San Francisco

I'm in San Francisco this week for a Flash MX Application Development training. My first experience with the city was a very strange one. I took a shuttle from the airport to the hotel. The Hyatt Regency in the Downtown area. But the ride to the hotel was the interesting part.

First, the van was FULL, literally, I thought the plane ride was tight, I was literally sharing fat cells with the woman next to me.
Second, the driver was evidentally a dropout from the Mario Andretti school of driving. If you've ever been to San francisco, or seen tv/movies where the cars are jumping the intersections at redlights. That's not an exaggeration. This guy was flying through intersections causing the luggage in the back of the van to fly up and smack the back row passengers in the back of the head (myself included).
Last, for whatever reason, the driver decides we should travel the full length of Folsom St. If you're not familiar with Folsom St. let's just say, it's where the "brotherhood" of San Francisco gathers. My first sight of a local was these two guys walking hand-in-hand, both in all leather, one with Hot Pants, no shirt, hairy chest, and both nipples pierced. The other with assless chaps, some sort of leather harness with a leash attached and a leather bonnett. I say bonnett because that's the only word I can think of to describe the thing he had on his head. Not really a hat, just indescribable.

Once we got off of Folsom, it became rather normal looking again. Then once we pulled up to the hotel, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. The Hyatt is a gorgous building nestled in the business district surrounded by other high-rise office buildings. My room overlooks the Bay Bridge, not the golden gate, but a sight to be seen nonetheless.

It's day one of my classes, and the instructor just walked in. I'll let you know how it goes from here.

Thank you and have a great day.