RWA Nationals - Day 1

I’m in San Francisco!

After surviving a five-hour flight where they no longer serve meals (you purchase whatever you want), I landed safely. My first impression of San Francisco was that it wasn’t as cold as they told me it would be. I’d say it’s in the mid-sixties or so. Secondly, the architecture of the suburbs is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.

It reminds me of shoeboxes stacked on hills. The rooflines are predominantly rectangles, and it truly is strange not seeing triangles. The fog rests on top of the hills like a fluffy tsunami, waiting to spill onto the city.

When I reached downtown, I did see the Golden Gate bridge. It’s not golden. It’s just a bridge. But it was interesting to see. We have a nice view of it from our hotel room. So far, I like the city. We’ll see how I survive street car transportation tonight. The plan is to hit Ghirardelli Square for dinner at an Irish pub and then go out for the world famous hot fudge sundaes. I’ll try to post photos as I get them.

I heard there was an earthquake in southern California already. I blame my roommate Larissa for this. I tease her about having the little black cloud of travel doom hovering over her. So if I mysteriously disappear, it’s her fault.

Those of you who have been to San Francisco before, do you have any restaurant recommendations?

Off we go…

Okay, I’m signing off. I may try to get online later tonight after I’m in San Francisco, depending on how things go. I pray that my flight doesn’t get cancelled or my luggage lost. I did print out my boarding pass and dear God, I’m in row 32. There were, um, about 4 seats left. Not good. And what is UP with them charging $64 to sit in an economy class seat with leg room. They also don’t feed us–it’s $5.00 for a box lunch.

I have a feeling that down the road, there will be free seats available outside, strapped to the tail and wings. Everything else will be pay-as-you-go. Oxygen masks will be an extra fee, in the case of a loss of cabin pressure.

And don’t get me started on luggage costs. Can you imagine, a family of five trying to travel? If each person takes 2 bags, it’s $125 extra. That really chaps my hide. They could raise the cost of the airline ticket by a few dollars and not have to charge anything extra for fuel.

Okay, then, I’m off. I’ll be posting San Francisco pictures, later on. Pray for good flying weather!