after SF, what city offers a more 'urban life style' in Bay Area?

[redwoodlvr]

ESV, my inner psychic says you're not going to like PA. If you're used to Paris & Zurich....well. Nonetheless, I don't want to be negative and I do hope it works out. I could be wrong and I hope I am. Like you said you can always move again later.

What is DT? All of these acronyms!

[esv]

and thanks again Redwood, for the reply! :-)

DT=Down Town (I saw it somewhere, sorry if it was not very clear)

I also think we're going to have what's called a 'cultural shock' in many aspects moving to the States, and specifically in the suburbs like PA or MV. But Switzerland has been also quite boring place compared to a magic place like Paris!

Honestly.... I also think we'll move to SF eventually. Let's hope the commute is not that as bad as they say.

[Stacy From Cali]

Originally Posted by esv

and thanks again Redwood, for the reply! :-)

DT=Down Town (I saw it somewhere, sorry if it was not very clear)

I also think we're going to have what's called a 'cultural shock' in many aspects moving to the States, and specifically in the suburbs like PA or MV. But Switzerland has been also quite boring place compared to a magic place like Paris!

Honestly.... I also think we'll move to SF eventually. Let's hope the commute is not that as bad as they say.

When my husband commuted from San Fran to Santa Clara he took Caltrain. It takes awhile but at least you don't have to wait in traffic. Plus on the train you can get stuff done. On days he drove he said it took about an hour and a half. But again, that's to Santa Clara which is much further than Palo Alto. In the end though, for us (I was driving to Napa everyday at the time) the commute was SO worth it because we got to live somewhere wonderful.

[jman650]

Originally Posted by esv

and thanks again Redwood, for the reply! :-)

DT=Down Town (I saw it somewhere, sorry if it was not very clear)

I also think we're going to have what's called a 'cultural shock' in many aspects moving to the States, and specifically in the suburbs like PA or MV. But Switzerland has been also quite boring place compared to a magic place like Paris!

Honestly.... I also think we'll move to SF eventually. Let's hope the commute is not that as bad as they say.

If you do end up choosing to live in SF, downtown might not be your best option. Coming from Switzerland, I'm assuming you're used to a very clean, relatively crime-free environment (am I correct?). Downtown might shock you a bit, particularly the Tenderloin or South of Market, if that is the case. South Beach is very nice though, and the greater downtown area can be nice, like Russian Hill or North Beach. You might want to check out neighborhoods outside of downtown when you're here and see what appeals to you most. If you're comfortable with what you see downtown, then you might love it! But I just thought you should be forewarned.

[Americanboy]

Originally Posted by esv

and thanks again Redwood, for the reply! :-)

DT=Down Town (I saw it somewhere, sorry if it was not very clear)

I also think we're going to have what's called a 'cultural shock' in many aspects moving to the States, and specifically in the suburbs like PA or MV. But Switzerland has been also quite boring place compared to a magic place like Paris!

Honestly.... I also think we'll move to SF eventually. Let's hope the commute is not that as bad as they say.

Are you moving from work?

I wouldn't leave Paris!!

[esv]

Originally Posted by Stacy From Cali

When my husband commuted from San Fran to Santa Clara he took Caltrain. It takes awhile but at least you don't have to wait in traffic. Plus on the train you can get stuff done. On days he drove he said it took about an hour and a half. But again, that's to Santa Clara which is much further than Palo Alto. In the end though, for us (I was driving to Napa everyday at the time) the commute was SO worth it because we got to live somewhere wonderful.

Stacy, definitively I would preferred to take the train but unfortunately my job is really far away from the PA station (or any other CAL train station), so I definitively need to take the car no matter what. The question here is how long it takes from South SF (or another area in SF well communicated with the 101) to my job. But well, we'll see.

Originally Posted by jman650

If you do end up choosing to live in SF, downtown might not be your best option. Coming from Switzerland, I'm assuming you're used to a very clean, relatively crime-free environment (am I correct?). Downtown might shock you a bit, particularly the Tenderloin or South of Market, if that is the case. South Beach is very nice though, and the greater downtown area can be nice, like Russian Hill or North Beach. You might want to check out neighborhoods outside of downtown when you're here and see what appeals to you most. If you're comfortable with what you see downtown, then you might love it! But I just thought you should be forewarned.

jman, when I was taking about DT (=Down Town) I meant of Palo Alto or Mountain View, so even if we live in the suburb, we can still have everything (shops, public transport, etc.) close by. We want to avoid as far as possible to take the car for everything. Any tips there!?? Which city to choooooose. MV is younger and PA more residential??? Still not clear!!

If on the other side, we choose to live in SF, as I said, probably would be in the south, to reduce as much as possible the commute time. But well, we'll see.

Originally Posted by eurous1

Are you moving from work?

I wouldn't leave Paris!!

and Euros1! yes, defenitively is for work!! We didn't want to leave Paris but it's such an expensive city for a Postdoc and well, Switzerland was the right move 2 years ago to start a carreer in the private sector! And now, SF seems also a very interesting adventure (professionlly and personally)! But well,... we'll see


thank you ALL , really!! I start to feel the good californian vibrations and I'm not there yet! ha, ha....

[jman650]

Originally Posted by esv

jman, when I was taking about DT (=Down Town) I meant of Palo Alto or Mountain View, so even if we live in the suburb, we can still have everything (shops, public transport, etc.) close by. We want to avoid as far as possible to take the car for everything. Any tips there!?? Which city to choooooose. MV is younger and PA more residential??? Still not clear!!

I see. Well downtown PA is more interesting IMO and has more to do, but downtown MV is nice too, and I think it would be better as far as public transportation goes. MV has Caltrain and VTA running through it, I believe. I think the PA Caltrain station is a short drive from downtown, but I could be mistaken. If public transportation is top priority I would choose MV, but if more shopping and food is of more importance PA might be your better option of the 2.

Either way, they're right next to each other so with a car, or even a bicycle, both would be manageable. Good luck with whichever one you end up choosing! I hope it works out for you.