San Francisco viewed from Port View Park, Oakland, Summer 2002 · //ichael Patric|{ (found via flickr.com)

I wouldn’t mind going on a sailing trip in the San Francisco Bay. Especially on a sunny day like that. That’s when reality hits me, reminding me of the fact that I’m trapped in Vienna with lousy weather. Come on it’s June. We need sun rays to retain sanity.

San Francisco at night by Thomas Hawk

“It’s simply a very romantic place. Just one look at any of those streets, and you couldn’t be anywhere else – it’s so beautiful, and there’s that location, and the sense of the free spirit. Who couldn’t become ravenous in such a place?” (by Julia Child)

Rain radar.

Winter and especially the time around Valentine’s day in San Francisco can mean a variety of things according to the San Francisco Metroblog. There’s the possibility of a sunny calm day where you can peak magnolia blossom in the streets. There however is a certain – not to be underestimated - likelihood of rain that might be the result of someone pouring accumulated Valentine’s day depression-caused tears out of the window. The later had Mark say the following:

[...] so we were about to get hammered with that orange stuff. I wonder how many Valentine’s Day first flings are waking up this morning and wondering how, in this rain, to tactfully get the hell out of the apartment of the person whose name they don’t remember.

As you know I have recently moved to Vienna and therefore I am trying to make my new place feel homy. I’ve been looking for a neat poster that matches the green in my room and found it online over at orkposters.com. Have a look, it’s a city map of San Francisco. Doesn’t it look awesome? (It comes in all kinds of US American cities.)

Once it is shipped to my apartment I’ll have to figure out how to hang it up. Here are some ideas. Love the binder clip hanging method. Or should I just go for a plain frame?

San Francisco City Map Poster (in green)

I stumped upon this and simply had to post this. Also I found this sophisticated quote. Have fun figuring it out. Whereas Austria is being buried in snow (just the southern part of Austria – when does Vienna or Lower Austria get its fair share of snow?), I have to make up my mind on what to do/where to go this summer. Any ideas?

Suggestions get an immediate bonus for consideration when they take me some place with a prior requirement of boarding a plane. My dad suggested I would work 4 months. I’m afraid suggestions like these can not be seriously considered.

“San Francisco is a city where people are never more abroad than when they are at home.” (by Benjamin F.Taylor)

Putting Roots Down · photo by Thomas Hawk on flickr.com

Over at Laughing Squid they posted this great video of a Virgin Atlantic Boing 747 approaching and landing at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). In case you wondered how to master that, well I guess all it takes is to watch the video and the rest, well, that’s basically done best with the motto “try as you go.” If you want to land this tiny birdie, please let me know, so I can make sure my loved ones and I are not the happy passengers.

Love the communications in it. So when I read the Laughing Squid post saying “you’re just a fan of air traffic control communications and NASA-style checklists” I knew this video simply was for me!

The best part of this nearly 10 min (I watched them all and was excited all the time!)? The Captain-Passenger announcement in the end of course. But you know that I’m into airplane stuff like security videos, especially the part of “Please fold up the tray in front of you, and fasten your seat belts!”

Guess what? This video reminded me of how badly I want to go back, to the US of A…

There you go, this is as biblical as it might (who knows…) ever get on this blog… It’s a pleasure to open a new category, called A Picture A Quote. With this masterpiece of photography.

Absent in body, but present in spirit. (Bible, 1 Corinthians v. 3.)

Foggy Night, Sutro Baths Ruins, San Francisco 1985 · photo by Sharper24 on flickr.com

It’s been a year since I took off by plane to the Golden State. It’s been a year and I just can’t believe. A lot of things happened since then and this fact really proves that time flies. Working at Dynea, passing my community service and all the experiences that come along with it. At this time of the year I just wish I could board a plane that takes me somewhere else. The thought that I am trapped ALL summer is slightly stressing me out. Just slightly. Sarcasm End.

Not that I am sick of my life here in Austria, it is just that I am anticipating something that isn’t going to happen. Do you know that feeling. This year, no huge trip for poor Philipp. No vacation. Well, I’ll host an American friend for a week, so that should be fun, right? Touring Austria!

Thank you to my host family and all the new friends I made in California. I just wanted to thank you. Even after a year I keep thinking of you and I hope to be back soon. Promised. A YEAR, crazy!

Darker Than – This most certainly is a nice wallpaper opportunity – click to get enlarged version · by Thomas Hawk on flickr.com

Images like these of typical symbols like Las Vegas, San Francisco (Golden Gate, Transamerica Pyramid, etc.) and travel stuff keep following me. It looks like I can’t let go. No, I just can’t let go.

Here the lines of a song that people who fell in love with The City would sign without further ado to proof the finesse of San Francisco… I Left my Heart In San Francisco by Tony Bennett.

I left my heart in San Francisco, high on a hill it calls to me
To be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars.
The morning fog may chill the air, I don’t care.
My love waits there in San Francisco, above the blue and windy sea,
When I come home to you, San Francisco, your golden sun will shine for me.

Good to know that the golden sun will shine for anybody who goes to San Francisco.