San Francisco … avoiding the jet-lag

Hi!

Typing this somewhere high over the USA west coast on early morning flight to Vancouver where we board our cruise-ship (we set alarm for 3 am).

Flight from Brisbane was uneventful – even managed about 3 hours sleep all up … not bad by my standards. Virgin Australia service excellent.

That said, we had some dramas getting seats, despite doing precheckin/seat selection, and when we got seats, they did not include aisle seat. 14 hours in cattle class with no leg room for yours truly, and not to mention Dale’s needs. Anyhow my protestations at Virgin’s service counter did the trick and we made it to our air-gate just as they were boarding, all despite getting to airport 2.5 hrs ahead of flight!?*!

4 hour layover in L.A. was aided by a so quick … so smooth process through immigration and customs. No queues!
Arrived at Baldwin Hotel, 321 Grant Ave, San Francisco around 2 pm, reuniting with our travelling companions from Cairns, Glenn & Jan. Our location was excellent; just 2 blocks from Union Square.

The challenge was to stay awake until early evening; achieved with great success by eventually catching a cable car to Fisherman’s Wharf. LOVED the cable car experience. Catching the sea air was nice, with clear view out to Alcatraz. Hanging out for coffee; eventually got one at the too-commercialised Pier 39. Back to the Baldwin; in bed by 8- slept through to about 5.30. Can’t complain.

Next morning, after breakfast at La Boulange – a nearby French restaurant, with a large coffee in (what could double as) a small soup bowl, we headed off on three different hop-on, hop-off bus tours. A bit foggy in morning, but great weather all day.

Highlights included:
• fantastic California Academy of Science museum – enjoyed the San Francisco Shakes earthquake simulator
• checkin out Amoeba Records in Haight-Ashbury. Sorry, all the leaves were not brown & the sky anything but grey – the only thing I got ‘high’ on was the delights of the architecture of the SanFran homes
• travelling across the Golden Gate Bridge late afternoon – the fog lifted just in time
• living the bay views @ Sausalito
• enjoying nice meal at La Luingini to end the day – Dale got the steak she was craving
• enjoying Father’s Day greetings from our boys

Baldwin Hotel comparatively cheap but worth staying in again; as we will in 9 days before heading east to Ohio/Pennsylvania and Dale’s family.

In bed by 9. Lot of character & history there in San Fran.

Next post will come from the Alaska cruise!

Cheers
David