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Most Beautiful Churches and Cathedrals in San Francisco.

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San Francisco is a cool, elegant and hypnotizing consolidated city-county in California composed of large streets providing stunning views of one of the world’s greatest bays. Take flight to San Francisco from Hong Kong and enjoy the attractions it has to offer but the tour is not complete if you skip these 10 most beautiful churches in San Francisco.

  1. Grace Cathedral.

Grace Cathedral is the third largest cathedral in the US shining on the Nob Hill. It is simply stunning with a spectacular organ, grand archways, and stained-glass windows. The aura of old-world is gifted to Grace Cathedral by its Gothic revival architecture style. You will love the walk around indoor and outdoor labyrinths which depicts the history of the site together with the mosaic murals and art installations. Visitors are not allowed at the time of their regular services unless you visit before or after. Yoga lovers are invited weekly on Tuesday evenings for a donation-based class.

  1. Holy Virgin Cathedral.

“Joy of All Who Sorrow” , which is also known as the Holy Virgin Cathedral is a Russian Orthodox Cathedral that stood in the Richmond district of San Francisco. It can be introduced as the largest Russian Orthodox Cathedral outside of Russia. Its building is a design of Oleg N. Ivanitsky. Cathedral’s five sharp onion domes are enveloped in 24-karat gold leaf.  Similarly, its interior shines with rich mosaics and statues of gilt paintings and religious scenes.

  1. Saints Peter and Paul Church

Saints Peter and Paul Church is honored by the name “Italian Cathedral of the West”, standing on the Washington Square of North Beach. This church has appeared in a few movies, Dirty Harry, Deadpool and Sister Act 2. Perhaps you recognize the steps of this church from the wedding photos of Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe. Although the original cathedral was destroyed in 1906 by an earthquake and fire, the current church stands over the city firmly with 191 feet high twin spires since 1924. The bright interior of the church draws inspirations from Italian Gothic style and features the magnificent ecclesiastical artwork.

  1. Mission Dolores.

Mission Dolores is the oldest standing building in San Francisco. It is rather a museum than a historic church, yet it is an active museum beneath the exhibits of Native American history. The mission is located next to basilica with bell towers. Visitors are impressed by the simple mission architecture of the building. You’ll love the small cemetery behind the mission amongst bustling neighborhood.

  1. Dominic’s Catholic Church.

St. Dominic’s Catholic Church is another gorgeous church in San Francisco with a mega-building in lower Pacific Heights. You’ll feel the holy atmosphere by the moment you walk in through the door. The impressive Gothic revival architecture and the shrine of St. Jude draw here thousands of visitors annually. This is the fourth parish located in this church completed in 1928. You’ll realize that there’s a lot of prized statues and artworks inside St. Dominic’s church. It remains alive through life changing talks and beautiful music. I recommend you to attend here mostly on holy days of obligation to hear the talented chamber choir and pipe organ.

  1. Patrick Church.

St. Patrick Church is another massive Roman Catholic Church in the heart of San Francisco founded in 1851. You’ll find it as the best place to spend time with Jesus having reflecting prayers. It is unique due to its historic brick buildings with very well done masses amongst modern buildings. Inside is absolutely beautiful with very high ceilings, stained glass windows and statues of saints. The tranquil interior awards you a divine moment of silence and respite. A must visit place, even if you’re a non-Catholic.

  1. Saint Ignatius Church.

One of the largest churches in the city which was built in 1914 as a part of the University of San Francisco. The present church is the fifth parish of Saint Ignatius church. Inside is incredibly decorated with a mixture of Italian and Baroque elements architecture on a floor plan based on ancient Roman Basilica. This becomes a prominent landmark in San Francisco by its twin spires and dome. Four alcoves inside the church have been converted into an art gallery called Manresa Gallery participated by a number of Bay Area artists.

  1. Old St. Mary’s Cathedral.

Old St. Mary’s Cathedral is one of most beautiful cathedrals in the city which exhibits Gothic Revival architecture style. You can witness the photographs of its survival from the earthquake and fire. One will hardly miss this church as it is located in the heart of Chinatown. It is best to visit here on Tuesdays afternoon to watch the lively classical music performances. This church with a lot of history and a tranquil atmosphere makes one feel that the world is away and only God matters.

 

  1. National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi.

The National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi is the real heart of San Francisco. Although the complete site is solemn and quite its warmer interior is breath-taking with stained-glass windows, rich woods, holy relics of Saint Francis and beautiful Gothic architecture. Although it is no longer a parish this is the best place to talk to God. Moreover, this is connected with a school. Thus, walking around the church will also be educational.

