For hundreds of photographs, click on the "San Francisco" album below.
I am treated to a series of cultural shocks over the last three weeks - fun though they are. Our friend Anita carries me off to the airport where I am to travel Ryan Air from Bergerac to Stansted and stay with my sister Judy in nearby Peterborough. Various shorter journeys and kind family collections to and from British Rail stations all happen to plan, despite the delays one has come to expect.
To avoid any rush and to take into account the unexpected, we plan to spend a night at Heathrow (The Novotel) and to check in, with ease, by eleven o'clock next morning. Getting to this hotel from Kings Cross requires a dose of the circle line to Paddington and finally a trip on the excellent Heathrow Express thus avoiding the Piccadilly line. OK so far. I am impressed and genuinely surprised and, yes, proud of multi-cultural London and how well it seems to work. I do not see any signs of decline - and I do see much to admire in the improvement to the trains and the tube system.
The main flight to San Francisco is yet to come and I reflect upon the fact that I have already travelled by car, plane, train, taxi, Airport bus, and tube and I muse that I am to repeat the process in reverse in a matter of two weeks time after whatever may happen in between. It's exciting.
To fly anywhere "First Class" is something I have never experienced. It's a treat generously given to us by my Niece and her husband Jonathan. It starts in the special lounge at Heathrow where we both have an excellent champagne breakfast and read our papers. We fly, Virgin Atlantic, "upper class".
Shock No: 1
(More details of the actual visit to be completed soon....sorry for the delay.)
The return Journey:
It departs one and a half hours late for some undisclosed reason which delays its arrival at Heathrow. Who cares? We are quite ready to enjoy this lounge for as long as it takes.
Much more to come about my visit to San Francisco.....watch this space!