Day 1: San Francisco

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I reached my first hosts' house last night with minimal trouble (although I did get a little lost at the BART train station, so they had to announce my name over the tannoy - how embarassing). They live in the Presidio compound, an old army base set up in 1776. It's like the Sims: rows of perfect houses with American flags, beautiful woods with trails and views over the bay and Golden Gate Bridge/ Alcatraz (see photos).
This morning I caught the free shuttle bus into downtown SF to explore. Made a few basic tourist errors initially and got a bit freaked out by the way pedestrian crossings count down the number of seconds until you get squashed, which isn't great for those with a nervous disposition. Unfortunately ferry rides to Alcatraz are booked up for the next 6 days (!) so I wandered along the Embarcadero (the road by all the piers). Met and got chatting to an Israeli air steward, who couldn't work out if my accent was from NZ or Aus....anyway turns out he trained at Oxford airport (I think the initial line was "I used to study in Oxford", until I asked which college) and used to live in Kidlington. Small world!
I then went to the shopping district by Union Square to kill some time, before having a free quided tour of the gallery of Autodesk design. This is a (apparently famous) company that makes the computer simulation software behind various films, cars, building designs etc so was actually v interesting. They also had 3D printers which I hadn't seen before.
After a quick lunch headed back to the house, got changed and went out on a run through Presidio park to the beach and bridge. All very nice (although am so unfit I practically died). Now exhausted but I think we're getting a takeaway tonight so that's good.

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Photos

The hosts' house
The house in Presidio with US flag next door, built c1930s apparently

Streetcar
I think this is a 'streetcar'

Bay bridge
Bay/Oakland bridge looking from ferry building

Pier 1 1/2
I think this must be some kind of Harry Potter takeoff, though less funny

Union Square
I found a Macy's!

H&M
...and wouldn't be a Norwich High girl if I couldn't smell a 70% off H&M sale a mile away (ok, so I might have cheated and asked a randomer in the street who was holding a bag)

Skyscrapers
Obligatory artsy perspective shot of tall building

Autodesk gallery
This car was designed by their technology. No idea what the make is though.

Autodesk gallery
Scultpure was designed using CAD; the prototype ws then shipped to China where is was hand-carved out of granite.

Autodesk gallery
When completed, this will be the tallest building in China (it's in Shanghai). There is an outer glass cone, twisted to reduce wind resistance, and an inner cone with offices. The gap between the two will be filled with public spaces such as parks. Apparently it's meant to be like a whole functioning city in one building.

Autodesk gallery
Here are some of the films which have used their technology: Avatar (obviously), Twilight, LOTR, Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, Mad Men (wooo Simon get excited), Up, Alice in Wonderland, Spiderman 3 etc etc

Lovers' lane
This is the trail I took down to the beach by Golden Gate Bridge

Schoolhouse in Presidio
A very military-looking schoolhouse I passed on my run

Golden Gate Bridge
Shrouded in mist, but still worth the run

Alcatraz
Grrrr that I couldn't actually go there

Comments

[Simon]

Looking good, Beth. Keep the updates coming! x

[Mum]

Hi!
Can't think of anything witty to say (brain dead after v.busy day at work) but glad you're having a great time. xxxxxx

[Clarissa]

Autodesk! 3D printer! Wohooo....
Just about to use Autodesk now ;-) You're blog captured my engineering heart, Beth!