Brian: Hey, you’re blogging again – good to see you, and thanks!

Yaser: In the six years I’ve been here there have only been two incidents where a homeless person was angry/scary. The rest have been harmless and often warm and interesting when I have the time to stop and chat.

Rachel: Not to diminish the horror of homelessness in the City but I am often astounded by my encounters with homeless people. I walk away realizing how small-hearted I am compared to many of them.

And I don’t think I could survive without aged cheddar cheese!

Mexba: I’ve never been to Paris but there are a large number of French expats here in the City. SF has a very European feel to it, they say.

Umm Zaid: Whoops – they used to have a blank page ascertaining the viewer’s age but apparently they now take you straight there. And there is a lot less clinical than the store is! My apologies, I’ve removed it.

And, yes, SF definitely shares certain urban aspects with NYC!

Yasmine: I love this city so deeply and feel so blessed to live here. And, I am fine with people who thinks it is overrated because San Francisco yields herself slowly to those on foot, and I would rather that they not come and buy up real estate anyway!

To them I say, “Stay in the South Bay ‘burbs, please” – while you and I sip hot chocolate overlooking the Bay.

Basil: *gasp* That would be so perfect – we should tell them that on a comment card!

Umm Salihah: Ah, London, another wonderful city!

As for dark chocolate, that is an absolute necessity which can never run low in our household. We already had some at home that day

Warmly,
Baraka

you make San Francisco sound so interesting, I wish I could write this way about my fave place – crazy, cool, cosmopolitan London – maybe I’ll have a go.

I don’t know about cheddar cheese being a neccessity in life – now chocolate – thats a bare essential.

there are many of my friends and family who often say, ’san francisco is so overrated.’ i hate it when they do that. they’re also the same people who dislike the narrow-streeted claustrophobia of driving around the City yet also vehemently hate public transport, who can’t be bothered aimlessly meandering around a city on foot without a set plan in mind, and who, i think, pretty much just can’t stand being out of their comfort zones. but that juxtaposition of grittiness and human warmth is one of the reasons why i love san francisco – and berkeley.

Sounds like New York. But a NSFW warning would be appropriate next to that one link, esp. since many of your readers are Muslims.

And I love this little glimpse into the necessities of ordinary life. Condoms and aged cheddar cheese.