One Day in San Francisco….

What was I thinking? A 14 hour overnight flight from Sydney to San Francisco, one day to see it all and one night to party! I must be bonkers! At the tender age of 40 plus (lets not go there) I was thinking I was 20 again. It’s travelling, I get excited!

Growing up in Oz, I viewed the US as a great friendly english speaking unknown, with people just like us, but with a funny accent. Fresh out of Uni, I jumped at the chance to go on a business trip to New York, and was afforded a glimpse of the cultural disparities that is the ‘real America’. That was when print media was print only! and email was ‘the new’ and the baby Internet was a squall and some tinkering.

I can’t believe it has taken me this long to get back to the US, but Australia and the ROW is a big place.

We arrived in San Francisco tired, disorientated and in dire need of coffee. We flew United Premium Economy  direct from Sydney (who would believe they would run out of water and could not serve tea or coffee with the breakfast service?) FYI- Premium Economy on United is only marginally better than Economy (slightly bigger seats but the same service and toilets.) and is not the standard of Cathay Pacific or Virgin.

It was a sunny San Francisco day and perfect for being a tourist. We wasted no time, jumped a cab and headed straight to Union Square and our hotel for the night – The historic Westin. A seamless checkin had us in our room with Union Square views at 10.30am, a benefit from being a long term SPG member.  Much discussion, research and thought went into choosing where to stay. With one day and only one night you want to pick a place that is central with good service and extra benefits like early checkin.

Coffee was calling very loudly and after a quick shower, in no time at all we were on our open top double decker Big Bus for our hop on, hop off orientation tour of San Francisco. I could almost believe I was 20 again with a hangover like coffee deprivation kicking in and our very American hostess regaling us with stories of Robin Williams and Madonna. (I think it will be Saint Robin soon! 🙂

I immediately liked San Francisco. It flows up and down to the water. (All Sydneysiders love a harbour!) It has amazing architecture and buildings and the Golden Gate bridge is iconic and long and special.

The mix of the new and old buildings fits this place and then there are beautiful parks and the cool cable cars.

I loved hanging around Fisherman’s Wharf exploring and had a ‘to die for’ White Clam Chowder and Lobster Bisque at the Eagle Cafe at Fisherman’s Wharf. Did I mention coffee? That too!

The seals at Pier 39 are something you don’t see every day. City Seals!

We saw all the main sites in passing but next time I will be back to explore the Presido, the Castro, the Mission and the Haight, go out to Alcatraz, enjoy dinner in China Town. I think I will need a week or more! Then there is Sausalito and Muir Woods and the north coast and the south coast…travel plans for the next five years have just changed!

Somehow we arrived back at the Westin in time for a quick refresh before pre dinner drinks which we decided may indeed be pre bed drinks if we could stay awake any longer. Not having the legs to travel far after our exhausting day around the city, we opted for ENO’s Bar just beside the Westin. It was the beautiful gas fire which made it a very attractive proposition on this clear chilly early spring night, but it was the wine and cheese flights which kept as there way longer than any international sleep deprived traveller should have stayed. It was big, it was memorable, and the pinot noir flight delicious! A fitting end to a wonderful… one day in San Francisco.