SAN FRANCISCO – Reconnecting on the West Coast

3 MN

SAN FRANCISCO – Reconnecting on the West Coast

“What’s up? How are you doing? Sent via Messenger…”

Our friendship hangs online, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram. It’s not easy being friends long-distance. Our story began with only a few streets between us and here we are today separated by oceans. Paris – Lorient – San Francisco. Three longstanding friends who still feel inseparable. Living according to the time difference, a simple question via Facebook will only be answered a few hours later…

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When Edouard called me that morning, his words seemed unreal. “Should we go see Tib’ in SF?” To leave on the spur of the moment, surprise him on the other side of the pond… Impossible to refuse! No warning, not a word, not even a mention of a visa application or the purchase of a travel guide… Complete and utter surprise. And it was! After a 12-hour flight, one bottle of wine, a 1-hour taxi drive and tons of “Do you have Wifi?”, we arrived in front of Tib’s restaurant. Tears rolling down faces, embraces, thousands of “Oh shit!” and there we were drinking our first beer already feeling at home. Let the visit begin.

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San Francisco is unique in that it leaves a funny taste in my mouth. Between the pleasures of discovering a city that mixes all kinds of people and offers completely different panoramas, and a place where the social differences are very real and where many people have had to move faced with soaring house prices. So what should I recall? Obviously I won’t tell you that I spent the week balancing the pros and cons, the warmth of the IPA having concealed all contrasts in me. The idea was to meet up all three of us, and the rest could wait. And anyway, there are basic rules to be followed in this kind of place and this type of scenario: eat as much as you can, drink like madmen, and have fun until you drop. We followed each rule to a T, stuffing ourselves on burgers, Poke bowls, BBQ sandwiches, tacos, crêpes, etc. and yelling “IPA!” at every breather on the roof of the apartment.

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We were staying in the Mission District so we couldn’t have been better placed to feel the “Cool Effect” of this proudly Californian city. With a digital Canon around our neck and the film version in our hand, we felt we had to do all the touristy things, but also allow ourselves to get lost. As usual, the question was to know what attracted us more, what made us feel like we were truly discovering something new and not just ticking a box. Our fingers kept taking photos, capturing a city that was amusing to look at but difficult to grasp, as San Francisco is one of those places that never divulges itself fully on the first date. A tourist syndrome, my eyes were drawn to the obvious things, those written down in our guide, and it was only nearing the end of the week that they ventured in the less-obvious spots, as if a part of SF was reserved to the locals. We hung out in Castro, hit the bottle in Mission, didn’t wait around too long in Civic Center, turned our noses up at the Marina, marvelled at the magic of Chinatown and ended everything with the postcard-views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

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But our favourite was Sausalito, a small town located after the Golden Gate that gathers the wealthy population around a cosy harbour. I will always remember how Addison, a friend of Tib’s, described Sausalito as “The place where the Gods love life”. That says it all. When the fog covers San Francisco, the sun comes out in Sausalito, only caring about the sleepiness of the waves that can enliven the surfers’ hearts. We settled down for a barbecue on the beach at Bar Bocce and had fun driving like crazy teenagers in the surrounding mountains. Life can be simple and beautiful at times, really.

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In the end it was an intoxicating week. I left San Francisco with no regrets, even thinking that I had not succumbed to the charms of the city, when a few weeks after having settled back down in my little Paris, I began to miss it. The smells, the tastes, the sounds all washed over me again. SF had cut me to the quick, holding me prisoner of this beautiful reunion on the West Coast.

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Interview réalisée par monsieurtober
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Return shipping from France is free via Mondial Relay.

To return your parcel, it is very simple :

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  4. Indicate the reason for the return at the bottom of the order details and click on “Request a return”. You can track your return request in the “Returns” section of the “My purchases” section.

  5. Once your return request has been validated by our team, all you have to do is stick your pre-paid label (provided at the time of delivery) on the package, insert the completed returns form in the parcel and drop it off at a Mondial Relay point.

How can I return my package (International online returns)

International return packages are at the customer’s expense (including cost of shipment by the chosen carrier, customs & duties, taxes, etc.)

To return your parcel, it is very simple :

  1. Go to “My account”, in the “My purchases” section,

  2. In the list of your orders, select your order,

  3. If your order is eligible for return, please tick each product you wish to return. If a product has been ordered in several copies, you can indicate the quantity to be returned.

  4. Indicate the reason for the return at the bottom of the order details and click on “Request a return”. You can track your return request in the “Returns” section of the “My purchases” section.

  5. Once your return request has been validated by our team, simply download the return form and place it in your package. 

  6. Send your package to the address indicated on the return form.

Want to make a return request with a guest account?

It's very easy : contact us by email at service-client@olow.fr indicating your order number, the items you wish to return and whether you wish to request a refund, a credit note or an exchange.

How long does it take to get my money back once my package has been sent?

Refunds will be made within 10 days of receipt of your items and automatically to the account associated with the credit card used for payment or to the Paypal account used for payment.

Is it possible to return my item in the shop?

No, for all internet orders, returns can only be made to the address mentioned above.

What can I do if my item has a defect?

We take great care in the manufacture and finishing of our products. However, if you wish to report a manufacturing defect on a product, we invite you to contact our customer service by e-mail: service-client@olow.fr.

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How to order?

