Sydney to San Francisco

What a long long Saturday it has been.

After doing the all important voting, we left for the aiport around miday on Saturday - its still Saturday for me, and that was 24 hours ago.

Murray took me to the oh-so-exciting International airport where I was faced with ques for everything. Lining up for money exchange, then for boarding pass, then for customs, security, then for actually boarding the plane.

Here is our goodbye at the Security Gates. They wouldn't let him go any further. A bit of a teary - but I think I'll survive. Two weeks will be the longest I've spent away from him in the 5 years we've been together! I've no doubt he''ll be enjoying every moment of it! ;-)



After meeting up with Daryl for a quick drink in the Qantas Lounge, we quickly boarded the plane. I was down the back unfortunately - but at least its the safest place to be in a plane - you never hear of planes backing into anything do you? Luckily there was a spare seat between me and the girl in my row - so that made our long long long 13 hour journey more comfortable.

All in all the flight was pretty good. A bit bumpy towards the end - but that was okay, I was too excited to worry about any of that. The flight was made of up of....

About 6 hours of this...

Followed by about an hour of this...

Then about 6 more hours of this

I tried to get as much sleep as I could though - which is probably part of the reason I've woken up okay today. Also managed to watch 2 very good introductions to America on the way - The Simpsons Movie, and Borat. Both great snoozing movies.

We touched down in SF, and then there was more lining up for Customs and baggage. But once that was done we jumped into a car that was waiting for us and headed straight to the Grand Hyatt Hotel SF. So far the hotel seems great, and the rooms are fabulous. Oh - and the showers. After having these "water saving low pressure" heads for a while - The pressure here nearly knocked me over. Its soooo goood - just what I needed.

After settling in and freshening up we went for a bit of a wonder and a bite to eat. I had a Bagel! Very nice too. We walked down to the Ferry Terminal, grabbed a Starbucks (what else?), and had a bit of a browse around the streets.

Overall the city has a very Melbourne feel to it so far. Its been one of those days where you need to wear your coat and scarfe, but take your sunnies and wear something light underneath too.

I also scored a free facial and makeup session - which I needed like you wouldn't believe after that flight - with my "cute Austraaaalian accent". So I'm feeling like I've walked right off the catwalk runway, not the tarmac runway.

For dinner I think that we're going to Home - which is supposed to be a good example of American cuisine. Then tomorrow we hope to go to Alcatraz! Which I'm VERY excited about!

Also - because the weather here is so mild at the moment I was thinking of hiring a bike as a good way to see the city. To ride up to the bridge etc.

Its not nearly as scary as I thought it was going to be here - so far - so good.

xxoo