  1. Notre-Dame-Des-Victoires Church.

Log on Notre-Dame-Des-Victoires Church to make a wish under respite while visiting around the bustling San Francisco. This Roman Catholic Church was built originally to serve French Immigrants. As this is a French National Church there is a separate center for French community of San Francisco inside. The two staircases at the entrance extending either side give a positive impression for visitors but the architecture is a model of Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourviere in Lyon.

The Value of Customer Service Calls

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Let’s face it. Not many of us look forward to calling a 1-800 number. In the vast majority of cases, we call a company to receive an answer to a question or to lodge a complaint. Rarely, do we ring up any business just to say we’re happy with the product or service it provides, as we often dread the lengthy maze of options directing us from one concern or department to another and can resent the barrage of questions we receive in response to our own inquiries. Nevertheless, customer service calls serve an important purpose; without physically visiting a company’s headquarters or relying on a prolonged written exchange of correspondence, how else could we voice and have heard our concerns? Maybe it’s time to consider the benefits of customer service calls. Here are three:

They Provide Quick Feedback

Of course, first and foremost, the customer service call is a (relatively) quick way (when possible routing nightmares are set aside) for us as customers to receive pertinent and individualized information. We might be able to locate or generate instruction on a website, product packaging, pamphlet or brochure, but only direct, verbal communication offers us the opportunity to receive information that is prompt and personalized. Emails and written correspondence can provide similar results, but both necessitate time for the back and forth relay of conversation.

They Provide Individualized Feedback

As mentioned, in addition to being quick, customer service calls have the advantage of offering us all personalized service. Not only can customer service representatives provide quick information over the phone, they can provide specific information that takes into account the details of our own unique relationship with the company. In this way, exceptions to policies might be made or special benefits might be given to us that wouldn’t or couldn’t be provided via other means.

They Can Be Used to Train Staff

Finally, when customer service calls are recorded, they can also be used to train staff. In fact, a hosted call recording can be a crucial part of employee training, offering examples of common customer concerns and providing best practices for representatives to replicate in future calls; specifically, characteristics of an exemplary rep’s pattern of speech, including his or her volume, cadence and clarity, can be used as a model of effective communication with consumers for future call center staff, ensuring the subsequent customer service calls are met with professionalism and any complaints are dealt with in the most most efficient way. This benefits us all in the long run, providing future customer experiences with staff that are better informed to manage a range of customer service issues.

Riding Mower vs Residential Mower

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When the weather warms up and the grass starts growing you may find yourself working on your yard several times a week. Choosing the right lawn mower for your yard will help you mow your grass with ease as well as make the experience more pleasurable. If you are in the market for a new lawn mower there are many things to consider before selecting one. One of the first decisions to make is deciding whether you need a riding lawn mower or a residential walk-behind mower. Below are some of the benefits of both to help make the decision process a bit easier.

Benefits of a Riding lawn Mower

If you have ever owned a residential walk-behind mower you know that a riding lawn mower is a huge upgrade. The first obvious benefit is that you get to relax and go for a ride while cutting your grass rather than having to walk and push a mower. Not only are they convenient and comfortable, they are efficient in helping you get the job down quickly. A large yard may take hours to complete with a residential walk-behind mower while with a riding lawn mower you will get the job done in half the amount of time. Riding mowers offer many different features. Some have more horsepower than others making them faster while others have a better turn radius which helps with efficiency. Most durable zero turn lawn mowers have the option of different attachments and accessories for year-round needs. These attachments can assist with spreading grass seed and fertilizer, tilling soil, and even blowing leaves or snow. There is also the option of an electric powered riding mower versus a gas operated mower. The electric mower will be less noisy and eliminate the added expense of having to purchase gas. If your age, health, or mobility is a factor then a riding mower is the best option as you do not have to exert much energy to operate it. It’s much like driving a car.

Benefits of a Walk-Behind Mower

There are several benefits of a walk-behind mower. If you are in good health, have a manageable sized yard, and don’t want to spend a small fortune than a walk-behind residential mower is perfect for you! One of the main draws of a residential walk-behind mower verses a riding mower is the price. It’s much more cost efficient than a riding mower. As with a riding mower there are many different types of walk-behind residential mowers. A self-propelled mower will basically pull itself forward as you walk behind it as you hold the handle down. So essentially you are just walking behind it and guiding it, as it cuts your grass. This helps get the job down at a faster pace than a standard walk-behind mower and with much less effort on your part. A standard walk-behind mower will require you to push it and guide it as you walk behind it. Gas mowers, electric mowers, or cordless electric mowers are some of the many options offered. Rear tire size is also important as larger tires tend to help with navigating through uneven ground more easily. Other beneficial features of walk-behind residential mowers are attached grass bags, collapsible handles for easier storage, wide area walk-behind mowers for larger yards that allow you to mow up to 2 acres.

Choosing the right lawn mower can make a world of difference. Riding mowers and residential mowers each have their own benefits, it’s important to find the one that suits you and your yard best.

