Do you ever just let go when you’re traveling to see where you end up… to see what you might find?
I do, and I’m rarely disappointed and often end up having some of my most memorable travel experiences.
If you don’t, or just haven’t tried it… I highly recommend giving it a shot. With prudent cautionary awareness, of course. Make sure you know where the good parts end and the bad parts begin (because that’s another post).
I had just walked two miles on a beautiful, cool, mostly sunny San Francisco day.
But the second mile was through an area as close to tourist hell as it gets.
Yes, there are far worse and far more dangerous places on the planet… I knew this trek was temporary.
The scary part was I had no particular destination in mind, although that’s kind of the idea behind following your nose, right? I was on my own that day, having flown out midweek to tag along on one of Lanette’s business trips.
Who could pass-up San Francisco? The plan was for me to have a much-needed break for a couple of days and then we’d play for the weekend. The thing is, she’s the planning half of this duo. (So much for knowing where I’m going next).
After an incredibly healthy and delicious breakfast at a place called Boulettes Larder in the Ferry Building, I headed north along the Embarcadero thinking the Embarcadero Center was in that big white building just ahead. It wasn’t.
Had I just paused long enough to study my handy, yet tiny tourist map they gave me at the hotel I would have known better…
Turns out it’s that other building two blocks west, not two blocks north.
What was in store for me was far better than all the brand name shops and restaurants at the Center.
Soon realizing the error of my ways, I chose to keep walking. It was a beautiful day after all. And, I was enjoying the people watching and the amusement of the eclectic mix of a little bit of anything and everything the city has to offer.
Yes, I realize that sounds redundant… I’m going out on a limb here by saying there’s nothing redundant in or about San Francisco. It’s all unique unto itself.
Now back to tourist hell…
I was certain I had remembered some not-so-touristy attractions along Fisherman’s Wharf from previous visits to the Bay City. It turns out that is what we will call a flawed memory.
As I was nearing my wit’s end, it appeared before me… one of those white wooden “tents” with the obviously heaven-sent words “Wine Tasting Inside.”
Without thought or hesitation, I abruptly turned and entered.
Hey, c’mon now… San Francisco is surrounded by some of the very best vineyards in the world. They weren’t going to be serving swill here. I was certain of that.
Immediately invited to take a seat at the twenty-foot bar, I received a sincere and welcoming greeting, “Hi, I’m Mark.”
I replied, “Finally a place I want to go into! I’m Jeff.”
I know what you mean… you’re safe in here, my friend.”
—Mark
At that very moment, I had no real comprehension of the oasis I had stumbled into only seconds before. But I had a good feeling...
I managed to enjoy the better part of two hours on my big red journey. I’ve easily been in over a hundred tasting rooms over the years, but none matched this experience led by my new friend and guide.
Experiences in most wine rooms don’t usually last an hour, let alone two. Plus, I had some delicious wine that you won’t find in the store back home. Mark was a master at zeroing-in on each visitor’s preferences and matched them up perfectly without a miss.
He was a human wine algorithm!
Of course, a good tasting room is a good place to make friends. In that time, I chatted with people from France and Australia, as well as New England, Iowa, and one other state I can’t recall at the moment.
I’m telling you, good things can happen when you let go and allow yourself to follow your nose.
That’s a good thing if you haven’t yet let yourself agree.
The San Francisco Winery Collective resides in a red brick building with a street entrance just beside the Argonaut Hotel, 485 Jefferson Street, in the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf. Let the rest of your entourage tempt their fate on the Wharf while you relax inside.
Yes, they’re in the business of selling wine, but it will never feel like it.
The wise traveler will recognize when they’ve found a friend and a nice flight (that’s not the airline kind, either… because those no longer exist).
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Copyright © 2019 Jeff Meister
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