After a 3-day long work conference I managed to shoe-in a week off in San Francisco and Napa Valley. And was blessed with the best weather Northern California can give: blue sky, light breeze, comfortable temperatures.
Knowing the city and its surrounding better on my third visit was a delight: international, relaxed, with tasty wines and food, and full of energy.
Everybody I met was predictively more casual than anywhere else in the US and had a very positive attitude. So it was right into the image of the city.
What surprised me the most is the entrepreneurial energy I felt when I hang out at well known start-up spots likes Blue Bottle Cafe, Town Hall or the Samovar Tea Lounge, but also on the bus, subway, in the parks... Each time those places were full of business talks and networking, literally beaming with a "can do" spirit that was just invigorating. I think I finally understood what I have read so many times about what makes Silicon Valley and its surroundings so special: it's in the air!
I cannot bring that special feel back to the office (it's there and not here) but I will try to give back a bit of the juice I soaked up over there, to benefit everyone.
Have a nice week!
