It’s been a couple few weeks since I’ve been back from California and figured I better write a post about my adventures in San Francisco while they are still vivid in my mind. Let’s step back in time to the beginning of March. I arrived in San Fran on March 8th an hour or so after sunset. Originally I had planned on taking Amtrak up from Santa Clara but after discovring 511.org I decided to take the Lightrail to Mountain View. While in Mountain View I stopped for dinner at the Tied House (recommended by someone at EclipseCON) where I had the Brewers Burger and a pint of their New World Wheat. Both were amazing and I plan on returning next time I’m that neck of the woods. Oddly enough I ran into Ben Konrath from Red Hat who was also at EclipseCON. Figured once I left Santa Clara I wouldn’t see anyone I knew until I returned home, guess I was wrong.
After dinner I grabbed the next CalTrain up to San Francisco on which I met someone else playing their PSP. Sadly, I had left all my games back home because I accediently grabbed the wrong case on my rush to get out the door. I would of rocked to do some fragging on a train. Roughly an hour or so later I was in downtown San Francisco. I left the CalTrain station and jumped on the BART which dropped me off about 2 blocks from my hotel. Upon rising to the surface I encountered a colorful character who politely gave me directions and a free map. Man what more did I need to look like a tourist, wasn’t the winter coat, luggage and camera a big enough hint. Anyway, since this was his main source of income I kindly gave him a tip and went on my way.
I strolled down Market St and hung a right on Mason. Not paying enough attention to the direction I had recieved (He said on the right not take a right) I wandered up Mason a couple blocks. Knowing I had gone to far or the wrong way I asked the Bellhop at the Nikko Hotel. He pointed behind me at the building with the gigantic stop sign. As I walked away he asked, “Why don’t you bomb the hill on your board?” I replyed, “The luggage wheels couldn’t handle it.” Headed back down Mason I found my hotel. The outside didn’t do this place justic at all. Upon entry it all was redemed, the walls & ceiling were lined with beautiful woodwork and a floating waterfall on the wall. I checked in and went upstairs to my room. Which was your average room aside from the 42″ (my guess) HD TV. Nice little touch aside from the fact I don’t normally watch TV.
After unpacking I went downstairs and got the key for the Business Center. I spent a few minutes checking email and double checked my flight details. Next I headed upstairs to do some running in the cardio room. I put a half hour run on the books. While in Cali I’ve ran pretty much every day. I headed back down to my room where I watched some TV (how could I not it was sitting there taungthing me) and crashed out early. I wanted to get a start on things ASAP.