California Trip July 2012: Part 2 Sites and Ocean Beach

Food Market in San Mateo

View from Twin Peaks in San Francisco

   We stayed actually with my brother, brother-in-law, and my brother-in-law's family in San Mateo, California. Just a short drive from San Francisco. We arrive around lunch time. We were all hungry, and needed to stretch our legs. My brother was at work in San Francisco so my brother-in-law took us to an El Salvadorian restaurant to eat at in San Mateo. Oh, boy was it good. It was also by a food market store. There was so much fresh fruits and veggies. Joel was amazed with all that they had there. Of course many of the things were written in Spanish, and my brother-in-law had to translate for us. 
   After we got done we headed back to the house where we were staying. My dad wanted to sleep for a while. My mom and Joel played outside. I went with my brother-in-law shopping and to get Mani and pedi's. That night we had Guatemalan food from a restaurant. That night my brother took our mom and me into San Francisco to to Twin Peaks to over look San Francisco. It was so neat to see. It was also very cold. Not even two minutes after I took this picture the fog rolled in. I was so lucky to get this wonderful picture.

Ocean Beach, San Francisco California

  The next day while my brother was gone to work my brother-in-law took us to the Pacific Ocean. We went to Ocean Beach in San Francisco. It would be my second time to an ocean, and Joel's first time ever. The water was freezing, but got to it after so long. Joel was so excited to see a cargo boat in the background. He loved touching the sand as well as the water. At first he did not know what to think about the waves. He took in a couple of gulps of the salty water.
While my dad looked for shells and rocks on the beach, and my mom resting on the towels watching our stuff; my brother-in-law, Joel, and I enjoyed the water of the Pacific Ocean. We got sand dollars from under the water, laughed as Joel enjoyed he waves hitting us, and just enjoying the California sun. Even though Gabriel (my brother in law) and I had a hold of Joel we had his life vest on him. Some of the waves were quite forceful, specially with Joel being so young. 

Downtown Market Street San Francisco, California

  After we got done at Ocean Beach it was time to go pick up my brother in Downtown San Francisco. My brother works at Lens Crafters on Market Street. It is different downtown San Francisco, California than back home in Iowa in our State Capital of Des Moines, Iowa. Lot more congested that is for sure. Downtown San Francisco on Market Street has pedestrians walking to and from (some not caring others have right away), bikers, homeless sitting on the sidewalks, homeless pushing grocery carts, there is people driving personal vehicles, public busses, Trolleys, and Trams. Joel was in awe of all that was going on. He was like, "Mommy look, Mommy look."  He was pointing at everything from the trams to the birds, to the high buildings. It is amazing thing to see, and be a part of.

San Francisco Bay in San Mateo, CA

  The next day Gabriel's mom, his sister, my mom, and I went out for the day to do some shopping and get mani's and pedi's. The guys and Joel hung out for the day doing different things. Joel loved it because he got to spend quality man time with the guys. 
  After we got back we rested for a little while. Then Angel (my brother-in-law's brother) wanted to let Joel go enjoy a park in San Mateo. So, Angel, Joel, and I went to a really neat park that sits right off the San Francisco Bay in San Mateo. Joel had fun playing on the awesome equipment. Really wished we had playground equipment in Iowa like they do there. We enjoyed the bay, and seeing San Francisco and Oakland California on the other side. Joel and I just loved taking in the sights of California together. Who knew that the walk we did with Angel to the park would spark so much. I guess that is when Angel fell in love with me, but didn't know until later after I would leave California. I just thought he loved hanging with me because of Joel. Joel and Angel became really good buddies.