My San Francisco Adventure - Continued

For those of you who checked in via email and phone to insure I had made it home safely from San Francisco...thank you! No I was not forcefully caught up in the Olympic Torch protests. I didn't accidentally get left behind on Alcatraz. I wasn't still locked in my room or in the elevator because I didn't know how to get my card to give me access to freedom. The conference I was speaking at didn't love me that much that they wouldn't let me go home. No...yesterday was just plain busy and I didn't have a spare moment to do a post yesterday. Coming home at midnight the night before left me rather brain dead.

But the good news is I am back. I am caffeinated. I am an in extremely good mood this morning despite some tree damage incurred during last night's storms that hit Austin. As I like to say...."It's all goooood!"

Anyway to continue on with my San Francisco adventure.

After leaving the hotel I made my way over to a delightful fifty's style diner called Lori's Diner. The very personal and friendly doorman from the Grand Hyatt had suggested I go there to grab a quick bite. The food was great, the people watching was of course amazing (met two people from Russia that were visiting America for the first time) and it certainly helped calm my nerves to get a few minutes to myself before beginning final preparations for my presentation later that afternoon.

With my belly happy and my bill paid in full, I left the diner and decided to walk the streets a bit and continue to admire the architecture from the ground up. Amazing city San Francisco. I found myself walking several blocks without paying real close attention to what direction I was headed or where I was really going; not recommended unless you are a go with the flow kind of adventure traveler like myself...then it's fine! I was simply enjoying the cool temperatures and the bright sunshine and the tremendous eye candy the city seemed to serve up just for me. The scenery was incredible and the people I passed on the street had to be some of the friendliest I have yet to encounter. Smiles were exchanged. Lots of hellos were enthusiastically returned. People really seemed to be alive. Even the beggars on the street had a certain spirit that seemed to surpass their unfortunate circumstances.

I made my way back to my hotel and found my access my floor rather simple this go around. I replayed my earlier confusion and it made me smile, adding to a powerful feeling of happiness and relief that was settling in. A good feeling to have especially when you know you are going to have to speak to a large audience. Back in my swanky room I dutifully ran through my presentation once more, re-ironed my shirt and pressed my suit just to be sure I looked tip top! After going through my bag and discarding everything but the essentials I decided to pack up and head over to the Moscone Center to check out the facilities and wait for my conference contact to get me through security and down to the room I would be speaking in. Little did I know was my adventure was only just beginning.

My San Francisco Adventure

So I am sitting at a Starbucks (big surprise right?) in advance of a meeting I have here in San Mateo later this morning and figured I would give you a quick recap of my San Francisco adventures.

After a very long flight with unfortunately, no interesting conversations to be had (as I was stuck by the window next to a guy who slept the whole time), I arrived in San Francisco. What an amazing view of the coast and the bay as we flew in! Would have been nice to have someone to share the moment with but alas middle seat guy was sound asleep sawing great logs and aisle guy had been attached to his iPod since take off. So I soaked up the San Francisco scenery from the sky alone and just knew I was in for a great day!

Had a delightful chat with my cab driver Vu who is originally from Korea who is here "just trying to make it." A bright and interesting young man that was shy initially but very friendly and informative once I got him talking. Despite his best efforts to get us killed (something I think is part of the cabbie creed) we arrived with a skid (literally) at the Grand Hyatt - and grand it was! I bid my new friend goodbye and headed in to get settled in my room.

After checking in with Amy, a helpful gal originally from New York, who absolutely loved my Ripple blue dress shirt, I made my way to the elevator. Now don't laugh....I was on the 31st floor and when I got in the elevator the number wouldn't stay lit. I thought what's the deal here? I got out of one elevator and caught another one - same result. Confused and concerned my floor had somehow been mysteriously locked down for maintenance or some high level security threat I headed back down to the front desk and waited patiently for Ms. Amy to help me. I explained my dilemma and she laughed and said, "Mr. Harper, you will be staying on one one of our exclusive floors so you will need to insert your card into the elevator so that your floor can be accessed."

A bit confused and humbled by the realization that the organizers of my conference appearance set me up in some swanky accommodations, something I am not used to, I made my way to my room surely giving Amy and her co-workers a chuckle. The room was fantastic but it was the amazing view that really made it for me (picture attached). I have found as I get older that I like to stop and soak in the architecture and design that makes a city a city. I could have stayed all day at that window just looking and watching but the growl in my stomach reminded me that I had not eaten anything that morning. I set off to find lunch and perhaps a few interesting people to talk to along the way.

As I came off the elevator Amy came out to greet me and ask if my room was alright. I sheepishly said, "Absolutely. Once I figured out how to get up there!" She smiled and assured me that it happens all the time and told me to enjoy my stay and contact her if I needed anything. Still feeling dumb about not knowing how to operate the elevator I appreciated her taking that extra step to make me feel welcome. That's customer service!

More on my San Francisco adventure to come....