San Francisco re-visited

Friday 18th July

So onto our final stop. The beautiful city of San Francisco with its lovely features such as fisherman's wharf, golden gate Bridge, alcatraz and much more.

Our shuttle bus would be leaving our hotel at around 10:30 to head to LAX. This meant no time for any more sightseeing.

Had a good breakfast down at the breakfast room which wasn't bug enough to swing a cat. Had an interesting conversation with an American lady about  US culture and how things differ from our systems in Britain such as health care, which they have to pay for privately, as opposed to us, we moan about the NHS but really is a better system than what some US citizens have. She also explained the reasons for so many homeless people on the streets which is sad to see.
A lovely lady but we couldn't get away.

Once we did, the cases were ready and waiting and so we're we. The shuttle bus took 1 hr to reach the airport which was fine because we had planned to get there well in advance.

Got through check in fine and waited around for a few hours in the airport, not much to do here really.

We flew with virgin america, based around the West coast, didn't know much about the airline but when we got on... Wow!
So much more leg room than any other airline. Not only that.. We had seat back TV showing a range of films and LIVE TV!
Shame the flight was only 1hr!
Jacob got chatting to a friendly American from Flagstaff who was telling us all the things we could do in San Francisco... Didn't need my guide book after that!

Best airline I have flown with domestically in the US though!

Once through baggage we heckled a shuttle bus and some grumpy sod took us to our hotel near downtown San Francisco. The weather was quite cold, long sleeves and jeans weather,  for the first time on the trip since touching down in Orlando!

Out hotel was on Sutter Street, ironically the same street we stayed on during my last visit here... 16years ago!
During this time I fondly remember a near little American diner not far from there... Named 'Lori's Diner'. Well.... That same diner is still going strong after all this time! So naturally we headed down there for dinner on our firsts night in the city.... It was just how I remember it being all those years ago... The food was just as great to! Got chatting to a family in there  a dad and his son and daughter. He lived in the city but the daughter is at uni in Nottingham and the son lives in the Netherlands! We got chatting with them about San Francisco, US sports, UK related stuff etc,  such friendly people! After talking about our professions the dad now potentially wants me to build him a website! Maybe the start of a new business venture haha.

Tomorrow we will head out and explore this city with its very steep hills, cable cars and fantastic bay area. We hope to get alcatraz but much to our amazement tickets are sold out a month in advance! We have a few options open to us so. Let's see what happens.