5 Gift Ideas That Your Niece Is Going To Love For Sure

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Looking back through your childhood days, your aunt might not have been the most favorite person in your life. Your aunt is the dope person you will find. Aunts might be super fun at times and they let you enjoy life to the fullest. You also get adorable gifts from your aunts during birthdays or any special occasions.

Buying gifts for babies is easy but when it comes to buying presents for young kids, the task is quite difficult. But when you have Packed Party right beside you, you will be spoilt for choices!

Here are some of the coolest gift options for your niece that will make you the coolest aunt ever!

1. A hello Kitty keychain

A donut-shaped keychain might be the perfect gift for your niece. Squishes and soft toys in unique figures are like the trending gifts now. Hello Kitty is loved by girls and the donut-shaped keychain simply can add more colors to the occasions. It is simple and can be carried around. If your niece is a fan of Hello Kitty, then it will turn out to be a plus point for you.

2. A purse like grownups

Purses can turn out to be great gifts for nieces but if she is growing up, then she would love her sense of independence and freedom. In this case, you can get her a training purse which looks exactly like the real purses grownups use. These purses are not too big and they come in a variety of colors. It adds a fun pop of excitement in your niece’s life.

3. Letterboard

Little girls always love to decorate their rooms. Customizable letter boards add a sense of sophistication and glamor to a room. Gift your niece with a letter board that just defines her personality. Give her some quotes or simply help her put a declaration that she is in her room. She will fall in love with your gift. Put some great colors as the frame boundary and let her decorate her room just the way she likes it.

4. Matching T-Shirts

Matching shirts and T-Shirts are always so cute and they are loved by everyone. This time when you present your niece with gifts, gift her a twinning T-Shirt so that she can look like you. Take her size and you can gift one size, toddler and small girls. When you both will put on similar T-shirts, you will rock the streets.

5. A small and gorgeous necklace

For those grown-up nieces, a gorgeous necklace piece will turn out to be a wonderful gift for her. The box can be customized and you can choose any gem that would suit your niece the most. The customized boxes come with sweet messages that your niece will keep for many years to come.

You can pick from any of these cool and trendy gift options for your dearest niece and see how it instantly lights up her face and eyes, at the very sight of it!

Flying with Kids? Read This Now and Thank Us Later

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Source: Unsplash | Julian Larcher

Ah, yes: who doesn’t enjoy those delightful vacation company commercials to glorious places like Sicily, featuring blissful families frolicking on the beach, exploring the great outdoors — and so on? Everyone is having the time of their life.

But there’s something these vacation companies don’t put in their commercials: they don’t show what flying with kids is really like. And why would they expose this cruel truth? If they did, nobody would want to go on a family vacation. They’d want to go to family therapy.

The bad news is that we aren’t yet living in a Star Trek-like world, in which going from point A to point B is a simple matter of telling the computer to “beam us” over.  But the good news is that families with young kids don’t have to turn their non-stop flight into a non-stop fight. Here are 7 tips to keep in mind:

  1. Check your seats before boarding. And then check them again. If there’s a mistake, you definitely want to sort it out in the airport — not in the plane.
  2. Speaking of seats: try and sit as close as possible to the front of the plane, where the ride is usually less bumpy.
  3. Booking early morning flights may seem like the worst suggestion imaginable, but it’s actually a wise idea. Why? Because early morning flights tend to take off on time vs. those later in the day. Less time the air (or on the runway) is a good thing.
  4. Bring activities such as coloring books that will keep your little ones busy, but won’t make noise to disturb the other passengers. And speaking of books: don’t forget to bring some yourself to make the time go faster. If you’re tired of the standard Stephen King and John Grisham fare, consider picking up a book that features full-color classic car restoration photos so that you and kids can enjoy it together.
  5. Bring healthy snacks, especially since airlines are notorious for running out of kid-friendly foods early and often. Trail mix, granola, cereal, and fruit are all good ideas.
  6. If you need to take connecting flights, then consider longer vs shorter layovers. Yes, this means the journey will take more time than it could. But it also means that your kids will have the opportunity to stretch their legs, get rid of some energy, and have fun looking around the airport (yes, as adults airports are a drag, but kids still find them pretty fascinating). As a bonus, your willingness to tolerate longer layovers might result in a lower ticket price.
  7. Pack plenty of patience. True, this is much easier said than done! And one day when your kids have kids of their own, they will understand — and be very, very apologetic for what they did to you. But until then, you need to stay calm, stay focused, and recruit as many allies on the flight as possible (you’ve struck gold if there are other kids flying and they all become instant friends).

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We left our home in Sydney, Australia many moons ago in May 2012 and, other than a brief stint back in Perth for Christmas and a wedding in early 2014, we have been travelling the world nomadically ever since, running a business from our laptops and we’re here to show you how to do it!