Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

My luck with finding a great apartment in San Francisco was the most wonderful surprise. However trying to find a place to stay in the interim (and on the fly) has required so much patience.
–>

On Saturday, I submit an application for my interim apartment (Shawn says that it’s the hidden cost I have to pay for a cheap apartment in San Francisco). This apartment is best deal in the city so I decide to lay low at the hostel until I find out whether or not I get the apartment. Shawn tells me it takes no time to run the report so I should know Monday.

I call her at 11:00 on Monday to follow up. She tells me she’s waiting. I decide to stay in the hostel another day because only two beds remain.

This turns out to be a good call. At around 16:00 she confesses that she’s lost my paperwork.

Since I’ll be working in Vegas in two weeks, I decide to reach out to a friend to find out if it’s possible to visit for a week. She’s a former roommate who is non-stop entertainment. Her thick Spanish accent is often mistaken for French, which is understandable due to her fair skin, hazel eyes and bleach blonde hair.

Over the past 7 years, her family has grown to include three little girls who make it nearly impossible to do anything.

A Hostel Experience

How to spot someone who is hostelling:
1. Shoes | The person is usually sporting sturdy hiking boots/shoes or sandals with Velcro straps
2. Hair | It’s usually disheveled (like they got lucky) and hastily pulled back – female or covered with a hat – male. Reason: no time to shower b/c line too long, no hot water, or you’re surrounded by crazy people and want to GTFO.
3. Backpack | Ranges in size from carrying everything they own to just enough for a few essentials.

That’s how I spot Elizabeth.

We are riding on CalTrans ($2/1 hour) into the city and she looks back and smiles. I take the opportunity to ask if she’s hostelling because of her attire. And she reluctantly says yes.

She admits that her assistant has given her grief about what she wears when she’s exploring.

Elizabeth is from London, is tall, blonde, in my age check box and speaks with a sophisticated accent. Her plan is to spend a month in Buenos Aires but right now, she is on her way to tranquility in Mendocino.

She tells me that she had a bad night in a hostel and proceeds to tell me the story. A girl in her dorm wakes up in the middle of the night completely restless. Elizabeth looks up to see the girl sitting at the edge of her own bed staring into space with a dead look on her face.

Queue the haunting music.

The girl walks out then back in to sit on the edge of her own bed again and stares into space. Elizabeth finally asks her if she plans on just sitting there like that. The girl bluntly replies yes and Elizabeth grabs her things and leaves.

The first thought I have is that the girl was going to hurt herself of someone else and Elizabeth concurs that the look on her face was unsettling.

I share that I’m on my way to stay in a hostel for the first time and that she’s now completely freaked me out about the random people who hostel. While I did check out the property before I committed, you never know.

I arrive and it’s a ghost town so I go explore the posh neighborhood around North Beach. I’m starving and eventually I find a little pho restaurant.

I read about the  How Weird Street Festival and can’t resist checking it out.

Let your freak flag fly!

Back at the hostel it’s still pretty quiet. About 30 minutes before quiet time, the common room fills up and the noise level increases.

I have two roommates in a 5-bed share ($29.99/night) and we all fall asleep by 23:30.

Resources: Temp Stay: San Francisco

Prices change quickly so call to get the most accurate rent for the room available.

1) 917 Folsom (South of Market/SoMa)
Manager: Shama
415-348-1562
Rooms start at $149/wk; $50 deposit

The common areas are clean with new carpets and fresh paint. It’s very modest but a good value in a safe area that’s easy access to downtown. Shama is very nice and runs a tight ship. It’s quiet inside the full complex and she jokes that her tenants are well-trained. She’s Indian and the kitchen smells like really delicious curry.

• No elevator
• Secure entry
• Rooms with internet/cable/TV cost more per week
• Views from the rooms vary

2)280 O’ Farrell (Tenderloin)
Manager: Shama/Zaheed
415-348-1562
Rooms start at $139/wk per Shama but her son Zaheed will push for $170/wk; $50 deposit

In all fairness most room sizes are different and priced accordingly and it could be that I missed the cheap room. Regardless, I’m going to tell you to finalize your rate with Shama. This area is a little rough and the guy I see entering the front door is a little sketchy but he doesn’t bother me as he bolts past me in the hallway. This entry door is heavy and seemingly secure but the amount of stairs is seemingly infinite. The rooms are small, dark and the lighting is yellow. I opened a closet door to see a nest of small wires that probably wouldn’t pass code. The shared bath is clean but looks dated and therefore it looks dirty.

