The Drrons shoot a killer and other delights.

[drron]

Closer to SFO.

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There was a break in the clouds as we passed the Golden gate.A great view but unfortunately i had accidently put my camera on a 10 second delay.damn big fingers!
We then flew quite a distance south before turning north for SFO.

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Finally arrived.An Australian couple in 4D,F who now had 12 minutes to get their LAX flight.Hopefully can get on the next flight as they were connecting back home in LAX.

 

[drron]

To me the Car rental facility at SFO really doesn't work as well as others.basically you need to use the airtrain but it can be a reasonably long journey time wise.certainly was this day.Because of the flight delay my name had been taken down from the Preferred board but soon fixed and off to the Sheraton Pleasanton.This was picked despite quite a few bad reviews as it was adjacent to a large mall and just a few minutes from a Premium outlet.The original plan was to go to the mall for some shopping and then dinner at P F Changs who have an outlet in the mall.
That changed to just dinner and because we arrived near 8pm to the restaurant there was a 30 minute wait for a table.We did though enjoy it having our ribs,lettuce cups and shrimp with lobster sauce.All nice.

The reviews of the Sheraton weren't wrong.First as a plat i received this-

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Which could be explained by this in the lift.

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It wont be a Sheraton by the end of the year.The room.

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The view could have been much worse as it is on I-580.

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On closer inspection of the lounge seat and the area behind it were for us not typical of Sheratons.

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But what was on the leg of the desk chair?

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Other things about it were positive.The room was quite and we slept well.Breakfast was in the restaurant and you could get the amenity points as well.
As always it is the recovery that is important.At checkout we told of our concerns and said we had the photos.they were not neccessary as our stay was comped immediately.I cant complain about that.there was one downside about that though.No stay or night posted.hence our extra stay on getting home at the W Brisbane.

 

[drron]

The next day it was off to the Livermore Premium outlets where mrsdrron again had some successes.We thought that Coach was going downmarket.

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Then back to the mall and some more shopping with lunch at P F chang's again as nothing else to our liking close by.
The original plan called for another outlet mall but we both decided to call it a day and drove to the Westin SFO for our last night in the USA.No upgrade as a plat not even to a room with a better view.

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The room was comfortable and another reasonable night's sleep-never a great sleep before a longhaul flight.

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After checkin I returned the car to SFO and got the hotel shuttle back.A tip.I filled the car before return.I find that Arco are usually the cheapest near an airport and I had seen one when arriving so went straight there.Full of black limos filling up and then noticed thge Chevron over the road.fifteen cents a gallon dearer.

A little while later I realised I didn't have my computer bag and reaised it was still in the boot of the car so back again to the car rental facility.Asked at the Preferred desk if anything had been found and was told you will have to go to the returns area.the first fellow wasn't interested but a woman saw what was happwning and came over.she rang her boss who was on his way to empty the lost and found locker.he knew exactly what I was talking aboutNothing was missing.i gave a tip for him hopefully to hand to the guy who found it when preparing the car for it's next customer.I was asked to fill in a survey afterwards so it was a very positive response.

Later we felt just slight hunger pangs so went down to the restaurant.A glass of wine each and we shared a margherita flatbread.It was really good with fresh tomatoes and basil.We have been making our own version since being at home.I had a Fort Ross pinot Noir from Sonoma.A pearler.

Next our first visit to a Polaris lounge and having to put up with another longhaul F sector.

 

[drron]

We were on NH 7 leaving at 1220.So we were on the 0850 shuttle arriving at the terminal at 0905.Check in opened at 0920.Check in a breeze.no waiting at security so soon entering the polaris lounge.It had been open a little under a month..On entering there is part of the lounge straight ahead but everyone was going up the escalators so we followed.It is the major part of the lounge and does have the dining room.Certainly a pleasant ambience on entering.But a bit early for the bar.

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We sat in the comfortable seats.Only problem with these is there is no view.

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I went to check the food offerings and relieved to see our plane arriving.

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I noted the seating near the buffet had convenient power outlets.

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A range of cold food including sandwiches and sushi.

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An area for hot dishes but none out-breakfast had just been taken away.

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[drron]

I decided to check out the downstairs section.At the escalator i noted the small section opposite.A couple of UA agents were sitting at a desk there.

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This is the entry level with the agents at the far end.the downstairs section is partly hidden.

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It is much smaller but only a dozen people there.Much better view and probably should be checked out if you are there.

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Both sections had nice work areas with power.

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So I spent a little while watching the traffic.

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[drron]

I noticed something familiar.

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It was being towed to it's daytime parking bay.

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Normally the last thing before leaving the lounge is a visit to a rest room.this one was like that in an F lounge.

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As usual we left the lounge about 30 minutes before boarding-gate was some distance from lounge.A short delay in boarding and I noted even the general public are well served for power outlets.

