San Francisco stopover

Coit Tower and the bay with a giant container ship headed toward the Pacific.
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Time to go – Bobby stayed in Colorado Springs last night so I got to close up the house and attend to our sad cat. Guess which day she picked to yack up hairballs! I decided to park at Stapleton and SkyRide to the airport (only $6 and the parking’s free). Barely caught the bus and made it to DIA with 90 minutes until flight time. Long queues for security made me appreciate the secret special line.

DEN-SFO was a very nice flight – the Empower was working (a nice surprise) so I edited photos on the laptop and watched a funny “Office” episode (Andy’s annoying cellphone in the ceiling). The flight attendant had an interesting accent and it turns out she’s from Melbourne. We had a chat about Great Ocean Road and how bad the drought is there. By the time I finished my drink I felt like I was finally on vacation. Lunch was a garlic-shrimp salad, a piece of foccacia and a tiny square of carrot cake – quite tasty.

Here comes the Charlie’s Angels – welcome to Chicago!

At Union Square.
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San Francisco was a bit cool as the marine layer came and went during the afternoon, but eventually it turned sunny.

Took BART to Powell St. and walked up to O’Farrell St. and over to the Hilton. We got a nice room on the 33^rd floor facing the Bay Bridge and the financial district. I walked around Union Square and did some shopping.  Lots of Friday afternoon activity as folks did their shopping.  I heard quite a few Japanese, German and Italian voices so San Francisco seems to be extremely popular with the world's tourists.

Bobby showed up about 7 p.m.
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Upstairs in the 45^th-floor lounge later I enjoyed the stunning view pigged out on potstickers and had a Miller Light. After a nap I walked down to Powell St. to meet Bobby.  His flight was similar to mine right down to the shrimp salad.

We headed down to Castro St. and had some Thai food (green curry etc.) and another beer. After another drink and some socializing we headed back to the Muni train and waited for 15 minutes with a few of the more colorful folks. I had to laugh when a street musician called out “Here comes the Charlie’s Angels – welcome to Chicago!” Goodnight.