DATE: Tuesday 5 September, 1995
PLACE: London to San Francisco
WEATHER: Warm
REMARKS: We're later leaving than I feel comfortable with,
and the rush-hour traffic slows to a crawl in the morning
snarl.
Depositing Desiree, the girls, and the bags at Terminal 1,
I seek directions to the Avis car return. These found, I discover
Desiree et al returning to the car: we should be at Terminal
4!
Re-loaded, we dash for Terminal 4, and repeat the process.
I then head back to Avis, leave the car, and take a shuttle
to join the others.
I arrive in time to help sort out the bags, including the
one with the VAT-free shopping. We then complete the customs
clearance, where Charlotte is frisked because of a metal tin.
VAT forms stamped and posted, we have time for a quick look
at the shops before boarding.
The flight is long, not overnight, and entertaining the
kids a daunting prospect. Fortunately they sleep part of the
way.
When the cloud breaks, we can see the mountains and glaciers
of Greenland, and, later, the tundra-like expanse of northern
Canada. We sweep in over San Francisco and de-plane. Customs
and Immigration are straight-forward, although lengthy.
A cab finds us our Hotel - in a none-too salubrious area!
They claim to have received our booking only that morning,
and only have 2 rooms suitable, and without inter-connecting
doors. Not a situation Desiree is happy with.
We nap for a couple of hours, before going to the next block
to a Quality Hotel (maybe we should have stayed there?) restaurant
for dinner. The girls are very tired and dinner includes considerable
wastage. Oh well! All to bed.
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