Berkeley

When Benson got the opportunity to attend a conference at UC Berkeley I decided to tag along and see San Francisco since I'd heard so much about it (his family loves San Fran) and hadn't ever been.

Since Benson's conference was at UC Berkeley, the hotel we stayed in was right next to the campus which had its ups and downs. For one, it was RIDICULOUSLY crowded which made eating and walking around sort of a pain, and being next to several frat houses meant nights were loud. Also, carrying a baby around a college town by myself earned me plenty of odd looks. Abby was the youngest one in the entire area by about 18 years. However, the crowded college town also meant we were very close to lots of yummy food and that I didn't feel uncomfortable walking around alone late at night from the bus or to the market since there we plenty of others around.

The Hotel Durant where we stayed was pretty awesome. It was built in 1928 and has been restored so it had all the charm of an old hotel with all the comforts of a new one. Since it is less than a block from the Berkeley campus, the rooms are themed to feel like old school dorm rooms complete with vintage style desks and furniture... oh and the lamps looked like bongs...

and there were streakers running through the bathroom...

The best part of the hotel was that, besides being free, Abby charmed the ladies checking us in at the front desk and they gave us the biggest room they had open. It pays to have a cute baby now and then.

Best food we had in Berkeley: Gypsy's Trattoria Italiano, Smart Alec's, King Pin Doughnuts and Cream (all on Durant Ave)