To Sausalito, the Upscale Coastal Town

Next, we drove about 40 minutes from downtown San Francisco to Sausalito, a charming seaside town. It’s incredibly beautiful—like a mini USJ (Universal Studios Japan) (laughs). San Francisco’s weather is fascinating: just 30 minutes ago, it was so cold I needed a long sleeve under a short sleeve, but in the neighboring town, it was warm enough for just a short sleeve. But even when it’s warm, it’s dry and comfortable, unlike the humid heat in Japan.

Sausalito was so lovely that when I said, “I want to live in a town like this!” N told us a shocking fact: “It’s a beautiful town, but house prices here have skyrocketed. Buying a house costs at least 100 million yen.” Minimum 100 million yen… ((；ﾟДﾟ)) I wonder what kind of jobs people living here have… Wow.

For lunch, we went to Napa Valley Burger Co. It seemed quite popular and well-reviewed because after noon the place was packed. I ordered a “Turkey something” burger, and the patty was meaty and the bacon was incredibly tasty.

Looking at this photo, you might think, “Oh, that’s an easy amount to finish,” but it was actually quite large—about twice the size of a Big Mac. Still, I ate it all, and N was surprised, saying, “Oh, you don’t leave food behind? Even so, you didn’t have to push yourself that hard…” But it was just really delicious. After lunch, it was finally time to visit the famous “Lombard Street” with its steep slopes and sharp curves.

Since it’s a famous tourist spot, many visitors were getting out of their cars to take photos. It’s hard to tell from pictures, but from the very top, the slope is so steep it almost feels like a theme park ride. Definitely don’t come here in a GT3 or any car with low ground clearance—you’ll bottom out for sure.

In winter, the hydrangeas along Lombard Street wither, so the view isn’t as vibrant, but in the summer tourist season, you can enjoy the full bloom of colorful hydrangeas. After wandering around town, we visited the original Apple Store.

I don’t know why, but even though it’s similar in design to the Apple Store in Japan (I only know the Osaka one though), this one felt much more sophisticated and stylish. Maybe because both floors are all glass and very spacious? San Francisco’s diverse population gives the store a truly global vibe. Even on a weekday evening, it was packed.

Even the iPhones on display, which should be the same as in Japan, somehow looked cooler (laughs). Upstairs is a free space where people were working on laptops or listening to music on their iPhones. Next to an older couple with backpacks sat a funky young guy… It was a fun scene showing the wide range of Apple users (laughs).

Traveling abroad like this really changes your perspective and is fascinating. I hope to soon create a lifestyle where I can write my blog at the San Francisco Apple Store and work while traveling around the world. That’s the dream expanding during my stay in San Francisco. Tomorrow, we’re off to the Porsche Experience Center in Los Angeles! Can’t wait!