On a Cold, Sunny Sunday Afternoon

The six of us – five students in my entourage and myself – arrived in San Francisco at 8:30 am this Sunday morning.

The flight from Singapore to Narita was very smooth, but from Narita to SF bumpier, with the plane Captain on several junctions announcing to passengers that he was requesting that the cabin crew temporarily stopped inflight service so that they could also get themselves fastened with seat belts to ride over the turbulence.

Narita airport was just amazing! It’s as modern, clean, and beautifully designed as Changi International. I think the only things Changi have it slightly superior these days is the comfort level, the greenery, and the carpeting. For instance, there was wireless access at Narita but they required payment charges. Still, those gaps are fast narrowing.

I’d expected a lot more trouble getting through customs and baggage check at San Francisco airport. On Matt’s advice, I’d indicated that I was carrying food, or i.e. a very conspicuous tick for ‘YES’. Funnily, the baggage officers took a look at my baggage declaration card, then another look at me, then just waved me through LOL. So looks like Elina’s request for me to bring her two tins of Milo is successful. If Matt had it easier trying to bring home that 1/2 kilogram of bak kwa we got him!

The temperature was a very cool 10 degree celsius. Not intolerable and actually quite pleasant. The sun bore down strongly though. Should have brought sunscreen along.

We took the high speed metro rail BART from the airport to Union Square. When the brochures said ‘high speed’ they sure weren’t kidding. The MRT in Singapore is a slow poke in comparison. I’m guessing that the rail was going at 100km/h at least.

Stopping at Powell Street station, we got our bearings easily enough, and headed to Parc 55 Hotel at Cyril Magnin Street first, then dispersed to our individual accommodation arrangements: three of my students were heading to the USA Hostel on Post Street, another to Hotel Nikko just down the road, and another to St. Francis Hotel.

Unfortunately, the reception at Parc 55 refused to check me in, pleading that they were fully booked and the rooms weren’t available. Can’t say I was surprised given that normal check in times are around 1 to 2 pm, but still. So, I took the opportunity to wander around the area on my own first; taking pictures of Mission and Market Streets, Yerba Buena Gardens, before heading to the Museum of the Modern Arts to pick up my City Pass.

Have to stop here; got to get prepped for the first of several networking nights taking place in a bit. More in the next posts when I’m back late in the night.:)

More photos of Market Street and the Gardens here.:)