The day is fast approaching. On Monday I fly to San Francisco. There is a winter storm on the horizon for this weekend, but hopefully will be gone by Monday and will not impact my flight. This is precisely the reason why I switched my flight from departing JFK. I figure a winter storm might slam the Eastern seaboard. I guess I'll check the weather to see it that is actually the case later in the week.
I am only getting excited NOW! I had my last day of work, and can focus on preparing for my trip. But alas Christmas.... I have one more day left to shop to finish off the gift buying and then I will be set. Celebrating it early and not on Christmas Day for the first time ever. I hope to make it to see the big Christmas tree in downtown SF. Although I'm not sure where exactly it is, I will go before turning in for the night if possible. I've never actually been anywhere on Christmas, so that might be kinda fun and special. I plan to go to the San Fran Zoo on Christmas....it's open 365 days a year, likely won't be busy and I can see some mamminals! Maybe mamminals opening Krispmix gifts! It's also the day I plan to walk around Fisherman's Wharf. Maybe go to Chinatown in preparation of real China!
The other two days I'll be spending in SF I will be taking a bus tour through the city and to Muir Woods and Sausalito, and spending a day at the California Academy of Sciences. The Alcatraz tour I had originally purchased was squashed pretty quickly by the US government shut down, and I never got it re-instated. Maaaaaybe I'll go on a whim, although I hear tickets are hard to find last minute. I have no plans to go, but I am sure I'll see it from the bridge. I suppose I'll find out!
Friday next week I depart SFO for China. I can't believe it's in a week. I've been doing a little bit of reading up on where I'm going. I will not be taking my 1000 page Lonely Planet book with me.... China is big, but I'm only going to three cities for 2 nights each! Also I cannot believe the populations in these cities. Believe it or not, Beijing has the smallest population (19.6 million) in comparison to Shanghai (23 million) and Xi'an (which I'm learning to refer to as Shaanxi - with 37.3 million) - WHAAAA???? It's something difficult for me to comprehend, and I'm coming from a city of 530,000!
I must still find acceptable Geocaches to do while I'm there. I'm guessing they will only be virtuals (take pictures in front of famous places). I can't imagine how impressed the police would be with me in a Communist country if I started snooping around poles or brickwork looking for a black container.....
I'm expecting (although not hoping) that I will get a package tomorrow for some things I ordered for this trip. It's not the be all end all if I don't get it, but would make travelling a little better. It's luggage for my luggage. :D It's called SpacePak and I'm kinda excited about it. There is even a tutorial on how to properly pack. Claim to fame - pack 2 weeks worth of clothes in a carry on. Well, I haven't even started packing yet.....hmmm, now I'm getting a little anxious.....time to do some laundry!
No comments:
Post a Comment