Man are my legs tired.
I discovered today that the conference sessions that I signed up for are only on Tuesday through Thursday. And I can’t get into any of the sessions today without paying $850. I talked to my boss and we decided that the available sessions were probably not worth $850 so I pretty much spent the day walking around San Francisco.
First thing I did was walk around and find some breakfast. The Concerge at the hotel recommended a place called “Dotty’s” but when I got there the line was out the door. I didn’t feel like waiting so I wandered around some more and had a so-so omelette at the Olympic Cafe. (I wonder if the IOC knows about this place.)
After breakfast I wandered around down to Powell and Market Street – where the cable car terminates. I watched for a bit and then decided “What the hell, let’s do touristy stuff!” and bought a round trip ticket.
I rode the cable car to the end – which is near Hyde Street Pier and Ghirardelli Square and wandered around the area for a while. Hyde Street Pier is pretty cool – it’s actually a National Park, and they have several ships you can buy tickets to walk around on. I cheaped out and didn’t buy any and just walked around on the pier.
Ghirardelli Square doesn’t really do anything for me. It’s just shops and such and I don’t really care that much for shopping.
I saw some people taking a tour on Segways. Very silly.After wandering around a bit, I decided to take the cable car back. So I went back to the station and waited. And waited. And waited some more. They were taking an extended break or something and I bet we all waited at least 30 minutes. Anyway, finally I got on a cable car and rode back to the other end.
I went back to the hotel and decided that I’d head over to the LinuxWorld Expo at the Moscone Center and at least check in and register so I wouldn’t have to worry about it in the morning. Got that done and they gave me a backpack! Score! It was getting sunny and warmer by then so I could take off my pull-over and put it in the backpack.
I was getting hungry so I started wandering around looking for something to eat. I wasn’t finding anything that interested me, so I headed up Powell Street to go visit the Cable Car Museum.
Man, that’s a steep hill.
The Cable Car Museum is in the power and car barn building at Mason and Washington. It’s at the top of the hill. All of the cables for the four lines converge on this spot and get driven by eight foot diameter winding sheaves powered by 510 horse power 500 volt motors. It’s noisy and very cool.
After I got done looking around at the museum I looked down the hill and could see the bay. “That doesn’t look so far from here” I thought.
Hah.
It’s about the same distance up Powell from Market street to Washington as it is down Mason Street to the bay. At least it was down hill this time. So I walked. And I walked some more.
I walked down Mason street to Columbus where the cable cars jog over, so I jogged to. Finally I ended up at Fisherman’s Wharf. It was packed with people.
I got a beer and clam chowder in a bread bowl to celebrate.
I wandered around a bit and after a while I got peopled out so I headed over to Beach Street and hopped on an F-Line Tram to head back down Market Street. Those old trams are very cool.
The transportation system in San Francisco is pretty cool. There are many options: Cable Cars, the F-Line Tram, Overhead Powered Electric Busses, and the BART system. I think it’s very cool that they are still running the Cable Cars and the Trams.
Tomorrow I’m going to be taking the BART over to Richmond on the other side of the bay to have dinner with some friends.
I’m going to take it to the Airport on Friday and will most likely take the Light Rail and a bus when I get home. It’s way cheaper than a cab. The cab ride from the airport to my hotel was $45.00! To ride the BART is $4.95. I only have to walk a few blocks to the BART station so I’m going to do that on Friday.