• No elevator
• Dark
• Secure entry
• Neighborhood is colorful but OK during the day, questionable after dark. (True story I saw a guy sitting across the street checking out his unit or more accurately something on his unit and a white woman with tattoos carrying a rooster under her arm. This is downtown San Fran, Tenderloin at it’s best.)

3) 275 Turk St (Tenderloin fringe)
415-929-6803
Manager: Shawn
Rooms start at $125/wk, $542/mo

I see young people. The manager here does a great job filtering tenants. Probably because rent is so high as are the applicants. She is tough with a heart of gold. There are long and short-term apartments available for rent here. The short-term rentals are in the basement where there are shared areas including kitchen, TV room and clean bathrooms. The room available for rent is $150/wk and it’s really large with a full-sized bed, two side tables, desk, chair and window with natural light. It’s towards the back of the building and therefore really quiet. They have a special right now with temp rentals: $99/wk for three weeks, minimum 3-week stay. Application is required as is a source of income regardless if it’s mom and dad

• Elevator
• Clean
• Quiet and safe but neighborhood will still require you to get home by nightfall

4)Hosteling International
3 locations in San Francisco

This chain has a great reputation in the city and with the long list of amenities and cool locations, it’s worth a go.

1 of 3 locations: San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel
Fort Mason, Building 240
San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone:  (415) 771-7277

This location boasts a beautiful view of the bay. The common areas are bright, clean and comfortable. The computer area features comfortable leather-like sofas, a book swap and fireplace. There is a patio outside with a view of the ocean, a lawn in the front of the building for lounging and a bike/run path in the backyard. So far, everyone is nice but really don’t engage in conversation. The staff is extremely helpful and kind. They host events almost every night including movie night in the theater downstairs.

To Be Reviewed…

1554 Howard
Apartment Manager: Shama
415-348-1562
Rooms start at $159/wk

Hotel Sunrise
447 Valencia
415-431-2211
Manager: Ray
Rooms start at $225/wk, $800/mo

Sweden House
415-345-9331
Rooms start at $217/wk

Julian House
415-932-6901
Manager: Adam
Rooms start at $179/wk

Cable Car Hotel
1388 California St
Manager: Jean-Claude
415-828-4209

Chase Hotel
1278 Market @ Larkin
415-864-1562

Resources:
Craigslist.org
SFhomeless (the site name is heinous and humbling but the leads are stellar for short-term rentals)

San Francisco: House Hunting

On my way to SFO to catch a bus into the city, I meet Charmaine. Correction, Charmaine introduces herself and engages me in conversation. I say this because… she’s not shy, at all.

She is tall with beautiful skin and long hair. She’s been a corrections officer for years and tells me that her job is really stressful despite the excellent pay. She wants to quit and explore.

The first thing I ask is if she’s saved money. With her personality, I think she can take a huge leap into a new culture and be completely fine.

We don’t have time to keep chatting. We arrive at the airport and she leaves to catch a flight. I hope to hear from her again soon to find out her dream and help her accomplish it.

While waiting for SamTans ($2 and 1 hr to get to the city), I meet Francisco. He laughs at me because I don’t have correct change so I decide to run up three flights of escalators then wait for change before running back before the bus comes.

He’s impressed with my ability to make it back in time. Francisco is retired, visiting his brother and contemplating whether or not to check out LA before heading back to Guatemala.

We sit next to each other on the bus and talk about Guatemala for a bit then I get back to my delayed task of plotting apartment leads on a city map.

My minimal criteria:
• Bright
• Near public transit
• Privacy
• Furnished
• Month-to-month or short-term sublet

At this point I have two appointments and 6 leads for short-term rentals within my budget (under $800/mo all-inclusive).

One of my leads is an appointment with a lady I emailed while in Guatemala. Anne has a small studio in Paris and plans to stay there for 7 months. She is very interested in renting her apartment to me after getting to know me via my blog.

Anne lives in Inner Richmond, which has a suburban feel and is very quiet. The area is located between the beautiful Golden Gate Park and bustling downtown.

