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Published: July 31st 2013
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Phew, big trip, great result. Currently sitting in my airbnb studio apartment, fed and watered and having met up with Lachy.
It's such a long way from Perth to anywhere, this trip is no exception. I think it was around 27 hrs door to door with delays at Sydney and LAX. However, Qantas did a good job; good food, good entertainment system, managed to get a spare seat next to me so a tiny bit more comfortable. Take note- the two women who sat 2 rows behind me talked almost the entire way, I now know the ins and outs of their lives and their friends lives and their friends, friends lives..... And I know their names, so if I ever meet a *Deirdre and Nigel from LA I know that your marriage is "off". I know lots of things and that was from 2 rows of seats away. Thank god for headsets and movies....
(* Names fabricated for the privacy of those involved)
The flight from LAX to SFO was a quick one - 30 minutes waiting in the plane then a 50 minute flight, I slept for all bar 5 minutes I think. Visibility into SFO
was poor- a smog layer and a fog layer. The airport shuttle at $17 was a bargain, delivered me to the door of the apartment. Luckily someone let me in through the key locked entrance. The building is historical, not sure of actual age, it is 4 floors, and has one of those elevators in a cage. It smells strongly of incense and Chinese food and has bad green carpet. My apartment is on the 2nd floor. I go by lift just for the experience. Knock on the door and am greeted by the owner and her sister. They head off and I am left to settle in.
It is a quaint studio apartment that looks darker and smaller than the photos but it will be convenient and is very, very clean. The kitchen is well provisioned, Hien has left me a few supplies. There's coffee, herbal tea, some snacks, etc. The bathroom is good, super hot water. The main room consists of a table and 2 chairs, single bed that you can sit on like a sofa in the day time and an alcove with a monitor and chest of drawers. There is a lot of closet space.
It is really, really quiet. I resort to using my iPad for background noise.
Make plans to meet Lachy outside GAP on Powell/Market St. It takes about 10 minutes to get there- very convenient location. I don't get lost. Meet up with Lachy- great to see him. We get coffee at Neimann Marcus then take a walk to his apartment. It is really fantastic - very spacious, balcony, high ceilings, etc, kind of an industrial feel to it. Views from the roof are really fantastic- right across the bay and city. Hmmmm, why am I in a studio apartment in the Tenderloin?????
We then walk back to my little studio via Walgreens (provisions stop). Decide on Jaspers Corner Tap for dinner. It is a Kimpton Hotel restaurant and looks good. Has a kind of gastro pub / cocktail bar feel to it. Really nice meal and glass of wine. Say good night and I make the dash home, bit seedier at night. Crash.
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