A 36 Hour Monday

So this is my first Super Achiever trip with Spark Digital, travelling with Wang Theng and about 70 of my collegues.

1st September

We arrived in San Francisco at noon on Monday having already gone through 24 hours of NZ Monday. If I included the next 12 hours of San Franciscan Monday, it will be a 36 hour Monday.

Update:  It appears my time zone differential equation is slightly off.  The actual addition should be 19 hours making it a 43 hour Monday.  Thank you Simon Gilliespie.

Most of us were slightly haggard from the fight because it was cold on the plane and turbulence for some of the flight.  With tail winds up to 200km/h we were early into SFO.  There were no queues at immigration plus the absence of traffic due to Labor Monday, we were at the Palace Hotel by 1.30pm.  

This took the Events Team and hotel staff by surprise, because some of the rooms were not ready.  It took most of the afternoon, for some, to get room sorted and bags brought to the right place.

First event was a cruise and dinner around the Bay.  We were taken there by a faux SF cable car which was really a bus underneath.

We had a band, Ravioli dinner and drinks on the boat.  The twilight scene was very nice, and I managed to catch a few patriotic shots of the American flag backlit by the setting sun.

I also spotted this handsome Italian man on the boat.

After this we were returned to the hotel.  While some retired, the hardier ones took positions in the Pied Piper Bar at the hotel to really finish off the evening and themselves.  There are some amazing paintings in this bar, and the price of drinks there is a small price for admission.

2nd September

Wang Theng and I booked for the Foodie Tour today.  A nice young lady Corrinne from Avital Tours was our guide, and she specialises in the Mission District Food Tour.

It was a small group and there was Jo, Richard, Daryl, Oona, Ian and us.

We learned about the San Francisco history and food scene while meeting the restaurant owners, chefs, industry experts and of course, eating our way through the neighborhood! 

We walk around the Mission District and stopped by these shops to sample their specialities.

Craftsman & Wolves: The Rebel Within - a bacon and tomato muffin with a soft boiled egg inside.

Bi Rite Market: Dry Creek peach, Somerset peach

Gracias Madre: Quesadilla de Camote paired with house made Sangria

Mission Cheese: Altbier from Hanger 24, paired with Classico goat gouda from Tumalo Farms (OR) and Pleasant Ridge Reserve from Uplands Cheese (WI).   I ate the cheese and drank the beer before I remembered to take a photo.  So the warm glow of the light bulb is all I can show for this stop.

Dandelion Chocolate: Single Origin brownie flight L-R Equador, Papua New Guinea, Madagascar.  They flavour their chocolate by using cocoa varieties and roasting techniques rather than additives.  So sugar and cocoa are the only ingredients.  All the tasting by employees makes it necessary for them to have a really good dental plan, and cardiologist.

The other features of this tour were the Mission Dolores church;

and some fabulous murals, especially in this lane between Valencia and Mission;

and at the Womens Centre.   

Later that evening we joined the Hartendorps for a craft beer session at Mikkeller Bar on Mason.

We could not decide where to eat, so it was off to Annabelle's on 4th Street, my standby restaurant when indecision strikes.

Then it was coffee and dessert (for some) at the The View Lounge at Marriotts across the street from Annabelle's.