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We were going to start our vacation by transporting our luggage and ourselves to JFK airport with the use of public transportation via bus, subway, and airport shuttle, but when we saw how much we packed, we got a car service instead. We got to the airport with lots of time to spare, even though Morty took a wrong turn and had to turn around on the highway. I got into a conversation with him and found out he used to be a banker for an Iranian bank. After 9/11, the bank closed up, leaving him unemployed. Unable to get another banking job in a hurting economy, he began driving for a car service and does ok. We then had an interesting conversation on the turmoil in the middle east. When we finally arrived at the airport, he gave me his business card and asked if we could request him when we return.
We checked in rather quickly with Delta's e-ticket and we thought we'd try to get into the business elite waiting room (since my ticket was business class). I was told on the phone that the only time business class people were allowed into the Business Elite room (and weren't a member) was when it was international travel. Still, I thought I'd try. To my surprise, we were allowed in because we were traveling to the west coast. Something to remember!
The plane was on time and the flight was very smooth & uneventful. Nataliya never flew business class, so she was impressed... I don't think she'll enjoy coach again (unless it's in the leather variety) :)
Once we got to San Francisco, I called my brother Jared who told us he would pick us up at the airport. He said he was running very late - about four hours late! Apparently, as he was in his car driving from La Jolla to meet us, his travel companion – his kitten, named Maks, was freaking out as he was driving through the desert without A/C, so he took the scenic (cooler) route by the ocean. We weren’t about to wait for Jared, so we took "SFO Transport" to our hotel - well actually to the Marriott across from our hotel. While on the bus, we met a two people (not together) visiting from Atlanta.
Once we checked into our hotel, The Mosser Hotel, we went to the Marriott because we thought we might want to use their gym. We agreed that we would probably try going to go to the gym without paying because they didn't even ask us for a Marriott room key or even ID! Then we used their concierge to get a couple of maps and directions to the area, starting with Chinatown. The concierge then told us of some festival going on there and it sounded interesting! On the way, we stopped for some Japanese sushi place called "Floating Sushi Boat" which featured a sushi transport system on "boats" on a "moat" around the sushi work area in the middle. The prices were determined based on the color/design of the plate your sushi was on. It was tasty, but it wasn't exceptionally good. What's interesting is that the workers in this restaurant were all Chinese and what was odd was that they seemed to all be stressed out! Anyway, after eating, we made our way to the festival.
The festival was mildly interesting, but it was amusing being able to see over most of the Asians' heads. We walked through it for about 15 minutes and nothing caught our interest, so we headed back to the hotel.
Before going into our hotel, we stopped in at Walgreens for a few things. We got into our hotel room, shortly before Jared arrived at our hotel at around 11pm - 5 hours later than originally planned. After Jared moved the clutter throughout his car into the trunk, Nataliya and I went into his car to drive around - sans jackets in 55ºF temps... After about a mile, the clutch in his car disconnected and the ride was suddenly over. Jared called AAA because it was plainly obvious there was nothing else any of us could do. Halfway into his call, his cell phone's battery died so he finished his call from my cell, and they arrived in 20 mins. Nataliya and I walked back to our hotel dragging two of Jared's bags each, leaving him with his kitten & kitty litter. It wasn't so bad that we were walking a mile at almost midnight through an unsavory neighborhood - the worst was that neither of us had jackets and we were very cold. (Earlier that day, it was in the 90s in NYC!)
After returning - Nataliya went to sleep and I waited for Jared. When he called from the lobby, I brought down his luggage downstairs. He then told me he would run out to look for a hotel that allows animals. While waiting, this girl, Beatrice, comes into the hotel, red wine dripping from her purse. She was friendly enough, and she wiped up the wine mess. She stopped to also add that she liked Jared's kitten. After an hour of waiting in the lobby, Jared returned to tell me he was unsuccessful. Jared suggested that I go to sleep and that he'd wait in the lobby all night doing work. He insisted that he's used to not sleeping and that he'd see us in the morning. Before I went upstairs, Beatrice returned and chatted with Jared and myself. We found out she has her own car detailing business and was here relaxing with friends. She offered to sneak his kitten, Maks, up to her room so he can get a hotel room on his own. Jared said he goes wherever the cat goes, so she would have to take him, as well. Finally, Beatrice gave up and went up to sleep. I soon left and went to sleep, too.
