Blogs from California, United States, North America - page 1165

Xmas 1997... read more

A night at the Roxbury. They told us the place was pretty nice. And it was pretty nice. We didn't have any problems getting in, as did the two nerdy guys in the movie a few years later. Maybe the dinner reservation for 40 people helped us get in the door. The upstairs dancefloor is alright. Pretty big, pretty average. I try to make conversation with the cute American girl standing right next to me. It's not going very well. Not until the DJ plays Ace Of Base, and I mention that I'm from the same country as they are, she joins in the conversation. She may or may not think I'm part of the band, since I mentioned it. In any event, she isn't very impressed, although she's being polite all the way. "What Is ... read more

We headed out to LAX again, on board America West flight 2043. I was in coach seat 7A on the 737-300 aircraft. Just as the day before, we went over to the Japan Airlines counter to try for Tokyo again. This time we would be successful. We had an enjoyable flight on board JAL flight 063, a 747-200 to Narita. I was in coach seat 56J. In Tokyo, we just stayed in the airport and awaited our connection to Hong Kong. As an aviation enthusiast, I was very excited to be flying into Kai Tak airport. Our connecting flight was on board Japan Airlines 735, which was a 747-400. I was in coach seat 35K and slept most of the way, just waking for the dinner only. The food on JAL was fantastic! I had a ... read more

For the most part, my business trips while working at NAVFAC were of one week duration, particularly those that took me to te West Coast. Monday and Friday would be travel days with Tuesday through Thursday as work days. However, in August 1996 I attended a two week course on Environmental Law in Port Hueneme CA which gave me a two day weekend. Never one to waste two days, especially on the California coast, I and a collague of mine decided to take a road trip up the Pacific Coast Highway. 10 August 1996 Saturday. We left Port Hueneme quite early as we had set an ambitious itinerary for ourselves. We caught US101 in Ventura headed north, passing Santa Barbara, one of my favorite spots to eat when on one week trips. Our first stop was ... read more

A friend and I decided to spend a couple of days in San Francisco and Napa Valley. The time before, I flew to San Francisco in 1977 for a job interview, so I didn't get to do much sight seeing. We landed in San Francisco, the cool air felt good. We took a stretch limo to our hotel. We lucked out and stayed at a Hyatt hotel downtown. We left Austin in the middle of a hot Texas summer (July 1995). I welcomed a much cooler climate. I wore shorts, a sleeveless top and sandals. I figured "no problem". Back in those days of travelling, I had a golden/yellow Samsonite suitcase. Yeah, those were "vogue". Unpacking my suitcase, I was in for a SURPRISE! Inside this Samsonite case was a little girl's bathing suit; pony tail ... read more