tape from california 5: san francisco, here i come
1 Day five was the first of three full days in the Bay Area. Rather than find lodging in San Francisco, I chose the East Bay for several reasons: Cheap accomodations. A little hunting turned up a Comfort Suites in Castro Valley (south of Oakland) for under $70 US/night. Parking alone in San Francisco could have eaten up to $40 US/day. No desire to drive up the hills in San Francisco. Waiting for a red light in the middle of a steep incline does wonders for my nerves. Easy access to public transit. The Castro Valley BART station was a short drive from the hotel, with plenty of cheap parking ($1 for entry between 4 AM and 3 PM). Comfortable, roomy seats made for relaxing rides into San Francisco and Berkeley, along with an opportunity to catch a few Zs on the way back. Previous success using these tactics, at least for cheap sleeps and public transit, in cities like Boston and New York. First stop in San Francisco was the Ferry Building Marketplace , home to an assort...