San Francisco Home Exchange
Aug 23rd, 2012, 01:01 PM
#22
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Tuesday morning our goal was to be out by noon and on our way home.
I still hadn't been to Chloe's Cafe so we walked there. On a Tuesday morning at noon there was still a 10-15 wait. Breakfast was very good, coffee was even better, but I still wouldn't wait 45 minutes for it, even if the croissant french toast with 100% maple syrup was divine. I've heard people complain that they couldn't get their check to leave. I found that we had to "ask." As soon as I put cash on the table, they brought the check. So maybe it truly is a French cafe!!
This was our first home exchange and I was still unsure of how much cleaning to do. I asked the other couple, saying I think it's easier to clean our own places, but was there anything they wanted us to do specifically (strip the beds, etc.) All they said was to throw all used towels in the bathtub. They said "their lady" would be by and where to leave the key. I assumed the lady was a cleaning lady so I didn't knock myself out. I emptied any trash that might be smelly, cleaned dishes, wiped down surfaces to de-germify the place. Done? Guess so. Getting out was complicated. I had a garage door opener I needed to leave on the counter but also needed to get the car out, and a door key I needed to hide, and no-where to park. So I acted like a true San Franciscan and pulled out of the garage and blocked the sidewalk while I ran the garage door opener inside and hid the key.
Once on hwy280 (about five minutes away) we saw the first sunshine we'd seen in days!
I loved my time in the City, but it also made me appreciate where I live - that it's a good fit for us, and that's a useful thing to experience too.
I still hadn't been to Chloe's Cafe so we walked there. On a Tuesday morning at noon there was still a 10-15 wait. Breakfast was very good, coffee was even better, but I still wouldn't wait 45 minutes for it, even if the croissant french toast with 100% maple syrup was divine. I've heard people complain that they couldn't get their check to leave. I found that we had to "ask." As soon as I put cash on the table, they brought the check. So maybe it truly is a French cafe!!
This was our first home exchange and I was still unsure of how much cleaning to do. I asked the other couple, saying I think it's easier to clean our own places, but was there anything they wanted us to do specifically (strip the beds, etc.) All they said was to throw all used towels in the bathtub. They said "their lady" would be by and where to leave the key. I assumed the lady was a cleaning lady so I didn't knock myself out. I emptied any trash that might be smelly, cleaned dishes, wiped down surfaces to de-germify the place. Done? Guess so. Getting out was complicated. I had a garage door opener I needed to leave on the counter but also needed to get the car out, and a door key I needed to hide, and no-where to park. So I acted like a true San Franciscan and pulled out of the garage and blocked the sidewalk while I ran the garage door opener inside and hid the key.
Once on hwy280 (about five minutes away) we saw the first sunshine we'd seen in days!
I loved my time in the City, but it also made me appreciate where I live - that it's a good fit for us, and that's a useful thing to experience too.
Aug 23rd, 2012, 02:59 PM
#23
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Stu - Monday night about 7pm. I would have loved to try the paella. Actually, the best paella I've ever had was at La Tour de Cause in La Chapelle, an area I know you're familiar with. I've been lucky enough to have it twice 
.
.
Aug 23rd, 2012, 08:31 PM
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In '09 we had a Fodors GTG with 2 other US couples plus the owners of La Tour de Cause. I found out that they are from San Rafael - here in the Bay Area. We went back to their B&B after lunch and sat around polishing off a few bottles of their wine.
Do they offer dinners??? We'll be close by (less than 3 K from their B&B) for a couple of weeks in '14.
Stu Dudley
Do they offer dinners??? We'll be close by (less than 3 K from their B&B) for a couple of weeks in '14.
Stu Dudley
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