San Francisco Trip - 2008

On Friday (a beautiful day with bright blue skies) we met with our partners again Until about 1pm in the afternoon. At that time we called adjourned our talks.  Several of my coworkers were in town for a conference, so they headed off to meetings at the convention center.  I  in the meantime packed up my bags and started walking from my hotel in the financial district, to my new one on Fisherman's Wharf. 

I walked from the financial district down to "The Embarcadero", the famous street along the bay.  I walked down the wide avenue taking in all the sites.  There were piers, interesting little restaurants, and tourist attractions everywhere.   It was obvious this was an area trafficked heavily with tourists.   From where I was strolling you could look up to your left and see the Transamerica Pyramid through the palm trees.  To your right you could look up and see the coit tower.  It really was a very beautiful.  Streetcars raced down the street ringing their bells as they went.

Eventually, after a walk of about 2-3 miles I came to the Fisherman's Wharf area, and found my hotel, the Radisson @ Fisherman's Wharf.  I checked into my room, only to find that they hadn't saved us a King room like had been promised! I complained, but unfortunately we wouldn't  be able t0 get a king room until Sunday night.  Maria would be joining me tomorrow, Saturday.  After checking in I called Maria and we finalized plans for meeting at the airport on Saturday morning. 
















After unpacking my things I went and explored the area around my hotel. I walked down fisherman's wharf and checked out the cable car turnaround at hyde and beach streets.  Tons of tourists were waiting in line to jump on the Famous cable car and ride up the mountainous hills.  I got my first view of the Golden Gate bridge from the cable car turnaround as well - it really is very majestic towering there on the skyline. 

From there I walked up Hyde street (very steep, I was sweating by the time I got to the top), and saw the Crookedest street (actually it isn't the crookedest I learned), Lombard Avenue.  When I got there the tourists were already thick - people taking pictures left and right.  Some of the streets in San Francisco are extremely steep, and it is a wonder the cars, cable cars and buses can even get up some of them. 

After walking around for another couple of hours I headed back down the hill and ate dinner at Johnny Rockets. I had a burger, and then walked back to my hotel to go to bed.  I had to meet Maria at the airport in the morning, and I wasn't quite sure how I was going to get there.