Please follow the following instructions in order to submit an Order:

  1. Visit the Website;

  2. Follow the instructions on the Website to place your orders and especially the instructions given to create a Customer account;

  3. Fulfil the Ordering form. After extended inactivity you may encounter an automatic cancellation of the Goods you submitted. You shall start a new Order of any Good and Service you wished to order;

  4. You shall check the Goods and Services you Order, and if necessary, please identify and correct the error;

  5. Confirm the Order, the Total Price as well as the All-Inclusive Price (the “Order Confirmation”);

  6. Follow the payment Website instructions in order to pay the All-Inclusive Price.

After you have submitted an order, the Customer receives by email and without delay a confirmation of his approval of the Order.

The Customer also receives by email and without delay, a receipt of the order sent electronically, regarding as a confirmation of the order (“Order Confirmation”).

The Customer receives electronically, the confirmation that the Goods have been dispatched.

The delivery shall take place at the location indicated by the Customer at the time of the Order.

Additionally, by undertaking these different steps to Order, the Customer accepts to strictly comply with this Agreement, in accordance with section 1316-1 of the French Civil Code.

The Vendor undertakes to deliver the Goods and Services subject of the Order Confirmation. In the event that a Good ordered is unavailable, the Vendor will promptly inform the Customer about this.

However, under section L.122-1 of the French Consumer Code, the Vendor reserves the right to cancel your Order if the Order is abnormal, involves bad faith or for any other reason that is under the sole discretion of the Vendor. The Vendor also reserves the right to reject orders from any customer with whom the Vendor have an ongoing legal dispute regarding a prior order.

Free delivery and exchange offered

For orders over €120, delivery is free.

Returns are free from France thanks to our prepaid label.

Prices and delivery times

Shipping cost

Collection points: €5

Home delivery with signature: 7.5€

Free delivery for orders over 120€

Delivery time

2-4 working days

Allemagne, Autriche, Belgique, Bulgarie, Chypre, Danemark, Espagne, Finlande, Grèce, Hongrie, Italie, Malte, Pays-Bas, Pologne, Portugal, République Tchèque, Suède, Ukraine

Shipping cost

Home delivery: €9.5

Free delivery for orders over 120€.

Delivery time

4-7 working days

Andorre, Biélorussie, Croatie, Islande, Monaco, Norvège, Royaume-Uni, Russie, Suisse, Turquie

Shipping cost

Home delivery: €9.5

Free delivery for orders over €120

Delivery time

5-8 working days

Bahamas, Canada, États-Unis, Mexique

Shipping cost

Home delivery: €15

Free delivery for orders over €120.

Delivery time

5-9 working days

Argentine, Brésil, Chili

Shipping cost

Home delivery: €27

Free delivery for orders over €120.

Delivery time

6-9 working days

Arabie Saoudite, Bahreïn, Chine, Corée du Sud, Émirats Arabes Unis, Hong-Kong, Indonésie, Israël, Japon, Malaisie, Qatar, Singapour, Taiwan

Shipping cost

Home delivery: €24

Free delivery for orders over €120.

Delivery time

4-7 working days

Australie, Nouvelle-Zélande

Shipping cost

Home delivery: €27

Free delivery on orders over €120.

Delivery time

6-10 working days

Returns

You have received your order but the product does not suit you?

You can return your products within 15 days of receiving your package, for any order.

For the festive season, the deadlines are extended to 30 days.

The items must not have been worn, washed or damaged and must be returned in their original packaging, in perfect condition for resale.

How do I return my package from France?

Return shipping from France is free via Mondial Relay.

To return your parcel, it is very simple :

  1. Go to “My account”, in the “My purchases” section,

  2. In the list of your orders, select your order,

  3. If your order is eligible for return, please tick each product you wish to return. If a product has been ordered in several copies, you can indicate the quantity to be returned.

  4. Indicate the reason for the return at the bottom of the order details and click on “Request a return”. You can track your return request in the “Returns” section of the “My purchases” section.

  5. Once your return request has been validated by our team, all you have to do is stick your pre-paid label (provided at the time of delivery) on the package, insert the completed returns form in the parcel and drop it off at a Mondial Relay point.

How can I return my package (International online returns)

International return packages are at the customer’s expense (including cost of shipment by the chosen carrier, customs & duties, taxes, etc.)

To return your parcel, it is very simple :

  1. Go to “My account”, in the “My purchases” section,

  2. In the list of your orders, select your order,

  3. If your order is eligible for return, please tick each product you wish to return. If a product has been ordered in several copies, you can indicate the quantity to be returned.

  4. Indicate the reason for the return at the bottom of the order details and click on “Request a return”. You can track your return request in the “Returns” section of the “My purchases” section.

  5. Once your return request has been validated by our team, simply download the return form and place it in your package. 

  6. Send your package to the address indicated on the return form.

Want to make a return request with a guest account?

It's very easy : contact us by email at service-client@olow.fr indicating your order number, the items you wish to return and whether you wish to request a refund, a credit note or an exchange.

How long does it take to get my money back once my package has been sent?

Refunds will be made within 10 days of receipt of your items and automatically to the account associated with the credit card used for payment or to the Paypal account used for payment.

Is it possible to return my item in the shop?

No, for all internet orders, returns can only be made to the address mentioned above.

What can I do if my item has a defect?

We take great care in the manufacture and finishing of our products. However, if you wish to report a manufacturing defect on a product, we invite you to contact our customer service by e-mail: service-client@olow.fr.

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