november 9-14, 2008

i worked from our firm’s palo alto office this week, and although the commute was exhausting, it was a great experience.  i got a look at the caltrain for the first time and like all the other public transportation, i loved it.  for the most part the first day was a success, except i didn’t know you had to validate the ticket before boarding.  go me.  i gave the ticket lady ‘i’m real sorry, i’m a newb’ look, and she let me go.  phew~  the only painful part of the commute was monday’s after work, where i had to take a 2 hour commute palo alto to berkeley for a 3 hour class.  that is something i’d like to never ever do ever again.  

i’ve gone with no car for almost a year now, and i’m loving it.  sf has a fairly good network of trains and buses, and i took advantage of all of them today. i traveled from sf (home) to palo alto (work) by caltrain, then to berkeley (class) by caltrain + bart, then back home by bart + muni, all for just under $20!! how wonderfully cheap, convenient, and effortless! with the approval of the california high-speed rail system that’ll provide transit from norcal to socal and vice-versa, the transportation system in california will only get that much better.

(commuting with the train felt like i was in some kind of movie, an old movie, but a movie nevertheless)

(nice view; on a side note, i sat on the left side of the caltrain and everytime the train on the other side passed, it scared the crap out of me.  i sat on the right side going forward)

(on my way from the station to the office; first time seeing red leaves this fall!)

(awesome palm trees)

(the pretty fountain at the office)

(make sure you validate your ticket!… this only applies to the 10-ride tickets btw)

(bart <–> caltrain; bart/caltrain transfer at millbrae)

(i missed cake on monday because i left early for class, but a coworker saved a slice for me! best coworker ever)

(in return, i gave pepero to everybody at work in honor of pepero day)