BAY AREA DAY 1

Southwest is actually a decent airline. The seats are more comfortable than some more expensive airlines and everything feels a lot more efficient. I heard they pulled out of one airport because of too many delays. I appreciate that kind of pressure, as long as it doesn't endanger passengers.

It also seems they take more advantage of "direct" flights with stops. In other words, I have been on a few Southwest flights where we stop in other cities, but I don't have to change planes. When I've gone with other airlines, I'm always hiking across George Bush Intercontinental to my connecting flight. This time I stopped in San Diego and got to see the California coast from really high up in the sky.

I can't say much about the Bay Area yet because I've barely seen it. It's cool - the temperature that is. It's August, but it's in the upper 60's and I had to put on a jacket. I thought it was odd that the BART is carpeted and has cloth seats. Walking about 5 blocks from the BART to the place I'm staying in San Francisco was interesting. There were 2 or 3 Mexican guys playing accordions on the street corner, a Taqueria, a Meditteranean restaraunt, a big, old Catholic church, two guys holding hands walking down the street, and a guy who passed me, smiled and said, "pareces como mi." I may have the exact words wrong, but he pointed to his face and I think he said I looked like him, which I sort of do.

Now I'm in the H Cafe - one-half block from where I'm staying - and it conveniently has wireless internet access. Some cute guy just sat next to me, so I have to stop writing and concentrate on ignoring him.