On my way over to Anne’s by bus, I have enough time for a quick slice of pizza at Post Pizza ($2.31 huge slice of cheese). The smell lures me in and I find the slice to be really cheesy and flavorful with a cracker thin crust.

Local Transportation Fun Fact: In San Francisco on the Muni line, you can dial 511, say “departure times”, enter or say the stop ID number and an automated recording will tell you which busses are going to pass and approximately when. Brilliant.

Anne is amazing. We chat for hours. She even drives me around the neighborhood and points out her favorite places, grocery stores and other places I should check out.

Her apartment is a tiny studio with amenities like Internet and cable. I sign a lease but it starts mid-June and ends mid-January so I leave to find a room to live in until then.

I check out two short-term rooms in the heart of downtown. Both border the Tenderloin district, which can be a little sketchy at times so if you’re out after the streetlights come on, take a cab ride home. I’ve stayed in this area more than once so I’m use to it… I think.

I fill out a rental application for one of the places but there’s no way I’ll be approved to stay by tomorrow because paperwork can’t be processed until Monday. This is what the landlord tells me after asking why I waited until the last-minute to search. I tell her I’ve been traveling and she immediately replies with the travel adventures she’s experienced.

Shawn is a dyed redhead with silver natural roots. She is tough but empathetic with an infinite amount of patience. I know because it took me forever to find this place and I had to call her several times.

The room is underground but has a window. It’s really large with a desk, side tables, generously sized closet and, by Monday, it will have a brand new bed. There are shared bathrooms however the common areas are clean.

Knowing I have at least one day to wait for my paperwork to clear, I decide to check out a hostel on the beach.

The hostel</a is like camp for adults. It’s surrounded by trees, bright, and squeaky clean with ocean breezes, free breakfast, Internet and more. I’m actually looking forward to trying the shared-room hostel experience here.

I return to my hotel near the airport (SanTrans $4, 2 free hotel nights at the nicest La Quinta ever). I can’t wait to try sushi at the restaurant next to the hotel. Henry, the new owner, becomes my friend and takes me on a culinary adventure.

Destination: San Francisco

My alarm clock is set for 3:00 but I finally roll out of bed at 3:55 leaving myself less than 10 minutes to get showered and on a shuttle. I think this ritual of running late for my flight because I party too hard the night before is becoming my M.O.

NOTE: There is a $3/Q20 security fee to leave Guatemala that is NOT included in the cost of your ticket! My coffee money became my get out of Guate money.

It’s a long flight day. I try to avoid conversations and rest but on my second flight I meet Chris of CandJCostaRica.com and Dr. Grosser who represents global efforts to educate youth in developing countries.

Dr. Grosser
Dressed in slacks held up by suspenders, a button down shirt and jacket in tow, Dr. Grosser tells me that he’s on his way back from Haiti and will be presenting at a fundraiser in LA shortly after we land. He’s an older man with presence, a bad hip and colorful cane. I share that a friend recently started a youth focused organization in Haiti and he shares resources for available funds.

Chris
Despite stating that he used to be short-haired and tidy, Chris sports a long shaggy mane, shorts, long-sleeved Henley and tennis shoes. He orders a Jack neat and takes a sip. The flight attendant asks for a credit card but Chris only has cash. When they tell him that they don’t accept cash he yells… You don’t accept American dollars on an American flight (yes… we’re also flying on American). I don’t understand why you won’t take my money!

He’s allowed to have his drink on the house but he’s absolutely dumbfounded as to what logical reason they have for not accepting cash. (The flight attendant is so nice and empathetic that he gives him a second free drink. Try to imagine our conversation as very animated after this.)

Chris moved to Costa Rica 5 years ago and bought a couple of cabanas, then a grocery store, then a bakery then a little book swap and before you know it… Poof! He created his own little neighborhood on a quiet stretch of beach. He is passionate about music, art and literature and is not afraid to pursue anything.

He has several ideas about what he wants to do next and despite admitting that some of his investments are a lot of hard work; he is in a constant state of fine-tuning and evolving believing wholeheartedly in making things happen.

A special note: Chris is willing to discount rates at his property if you help work in one of his stores or share your talent with him. He’s not really tech savvy but he will check his email. Reach out to negotiate.