Everything is copacetic here in the Grand Atrium of the magnificent Hyatt Regency SFO Hotel.
It is exactly 4:44 a.m. here and I can't sleep any more. I was able to get free coffee at the registration desk and now I am sitting in the atrium on one of the Swiftwater Cafe tables but the cafe isn't open yet.
There's a big waterfall feature that contains a lovely waterfall sound and gives the name to the cafe.
The atrium is huge and has lots of 20 foot trees in it. Magnificent.
I am at a lovely table, under a tree, by a waterfall.
Noice!
Ross is, of course, sleeping in upstairs in our lovely room. He did a good job and snuck in without waking me last night. When I woke up finally, at 3:45 or so, he was snoring quietly and I never heard him arrive to the room.
I think he has set his alarm for 7:30, a little over 2 1/2 hours from now. And to think some people say to me, "When do you find time to do this blog?". As slow as I type with two fingers, I can still write quite a bit in 2-3 hours in the morning, before he gets up. Or before the rest of the world catches up to my early starts, I guess would be fairer to say.
I tried to Check-in online for our SFO to Sydney flight leaving at 10:20 p.m. tonight but they wouldn't let me because of a passport issue. Since I am travelling with both my USA passport and also my Australian passport, this presents difficulties as well as creates opportunities in some instances. Now they see I came in to USA on my USA Passport and they want me to have obtained a visa for flight to Australia. I can't get around this on-line, so I have to actually go to the United Airlines Counter sometime this morning to straighten it all out.
I have found out that Ross and I have been assigned reasonable seats, and I have paid for my extra checked bag, so everything is good that way, I just need to sort out the passport issue. No biggie.
Ross has organised a Segway Tour for us today, so that will be fun. Looks like we may take them down to Fisherman's Wharf and roam around for an hour or so.
The Cable Car wending it's way up Powell Street from it's turnaround terminus at Market and Powell Streets, right across Market Street from the main entrance to the extremely huge and magnificent Westfield Shopping Center, where Ross and I met up yesterday. The cable car goes just about straight West over two huge hills and eventually ends up at it's western turnaround terminus at Fisherman's Wharf.
Continuing on up Powell, the cable car will pass by Saks Fifth Avenue on the right as it starts to climb it's first great hill. Ross tried to get Lee some "Merch" as he calls it, at Saks Fifth Avenue, since, as you know, the 36-unit condo complex we live in on Fifth Avenue, Burleigh Heads, is called Saks On Fifth. Unfortunately, they didn't have anything nice. We'll have a last look and our last shopping opportunity today. I still have about 5 or 6 kilograms available in my second checked bag, may as well use it up.
Walking the city we came across this fancy men's fashion wear store made out of shipping containers. They have racks of clothes on mechanized moving conveyors there as well, giving you a constantly changing view of the merchandise. Very cool. I liked it very much. This was a little area surrounding a park with a very unusual sculpture made of plywood. There was a cafe/restaurant made from shipping containers as well. Sort of a park theme I guess.
Magnificent plywood sculpture, looking somehow a little Indian, the Eastern Kind not the American Western kind. "Native Americans I meant.
This was near where we ate lunch yesterday, and near a shop called Timbuk 2 , which is a bag shop, where they hand make all the bags right here in San Francisco. Ross got a few small items. They make great bags but are a bit pricey. I was attracted by a very nice green leather and camo canvas laptop bag but resisted temptation gamely this time.
We passed by this Street-side Emergency Fire Alarm on the corner of Gough and maybe Oak??
I have never see one of these break the glass and pull the lever for alarm thingys outside of buildings like school hallways. Weird because later, when walking, we saw (and HEARD!) two fire trucks heading this way and wondered whether any passerby pulled the alarm.
Another cute cafe/bakery that we passed by on our walk. This place had huge coffees in great big bowls like huge soup bowls. Great French atmosphere and decorations.
My only company this morning, so far, is a little old lady cleaner, who is wandering around cleaning tables and vacuuming, wondering what the heck I am doing, hours before the cafe opens. It is 5:34 a.m. exactly now, so there should be a bit more action soon, as I am sure breakfast must be served by 6 a.m. at least, one would imagine.There are about 4 designated eating areas in this Grand Atrium, as well as The Grand Ballroom entrance off it. One of the eating areas is the "Historical Sports Bar" Knuckles, where I had dinner last night. A cheeseburger with home fries and a couple of Blue Moon beers with orange slice. It was good. Unfortunately all the relevant baseball games had been played earlier, as it was Saturday, and the big screen in front of me had a "Judge Judy" TV Show playing, which I ignored. There was a goog sound track of 60's and 70's rock and roll playing, however, with some of my favorites like Bob Seger, The Band, Donovan, Led Zeppelin and a few more.
The Grand Peninsula Ballroom, to the left of where I am sitting right now. This was taken yesterday afternoon, when there were people up and around.
Chefs and waiters are now appearing to set up the buffet breakfast. I am at a distant table, out of the way, however, so no probs.
Since 6:00 a.m. is fast approaching, I might go back to the room, have a shower and shave and get all dressed for the day and make my final pack for the big flight back to Sydney.
We will leave our bags roped off in the lobby, under the watchful eyes of the concierge.
I need to remember to check into the United Airlines desk on the way out to the city via the BART. Otherwise we will be delayed as I will have to do it this evening. Hopefully, the passport thing can be resolved quickly and easily.
Bye for now.
To all my Gold Coast Family and Friends, I will see you soon.
Apparently my mate Graham Hopkins is going to pick us up at the airport at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Thanks a lot Gray!
Lance and Ross's Blog
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