Homeward bound - Day 8

Day 8, September 8, 2011

Being the nervous type, I was up at 1:30AM, even though I had set the alarm for 3AM.  I really don't know what to do, so I went downstairs to use the laptop, then went upstairs to try to sleep, and got up and went downstairs, in some type of perpetual circles.

We left Sue's house at 5AM, after a prolonged good-bye.  Paula, Ann and Sue were all red-eyed and teary-eyed. We finally pulled them apart and drove off.  Ann and Louis had a 9 AM flight, and we arrived the airport a bit before 7AM, so that should be just perfect.  Our flight was not until around 2PM, so we have plenty of time.  I had originally thought of going to a DimSum place in Millbrae, the town next to the airport.  Come to find out they open at 11AM, so there is no way we are going to sit in the car for four hours waiting for them to open.

We decided to drive in to San Francisco Chinatown.  We asked a traffic-control cop for directions.  I half expected him to shoo us off, like they would in Boston, but he even went inside to the information booth, and came out with SF map.   Paula loves to follow a trip with a map, so it was perfect.

We did not have much trouble finding SF, but had a bit of trouble finding Chinatown, even with the GPS and the map.  The streets in the surrounding areas have been dug up, and we were detoured a few times, so finally, I stopped on Grant Street to ask a man in a pickup truck for directions.  He point straight ahead and said "See the pagoda?  That is Chinatown."  We were just a couple of blocks away, and Grant Street runs right through the heart of the town.  The man also recommended a good parking garage (translate: cheap) on Stockton Street. (Five dollars for two hours)
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Grant Street is an uphill climb.  You have to be fit to live in San Francisco.  Very hilly. After more inquiries, we found a restaurant that is open early at 8AM.  Most open at 10 or 11.

No sooner had we entered the restaurant, a tour group of about 30 people walked in and completely filled the dining room.  We picked up a few regular favorite DimSums: beef noodles wrap, rice in leaves, pork dumplings, spare ribs, and bamboo rolls.  I so enjoyed them, I forgot to take pictures.

After a short stroll around Chinatown, we drove back to the airport and checked in, settled down at the gate.  By 1 PM, I noticed the gate is still not open.  I checked and found out our flight has been delayed, due to the weather in Boston, until 4:10PM.  They later changed it to 3:40PM.  Oh, a long day.

We took off on time, and the flight was pleasant enough.  Along the way, Paula and I shared a chicken-breast sandwich, and we had an ample supply of blue chips.  JetBlue will provide as much munchies to you as you want.  Water too.  Just walk to the gallery and pick them up yourself.

We arrived at Boston at 12:50 in the morning, and got home around 1:40AM.  A long day, but it was a great trip. Thanks to Sue, we were able to visit many scenic places, and ate a lot of good food.  Thanks.