The Back-Bay District and the Vendome

The entire north wall of the room was glass, and beyond the glass a balcony, containing plants of every type in brightly colored boxes. Beyond the balcony was the most breathtaking view I had ever seen of the shimmering, clean-white Marina district below, and the Bay with the Golden Gate Bridge on the left and Alcatraz on the right, a lovely fall panorama of white and blue that made the expensive-looking modern art on her walls pale by comparison. Directly in front of me was an open door, through which I could see a spotless white-metal-and-stainless-steel kitchen. To my right was a hallway, which doubtless led to the bedrooms, although it was obvious that Mora must have preferred to sleep in the large bed in the living room. Her eyes reflected the humor she must have felt, seeing a dumb kid like me catapulted into a setting like that. "Do you like it?" "Yes," I answered, awestruck. "I like it." "Good," she said brightly, "then I'll give you the fifty-cent tour." Mora led me to the back of the house, which had two bedrooms side by side, with balconies overlooking the street ...»