Little did I know when I accepted my new job in San Francisco that it was going to afford me a whole new experience during part of my commute. Every morning I emerge out of the 24^th and Mission BART station and enter into a whole new world in the very Latino area of the city.

 

 

 

 

It is bustling in the morning as I walk past many of the unique shops and restaurants that line the streets. There are a myriad of colors that are also accented by the colorful murals that seem to cover most of the wall. It is very urban and exciting.

 

 

 

 

The streets are filled with people going to work.  However, there are also lots of families. There are many children being escorted by their mothers to schools.

 

There is my favorite Cafe- Philz Coffee on the corner of Folsom and 24^th.  The coffee and the atmosphere are great.  It is very San Francisco and stopping there makes my morning start out just right.

 

 

Like many ethnic neighborhoods here, I feel like I have been transported to another country. At night when I walk back from work, the smell of Latin dinner meals permeate the air from all the restaurants.  My sense of smell is overtaken by the wonderful aroma and my hunger pangs really go into active mode.

 

The last 10-15 minutes of my walk is uphill…very steep uphill. So I get in some rigorous walking and working out. San Francisco hills can really do it to you.

 

I guess I am elated that I have a job that I enjoy and the new experiences that come along with it.