Segways and Alcatraz

So I didn't post again right away, sorry folks. But I have a good excuse! I didn't just have the sniffles, I went back to the doctor (after getting sick of being sick and deciding I had had a fever too long) and discovered that I had a "super bacterial infection" meaning I had a couple different bacterial infections going on. And they all happened to be concentrated in my head. Not too fun but I am looking forward to being back in the office tomorrow and am feeling 1000x better after a round of much needed antibiotics.

Back to what you want to hear about: my adventures with Hailey! Two weeks ago my comrade Hailey, who I trained with and does my same job but in New Jersey, was visiting the California office to get started a new project. We are two peas in a pod, discovering we have the same shoes and fashion sense during training, whenever we get a chance to talk we find ourselves lamenting that we aren't in the same office anymore. It's truly tragic but probably a good thing for our productivity.

In the weeks leading up to her trip out west, Hailey had emailed our entire training class out in CA to see who would be interested in taking a segway tour. Obviously I responded immediately and in all caps that I was ready to roll. Unfortunately the other young kids in my office aren't as cool as we were so they missed out and it was just Hailey and I on the tour. She also found that the tour company (SF Electric) did a joint package with tickets to Alcatraz. Normally these sell out fairly far in advance so we jumped on that opportunity right away too. We decided to to do the warf tour which was much more than just the warf. We made our way in to Little Italy and to the base of Coit Tower. However we didn't go all the way up to the tower because that requires some advanced skills that beginners aren't taught their first time out. If Hailey comes back, we're going on the advanced tour.

Segways are SO. MUCH. FUN. We straight up giggled for the first 20min. Here is a barrage of pictures. I highly recommend a segway tour if you ever have the option. It was a great, unique way to see parts of the city.

Directly after training and in formation, ready to hit the road!
Somehow, Hailey and I scored the front row spots.

Pure delight :D

Look ma, no hands!

Posing with our destination for later that day, Alcatraz!

Yes, this is my new favorite picture of myself.

After the tour our guide gave us some suggestions of places to go in the area, one of them being The Buena Vista. I had heard about this place when I came to look for apartments here back in June with my mom, aunt and cousin but we never made it far enough to check it out. They're famous for their Irish coffee and the seriously awesome bartenders who take the Irish coffee art very seriously. Our bartender also happened to be a magician. 

Hailey liked it, I did not

Unfortunately at this point in the day I was starting to feel the scratchy-ness in my throat that would eventually turn into the plague of this past week. The hot coffee and very heavy hand in the whiskey did not work well with my ailment so I did not enjoy it very much and actually didn't even finish. Hailey, however, seemed to very much enjoy hers. So if you like Irish coffee, I'd recommend it! And even if you don't, watching the bartenders make multiple Irish coffees at a time is a sight to behold.

After the coffees we made our way to pier 33 where we would catch the ferry to go and see ALCATRAZ!! I had wanted to see this when the sisters visited back in October but unfortunately that was during the government shut down and Alcatraz is a National Park so it was also shut down. The audio tour of the cell block that comes with admission to the island is a must-do. I've done quite a few audio tours from my european travel days and this surpassed them all. It was like being told a story, from several different narrators, with cool sound effects to boot! There were several different things to see beyond the audio tour and unfortunately we didn't get to all of them. It was a gloomy day and we didn't want to be outside in the fog/mist very long. Here are some pictures from inside The Rock. 

Indians occupied the island for a little while after it was no longer a jail

Looking down "Broadway", cells on both sides

They got me!

After the Alcatraz adventure we got dinner, headed back to the suburbs and called it a night. It was great to have a friend from training come and visit the California office! Others have visited but Hailey and I just get along so well, it was a delight to have her visit and hear what things are like in New Jersey. 

Now this week I am finally back to work after the longest break ever. I've only been to the office for 2 days and 2 hours since being back from Christmas vacation. This past week I was working from home but it's just not the same as being in the office. Wish me luck getting back into the swing of things!