Emeryville Training!

As part of our training to own a Grocery Outlet, we spent two separate weeks in Emeryville (the Bay Area) attending classes to learn all sorts of details pertaining to our new adventure. It was a lot of fun, challenging and well, exciting. It was nice for Daniel and I to have some major adult time and I'll forever be thankful for my rock star sister who watched our kids both weeks so we could attend!

The company paid for our meals during the week and it was so nice to not have to cook or clean for an entire week at a time!

Our room had a balcony that I enjoyed stepping out on late at night to take in some city views. I absolutely love traveling and experiencing different things. I cherish life here in my suburbia but stepping out and experiencing life different than mine is exhilarating.

We really didn't have time to do much other than classes and networking and homework that we had most nights but we did step away the first week to try to walk the Bay Bridge. A hotel worker said it would just be a quick walk to the bridge (um, no, it was 3 miles there and 3 miles back)! And to top it off the bridge was closed to foot traffic when we got there which was okay since we were already taking a 6 mile trek that evening. My legs were burning by the time we got back to the hotel! I had fun getting out and about with Daniel though on our own mini adventure. I love the life we've built together. All these memories add up to a pretty great existence together. 

I learned that these cranes right outside the Bay Bridge used to load containers onto barges are what inspired George Lucas to create the AT-AT Walkers in Star Wars. I could totally see it!

During our second week of classes, I convinced the hubby and some friends we met in class to drive to the Golden Gate Bridge so we could walk across. I was the only one who wanted to do this. Daniel kept saying all day that he didn't think we should go but that he would for me. That, coupled with the fact that two people who we had just met were tagging along made me nervous that we were going to drive all the way there and not be able to find parking or that I misunderstood and you couldn't actually walk the bridge etc. etc. All the info I ever get about this kind of stuff is just from searching the internet. I'm happy to report that it all worked out! My directions led us to a parking lot full of parking and we were able to walk across the bridge with no issues!

AND everyone had a blast! Daniel kept thanking me and telling me what a great idea this was. I didn't want to spend an entire week in the Bay Area and not take advantage of our time to do something we'd remember forever. The Golden Gate Bridge is spectacular! It's really a sight to see and I never tire of visiting it. We've driven across it numerous times but never walked it. 

The below pic is the view of the city from the parking lot across the bridge.

 I'm coming for you San Francisco!

 Some of the views while walking across the bridge...

 You really just have to see it in person. It's amazing!

 On our way back we stopped to see this cute little boat appear out from under the bridge and then, whoa, this barge appears and we realized the boat was a tug boat pulling this big guy. It was cool because I'd never seen a tugboat in action like that. Life is so full of things to see and experience!

It was neat because it was completely day light when we walked across the bridge towards San Francisco but when we walked back across back to our car, it was dark, the lights had come on and the marine layer had started to move in. We got to experience both aspects of the bridge. Daniel took the below amazing photo. The bridge looked bright orange red in the daylight and golden at night. Maybe that's why they call it the Golden Gate Bridge. Duh! That just occurred to me!

One night that week, we ventured out to a local restaurant to have dinner with the other people taking classes with us. I noticed a community garden just a block away and had to check it out. I've never actually seen a community garden in person. Daniel met everyone inside the restaurant while I explored the garden.

 I loved this place! I was so impressed that they can just leave the gates open in the middle of this city and people come and go as they please to grow stuff and it works! What a sense of community and humanity. It does me good to see this kind of thing especially with all that's going on in the world.

 I loved the juxtaposition of the garden among the city.

Once I finally made it to the restaurant, we enjoyed dinner with our class mates.

My handsome hubby...

I always enjoy how impressed Daniel is by these windmills. I can't help but take blurry pics while we whiz past on the highway.

The blue against the green is pretty. 

As much as I enjoy traveling, there's nothing better than home and being with these two!