Some of you may not have realised, but this week I’ve been lucky enough to score a trip to California, USA! Since it’s only a very short trip (5 days), there won’t be many more updates.
As simply as I can put it, I really love San Francisco. The weather, the people, the attractions, the bay and the welcoming atmosphere have all contributed to one of my best experiences in a city. The Californian city conists of a number of iconic structures, fronted by the impressive Golden Gate bridge at the entrance to the harbour. The last couple of days have involved an enormous trek up and down the famous winding and steep hills of the city taking in the breath taking views from the top of each. The city center is a buzz of excitement, narrated by the tracks of the archaic street cars which follow the paths of the streets. Within the center is the financial district of the city where tall and architecturally stunning buildings loom overhead casting ominous shadows over the tiny ants who walk below. Along the coast consists of a handful of piers, and specifically pier 31, better known as Fisherman’s Wharf. A cute mini town of tourist shops and hot dog stalls. Around the corner is a surprising cool colony of sea-lions which have taken over the wharf. They bark and they smell, but they sure are fun! Continuing along the coast for another half hour finds the start of the famous Golden Gate bridge, a bridge spanning 1.7km and 60m above the water. Eight hours of walking later, combined with a shift in 15 time zones and I was pooped.
Today I visted Alcatraz, the famous prison knows as “The Rock” situated on a lone island in the middle of the bay. What was once a civil war fort held the most dangerous of American criminals within it’s maximum security conditions. Some prisoners spent as long as 10 years in solitary confinement.
Tomorrow I head off to the suburb of Mountain View, for a summit day at the Google headquarters, then I’ll be back in San Fran for my flight home on Sunday!
