone, then set your exposure (f-stop and shutter speed). Without changing the settings, look back up to your subject and take the photograph. I find that I get a more accurate overall exposure when doing this. On a bright sunny day, you can do this by focusing on the deepest, bluest area of the sky. Okay, this isn't exactly magical but they're pointers that work. :)
Posted by susanna | January 18, 2007 9:44 AM
Posted on January 18, 2007 09:44
The photo is breathtaking.
Posted by [a} | January 19, 2007 3:16 AM
Posted on January 19, 2007 03:16