As my mission in Santa Clara was trudging to a finale, I began rewarding myself for my work (I learnt that you need to reward yourself graciously when its appropriate as no one else will; whereas people are always enthuastic in berating you at the slightest opportunity)
I decided to stay at the Valencia Hotel in my favorite Santana Row. Actually that happened by consequences of the Sheraton, my usual hangout, being overbooked. Valencia is quite a trendy but rather pricey hotel (rated at $500/night). The hotel is tastefully decorated and presents a warm and sophisticated ambience. I highly recommend visitors to the valley to spend a night or more there.
As usual I dined at the Straits Cafe, the Singaporean-fusion joint that sells up-scale prata for $10, a 1500% mark-up of the $0.60 authentic version you get back home. I decided to have hokkien mee ($14 version) with 2 bombay martinis. Santana row, a street where the affluent denizens of san jose parade their wealth blatantly, gets terrorized by the high pitched screams from the engines of the Ferraris that roam the blocks. Even my deaf ears were beginning to hurt while I was having my dinner as I sat in the veranda that amplified the echoes of the italian demons.
I also fulfilled my desire to watch a major league baseball game. I got to see the SF Giants play against San Diego at the Giant stadium in downtown SF. As you can see, the bunch of guys in kayak and a radio just waiting to retrieve any balls that end up on the water. They went home disappointed that evening as Barry Bonds didn't deliver.
I also liked the apt lofts just opposite the stadium; interesting architecture with floor to ceiling glass windows. They appear to be 2-storey apartments giving outsiders a cutaway view of the entire apartment. Maybe one day....hehe :)