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Boarding was a bit of a shambles.As usual there were several wheelchair pax all accompanied by a large able bodied clan.Though they did police the families.only pre boarding if a child was under 2.After the pre boarders a few other pax tried their luck boarding early.about 10 got on before they were stopped.
Then group 1 which was F + ANA diamonds.Obviously a lot of these as more than 30 in group 1 and only 6 F pax.

 

[drron]

The ANA seat is not for every one but I like it.Plenty of places to put little things and for someone that likes to sleep on his side in the foetal position the seat is fine as plenty of width in the foot place.

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Plenty of space for my kindle,camera,pen and glasses when I try to sleep.

 

[drron]

The menu.

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[drron]

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The wine list.

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[drron]

The rest of the wine and sake lists.

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[drron]

NH 7. SFO-NRT. ETD-1220. Push back-1244. Take off-1302. B773. Seats-1D,G.
ETA-1530. Landed-1515. At gate-1524.
A glass of Krug as I sat down and a second before take off.
This was a great crew and different from most Japanese FAs.perfect English,fantastic service and often came around fir a chat about our travels.one of the best crews we have had.
So to the meal.As usual mrsdron went for the western option and I the Japanese.The appetisers.

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Then my meal.

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[drron]

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I had 2 glasses of the French Pinot noir which was nice then a glass of the Japanese Shiraz which was also very good.I was feeling very good after the meal and settled back and watched The Post and Then three billboards Outside Ebbing.Enjoyed both.Time then for a nanny nap.

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Managed a 3 hour nap.I thought to myself that if this had been a US airline the seat belt sign would have been on constantly as regular turbulence.But abou an hour out of Tokyo a PA announcement-"The seat belt sign has not been turned onbut the plane will experience several episodes of turbulence so you are strongly advised to keep your seat belt on when seated.
I the ordered a pulled pork sandwich with sake.

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Arrived a little early Whilst awaiting to exit I had a chat with the CSM.She asked where we had been in Japan.I said we have had nearly 50 trips and started naming places where we had been.You have been to more places in Japan than most Japanese she said.Why do you like Japan?.Well because we find the Japanese to be very friendly,generous,helpful and nice.But the Japanese people are only nice to nice people but drron you are a very nice person she replied.She KWIW.

 

[drron]

One thing I forgot to say about our flight.yes it was an award flight but that doesn't mean it was free.this was via life miles.The points are purchased so in effect we paid $US1250 each for this.When booked a Y one way ticket on ANA 11 months out was $US1540.So I consider this flight good value
After leaving the plane we had one very Japanese experience.There was a Japanese businessman in 1A who had a fellow meet him in the airbridge and took him to a golf cart.The businessman then turned to us and said if you are transiting you can come with me.Wont hear that at home.
However after exiting customs-very quick as our bags were out first-we dropped the bags at the ANA bag check so only needed our carryons for Tokyo.As we were so quick I thought we could get the 1610 limousine bus to our hotel.This was the one atypical Japanese encounter.There were 3 staff at the ticket counter but only one working.I had 11 in front of me and everyone was asking questions and taking so much time.I had just about given up when a second agent decided to serve customers.the line was a lot longer now.Fortunately things sped up and we made the bus with nearly 5 minutes to spare as it was a couple of minutes late.

I had been looking forward to this hotel as it has great reviews.The Prince Gallery Koichi hotel.I was using SPG points.I did apply SNAs to the booking but they failed so ended up with the room type booked though on the lobby floor-the highest floor for rooms.The room really is very nice.

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And the views.

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And not least the Japanese toilet.You didn't even need to enter the throne room.look mum no hands!

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[drron]

The first day we set out on a walk around the local area.The forecast was for rain but looked OK at first.Just outside the hotel is a reception house for functions-

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So what was with all the roses?

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[drron]

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The Japanese love their hydrangeas and there are many different varieties.

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[drron]

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The top floors are the hotel.

 

[drron]

The street that runs past the hotel from an overpass.

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I dont think I have seen a "bring your own cheese"restaurant before.The second restaurant is obviously very Japanese-no English menu sign proudly displayed.
In the florists was this flower-

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Yes another hydrangea.

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Obviously a sign of a shrine/temple nearby.

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It is the Hie shrine.

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[drron]

Finally a clear shot.

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A dark black cloud came over but only a few spits of rain.

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[Deleted member 29185]

And not least the Japanese toilet.You didn't even need to enter the throne room.look mum no hands!

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Hmmm, how does it know if you need a No.1 or No.2?

 

[drron]

It's obviously psychic.
But back to the walk and the last of the shrine.

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The cloud passed and things were OK for a while as we wandered the back streets.

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Unfortunately the rain and wind returned so we sought shelter in various shops and in the end Starbucks.
In one shop we saw this most sought after Aussie wine.

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But eventually we returned to the hotel.

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