Just like that we have been translated into a different country, timezone and culture. It all went very smoothly and quickly. Our Uber ride to the airport delivered us in plenty of time, even more so when we were told the flight was delayed by 30 minutes. In the end our scheduled 7.45pm flight left at 9pm, but we made up most of that time on the way to San Francisco.
We'd paid a little extra to upgrade to seats with at least 5 cm additional legroom over the standard economy seat and it was well worth it. There was space to burn. A reasonable meal at 10.30pm saw us tucking down to sleep by 11pm, which we did solidly until around 4am, a stretch of legs and another 2 hours sleep. We were feeling well rested for breakfast and the final few hours flight. A slight moment of consternation when the captain announced we were descending into Los Angeles, but we knew that was an error, right?
We whizzed virtually straight through immigration, and then even faster through quarantine because no quarantine cards were given out on the flight, nor were there any to be filled in when we arrived, nor any staff to declare to what food we may be bringing into the country. Everyone, unless transiting, was basically waved through to the exit point of the terminal. It was astonishingly different from the quarantine scrutiny everyone goes through when arriving in NZ or Australia.
Within minutes were were onto the BART train for the direct one-hour ride to Berkeley, where Alastair and Sophie live. When we stepped out into the sunlight and 29 degree heat it was a bit of a shock. After stripping off layers and putting on sunglasses it was only a 10-minute walk to their apartment. It was late afternoon and Sophie was home to meet us, which was lovely.
Their apartment is delightful - very light and airy, with spacious rooms and a private outdoor garden. We can see why they have enjoyed their move from their previous 3rd-floor apartment in the inner city. A cold beer hit the spot and we chatted away, with Ali arriving home on his cycle before 7pm. We spent a very enjoyable evening catching up on news over a platter meal seated at the outdoor table, followed by a gentle stroll around their neighbourhood at 9pm. It's a very quiet area, with wide streets, incredibly little traffic and many large Californian bungalows on well-treed sections. Quite a few streets have been blocked off with large concrete planters, turning them into very quiet cul-de-sacs.
