If you're going to San Francisco ...

Well, well, well dear readers,

Here is my story about a long flight and a short day at San Francisco.

First things first. I was lucky with my flight. Flew Air New Zealand from Adelaide to Auckland and then from Auckland to San Francisco. On the first flight, there was only one person next to me, and he got upgraded to first class, so I had two seats for myself for the full 9 hours. I had only a short stay at Auckland's airport (less than an hour). And then onto another 12 hour or so flight. Luck strikes back, the flight was almost empty, so I get moved next to an empty seat. That made the long flight so much easier :).

Then there is San Francisco. After a bit of a confusion with the shuttle to my hotel, I finally get there at close to 3 and had to get a taxi to the city to make my Alcatraz cruise on time at 3:20. I'm so happy I made it. Got there at the last possible moment, yet just in time to get to one of the legendary attractions of the city.

Alcatraz was great. I didn't realise that, but the island has a history, which spans much more time than just its story as a prison. It used to be a military garrison, and then military prison. It also houses one of the original light houses for SF, which is quite impressive and is still used today. It used to be a prison for only 60 years or so until the 60s, when it was decommissioned. The island is pretty big, with a whole bunch of historical buildings scattered around as a proof of its rich history. There are also amazing gardens on the island, grown by the prisoners under the warden's supervision. The island has one of the most breathtaking view in the world. West - golden gate bridge; South - San Francisco's downtown skyscraper skyline; East - another fantastic bridge, split in two by a small island; North - the ocean and another peninsular in the distance. All in all, makes you wish you could live there. Then in the back of my head creeps in the thought of what it must have been for the prisoners there, having this great view, and being so close to the greatest of civilization, yet so far away from it. The prison itself is quite morbid. It was the largest steel & concrete building in the world when it was first built. It looks solid and lifeless like the rock it sits on. The prisoner cells were tiny and bare. I never could understand what's so bad about prison - you get a quiet place for yourself and you get free food and place to sleep. Not until I saw the actual conditions of Alcatraz. Maximum security prison really didn't look like such a free ride after all. Four rows of 3x2m cells in three stories. And then there is "D" block. The tough guys got a special treatment of complete isolation. Half the cells there are completely bare and with no light. That was the home for some of the most famous prisoners like Al Capone.

The island tour took about two and a half hours. Never would have thought there would be so much to see - it was pretty amazing. After that, it was free program. Went up through the Fisherman's Wharf, which has some really nice shops and restaurants. Had a local, fresh seafood sandwich from the street and it was the tastiest seafood meal I've ever had. Then, went for a climb up the steep streets where the cable cars go. It was quite a bit of a hike. I walked up for only 4-5 blocks, but at 40 degrees incline or so, it gets up puffed out. I was pretty much just walking around aimlessly without a clue where I came from and where I was going to, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself looking at the crazy, winding street in San Fran. You know the one, from the movies. It was so pretty. It's full with flower gardens and the pavement is brand new.

Next stop was was downtown. On the way there, I went down Columbus St., which was like little Italy, but very, very long going all the way from the beach to downtown. The sky scrapers in the city were pretty cool. Some of them so tall, their tops were in the clouds ... literally. I had a few hours walking around there (half enjoying the sights and the walk, half searching for how to get to my hotel). My journey ended on the "BART" - an underground railway (like a subway) going out of the city in pretty much any direction for hundreds of kilometers. God knows how and when they built that, but it's mighty convenient and really fast.

I didn't have much time on the next morning for anything more than to get to my flight. I was "lucky" enough to be "randomly" selected for additional "screening", so that was a blast ... On US airports, you are not allowed any liquids and you have to take your shoes off when going through the security. On top of that, I had to go to this weird blowing machine and also had to empty my backpack. I can't describe how "exciting" that was. Meh, at least somehow I ended up being upgraded to "Economy Extra" class, with the extra 2 inches of legroom or something, which I didn't need anyway. I felt bad. I felt like swapping with someone that needed it, but I didn't.

6 hours or so later, I was in Boston. I was met at the airport, went to see a basketball game and got to my new home.

next week ... Boston :)