Posts Tagged ‘flight’

USA 2009 – Day Four

September 7th, 2009 - 11:40pm - No Comments »

Day Four – 7th September 2009
San Francisco
23:40 – Nikko Hotel


We managed a small amount of sleep before our alarm woke us at 6:30. We checked out and took what was hopefully the last taxi for a while to the airport.

Once checked in—which you can do outside the terminal!—we hung around and killed time until our flight. Killing time involved more gambling on the slot machines in the airport. Breakfast was a giant, soft, cinnamon pretzel.

Our plane arrived at San Francisco a little early—a nice change from the status quo—and we left the airport excited about a new city. We took one of the elevated trains from one terminal to the outer parts of the airport where we boarded the “BART“, a train to get around the city quickly.

While on the BART a black lady boarded and tried to strike a conversation with anyone who would listen; the woman beside us took the bait and the discussion they had was really nothing of substance. The black lady’s personality and attitude was totally stereotypical and the opposite of what I expected to see. Particularly in San Francisco.

As we exited the BART station complete with electric piano playing buskers, we immediately noticed a large number of homeless. Right in front of us a cop was issuing some sort of fine. An intense introduction to the city.

Some short walking took us to our hotel, where—after checking in—we wandered to Union Square. There we brought Justine a pair of Merrell shoes, at a price significantly cheaper than back home.

Our wandering took us to Market St, one of the main streets in the city, and to a T-Mobile store where we brought a local SIM. The staff where excited to see my HTC Hero phone as it is not out here yet. We got a great mobile number (415-400-6677) which they were also jealous of.

Further along Market St, we found the famous Ferry Building and on the side, the Bay Bridge, which is closed for earthquake-proofing.

Back inside the Ferry Building we brought some pasta sauce mixes (just the herbs), like we bought in Italy just 2 years ago. Further along we brought some nice chocolates from Recchiuti Confections.

On the edge of the building we had lunch at a small Mexican joint called Mijita. The place really feels like a place you’d find in Mexico even down to the flies buzzing about. I ate a “Taco de carne asada” (sliced beef taco). The taco was unlike what we have back home – it was a small, wound, soft tack but quite thick, although I don’t mind the ones back home, this was delicious. Paired with a cerveza (Dos Equis Ale) and frijoles (pinto beans, which we refer to as kidney beans), it was a most excellent meal.

Out of the Ferry Building, we strolled along the piers. A van offering free “Hansen’s” soft drinks caught our eye so we grabbed one each. Mine was pomegranate flavoured, Justine had strawberry and apple. Not bad at all but I probably wouldn’t pay for one.

Making our way back inland, we saw the tall triangle-shaped Transamerica building. By now the sun was on its way down, so we moved on and into Chinatown.

As we were in China and Hong Kong last year, it felt familiar but still different, also stores bursting at the seams with products, none of which seem to go together, food of all kinds sprawled where ever it fits. Smells of food past its prime.

We found a premium tea store, where we both brought some tea. Me green and Justine jasmine white tea. Dozens were on display and the staff really knew their stuff.

Back at our hotel we called dad on the new phone to wish him a belated Father’s Day – I have no clue what the date is back home so it is probably very late.

As we’re still catching up on sleep we chilled out at the hotel by watching some US TV. Mostly repeats (or re runs as they’re called here) but it was nice to relax.

Our bed times are getting earlier each day.

Tweets from today:

Photo statistics:

Where we went:

GPS Track

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