How I miss it.
This is another blog posting of mine from San Francisco, California. I am absolutely loving my time in the city that is full of activities, style, quality restaurants… On that note, I am seriously, seriously missing Lower 48. Not only it would be nice to be close to the family and friends but I also long for all these other things.
Last night I had dinner at a fine Japanese restaurant, Ozumo in the heart of SFO’s Financial District. And I experienced one of the best sushi dinners in my life: it was not only tastier than tasty but also the service was top notch. Restaurant’s sake selection was one of the largest, even when comparing to very upscale Japanese restaurants that I have visited on my various trips to Japan. After dinner I walked in downtown, went to a yoga class, and my eyes were opening…. thoughts were popping in my head.
While Alaska is a great state to visit, live for a short period time, and is absolutely an awesome, cool experience, it is also completely different from L48. And I don’t think I am an Alaska kind of gal. Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska but it is nearly impossible to find a nice, upscale restaurant there.
While legendary Moose’s Tooth is great for pizza and beer, it doesn’t cut it as “fine dining”, nor does other “nice” restaurants such as Simon and Seafort’s, Sullivan’s or Marx Bros. Cafe. On our wedding anniversary Jason and I went to Sullivan’s, and the waiter didn’t know what Kir Royal was. And when I told how the cocktail is made, the waiter started to look at their wine and champagne menu for finding it. Epic failure.
On the shopping side, well, there is not a whole lot in Alaska. Nordstrom in Alaska can hardly be compared to Sears in Lower 48. Selection is more than just limited, and very few sales associates show a professional customer service attitude. And no, there is no need to think about seeing Manolo’s or Choo’s at Anchorage Nordstrom.
And then the people…. maybe it is me who doesn’t know how to make friends but Alaska has turned out to be a real challenge (read: most difficult place in the world to make friends) to a social butterfly like me. I have only very few Alaskan friends, most friendships I have made in Alaska are with military folks who are from other parts of the country. But on the other hand, after being only for a few short days in California, I have already made a couple of new friends out of the folks from running clubs with whom I have been going out for runs. Last night I was talking to someone at the yoga studio, and she was my mat neighbor during the practice. After the yoga session she asked if I was going to be able to make it there again during my trip, or if I have time to grab coffee or lunch sometime. Do you make friends with Alaskans this easily? Nope. Simply, no way at all.
“Home is not where you live but where they understand you.” ~Christian Morgenstern
