Going Home :(

I am going back to Cleveland today and am leaving my buddy in San Fran!!! I couldn't be more proud of her but after being inseparable for the last week, it's going to be quite the adjustment!!!
I have developed such a love and appreciation for San Francisco!!! It's awesome!!! If you have never been I highly recommend visiting!!! It's the most accepting city in the U.S. If you ask me. If you want to go streaking you can (not saying I tried it but...you can!!!), if you want to dye your hair pink and put it in a mow-hawk not as many people will gawk at you and If you make the trip from Cleveland to San Francisco via automobile people will respect you.
This was by far one of the best trips I have ever taken!!!! Can't wait for the next adventure!!!

Day #7!

Lucky day #7!!!!! So I got to the San Francisco airport on Thursday, thinking I was to depart back to Cleveland at 1:30 pm, but turns out I depart on Friday at 1:30 pm!!! Woooooo hoooo! I couldn't be happier, considering I was getting a bit emotional after saying goodbye to Ellen. :'(So, I called my hype girl and she picked my ass back up! We headed to the grocery and Target. Craziest Target I have EVER been to!!! The layout was completely different than any Target in the Midwest. Children were crying, people were running across our cart, couldn't find a toothbrush...but, oh what an experience!!!!
On Thursday pm, Ellen, me, Ellen's friend Lauren and my friend Sharon went to NOPA, this fancy pantsy restaurant off Divisidaro in the area of Nopa San Fran. Seeing my friend Sharon is always so inspiring!!! She has traveled and lived all over the world, has a contagious enthusiasm for life and has a beautiful heart!!! I am so happy she will be down the street from Ellen and teach her the ways of the city!!!

San Fran!!!!

Day #6-San Fran!!

We made it to the sunny city of San Francisco at 5 pm on Tuesday!!! The drive through the Rockies of California were quite windy & curvy but picture perfect!!!
Once in San Fran, we met up with Ellen's friend Lauren for dinner and drinks at Fly Bar. Delicious!! Then we went to her new home off Baker St. to meet the roomies!! They are a great group of people! I am so happy for her!!
Later, my college buddy, Ben, met us up at Danny Coyle's bar for drinks and trivia!! I <3 San Fran!!! There are so many diverse people to learn from and so much to do!! It's different from any city I have been to. It has so much character and the best part...it is sunny almost always!!!! I better get my tan-on before I go back to cold, snowy, cloudy Cleveland!!!

Day #5-Salt Lake City, UT & Reno, NV

Tuesday we visited Temple Square! It was unbelievable!!! I wish we had more time to walk around and learn about Mormonism, but the brief visit was well worth it!!
Then, it was back on the road again for the final long haul to Reno, NV! It was interesting to see how the terrain changed from Utah to Nevada. Nevada was much drier and dustier than the mountains of Utah. We saw what looked like either a forest fire or "hot spots" in Nevada. The funniest part about stopping at any gas station is the casino attached, which reeks of smoke!! I can see how people can get addicted to gambling. I mean I got pretty into Blackjack in Reno;)
We stayed at the Atlantis Hotel and Casino in Reno. For dinner we ate AMAZING cioppino, a fish stew which originated from San Francisco paired with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. Then we had some beginners luck at blackjack. I may have a new calling in life;)