This past week, I was in San Leandro, in the Bay area of California, visiting my friend Susan and having a good old time visiting, chatting, eating and drinking and going for walks. And during our walks and drives, we stumbled upon art and literature at unexpected places.
It started at the De Young Museum of Art in San Francisco. By chance they showed an amazing exhibition of some of my favorite painters, Botticelli, for instance.
The De Young is not only a great art museum but situated within the beautiful Golden Gate Park, it is also a place to just hang out, have lunch, or a coffee.
Susan and I at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
On the way to San Francisco and back, we passed the new Bay Bridge, which is impressive and a little scary (can’t help thinking about earthquakes). But I love the skyline of San Francisco and of course the city itself.
After all the excitement, we relaxed with a cup of coffee and a sweet. Food for the spirit and the body.
One of the next outings was to Berkeley and in particular to the Botanical Garden, a real treat! It’s an oasis of peace with a display of the most gorgeous plants and flowers.
But next to the Garden of Old Roses, there was a lovely surprise waiting for us. See further down.
Hidden underneath a canopy of leaves, a poem by Sylvia Plath carved into stone!
From the Botanical Garden, you have a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge!
Berkeley still has a selection of fine brick-and-motar bookstores. This one was another surprise: Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf!
A great bookstore that still invites you to browse and hang out.
On my way back to Los Angeles on 101, I drove through Salinas and stopped for a quick look at another literary great–you guessed it. John Steinbeck lived here many years and there is a museum and a restaurant in his honor.
“Meeting” all these fantastic artists and writers inspired me to get back to my own writing. I’m polishing my next novel, The Italian Sister, which takes place in California and on a vineyard in Tuscany, Italy. More about this later!
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