Anna and Harju went to the Pride parade. They saw the San Francisco one for the first time, and well, what can you say - WOW! The pride weekend is a huge thing here, and apart from all the fun and touching stuff in the parade (dragqueens, trucks with people partying on them, families fighting for equal rights and so on) it was fantastic to see millions of people celebrate this event on the streets and waiving their rainbow flags to show their support. You just don't see this kind of openness and happiness on the streets in Finland, even during the Pride weekend, and experiencing this was fantastic, especially to Anna who has two moms. Due to this, she actually shed a couple of secret tears during the event, overwhelmed by the fact that the happy and accepting attitude Finland lacks exists in a huge city like this. There is still hope for the rest of the world, so keep on fighting!
Our new friends from this night's dinner (the story follows later in the blog) had an interesting way of describing the parade.
Lisa: It's so positive! It's like a Grateful Dead show!
Matthew: With assless chaps!
After seeing the parade Anna and Harju set off to Golden Gate Park for a free concert organized by the popular radio station Alice. Lifehouse were the first ones Anna and Harju saw take on the stage, and Anna was super-excited about that and pushed her way closer to the stage, took a lot of pictures and enjoyed a great performance that totally rocked! Even though other artists and bands were about to play later Anna and Harju didn't stay any longer since Lifehouse seemed like the only interesting act that day. So we joined the crowd that swelled out of the park and walked towards the traffic lights where we would eventually get picked up.
While they went off into the city Alex took some time to herself (as she has seen the parade before back in 2003) and ate some fruit down by Lake Merritt just a few blocks from Scott's place. Then she headed to South San Francisco and relative Vicki picked her up and brought her home to treat her to some Swedish(!) coffee, coz frankly the Americans can't make proper coffee.
When Anna and Harju were done in Golden Gate Park Alex and Vicki picked them up and we all headed back to South San Francisco to have a barbeque at the Venstad's. Vicki's husband Rob, daughter Tanja and friend Allie, as well as "grandma" Greta were all there and we enjoyed some great chicken, baked potatoes (of which two EXPLODED in the oven!), and other goodness! Oh yeah, "pussy willow" is "videkissona" - just so you all know.
Big thanks to you all for good company and a great kinda family get-together!
After that we just headed back to Scott's in Oakland, had some wine and fell asleep.
This morning we got up pretty early to catch a cab over to Andrea's. Not far, but our luggage is out of this world. There are also two other (Finnish!) couchsurfers staying here for a few nights, of which one, Tommi, Alex hosted just a few weeks ago. Aksel is the other guy, and they're both great. Small world!
We had some lunch with them and while Anna and Harju did Oakland's Chinatown Alex headed back to Scott's for a (nude! and partly nude!) shoot! Censored photo below! :)
On our way back to Andrea's we found Oaksterdam University, got some info and Alex also spent some money on books in their gift shop.
At about 6.30 we arrived in West Oakland (kinda sketchy, so we haven't been there before) for a dinner in fellow couchsurfer Sheila Satin and her dude Matthew's awesome loft! Some of their friends, as well as Sheila's sister, showed up and we enjoyed Thai noodles, good stories as well as a short lesson in crystals (Sheila and her sister have a crystal shop and make holistic jewelery, more info after we visit the store tomorrow!). Alex even got to taste Sheila's coffee drink, for the evening named "After Dinner Satin Surprise". Big ups! :)
Harju likes the giant bamboo! We might open a greenhouse called Univocal B&B (not Bed & Breakfast but Bamboo & Buds! :)We took the BART home with new friends Lisa and Paul, and on that trip Harju had a pigeon (bird family Columbidae) shit on his head. Dislike! We got over that (Harju is probably still working on that!), and are here doing late-night blogging for you at home or anywhere!
We are living in luxury when it comes to hosts, homes, friends and food. Until tomorrow - much love,
the phoenix crew.
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