My trip to Silicon Valley (by alaric)
The fun starts as we go to board the plane. It turns out I've been randomly selected to be upgraded to Business Class, due to the overbooking system British Airlines uses. Jack, who I am travelling with, raises a fuss on board the plane that I was upgraded and he wasn't, as we were travelling together - so the cabin staff rearrange people a little, and pow, we're both in Business Class, sitting next to each other.
Jack certainly has the power of the Jedi Mind Trick.
It gets more fun when we arrive. I've booked a rental car, with Jack as a second driver. I chose the 'economy' option for the cheapest cars they have. The guy in the garage says "Economy? Pick any in this row, the keys are in them".
We debate between ourselves if he really meant "any" as in the row is a rather sporty-looking Ford Mustang. We decide to give it a try, as long as Jack drives to begin with. Sure enough, he uses his Jedi Mind Trick again on the lady controlling the exit gate... and there we are in a meaty sports car we've hired for a mere £120 for the week.
It's now about 6pm local time, and about 2am back home, so I'm pretty tired. But we find the hotel after a few harrowing run-ins with the differing conventions for traffic lights in the US, drop off our stuff, and head into Palo Alto to meet up with Cedric for dinner.
And then get back to our hotel room (all three of us are cooped up in one; thankfully in separate beds) at 11:30pm, which is something like 7:30am at home. I am TIRED. A quick shower, then to bed. Tomorrow we will go and sightsee...
Sun 19th Apr 2009 6:43 am 
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By Hamlesh, Sun 19th Apr 2009 @ 12:25 pm
Ah brilliant, Master Jack at work 🙂
All the best out there man!
(had lunch with Jack on Friday last - sounds like good stuff on the horizon - at last!)
By Sarah, Sun 19th Apr 2009 @ 7:44 pm
Oi Mister I had the laptop open at that time reasoning it was your bedtime out there - I've got a little clock ticking away the time in Santa Clara on my laptop.
How come you didn't message me?
I was on there between 5-7 your time too thinking that would be when you got in - am sulking now.
By Kordian, Thu 23rd Apr 2009 @ 1:14 am
The car rental in this country is pretty amazing like that:) I rent a car nearly every 2 weeks and know many tricks:) Generally speaking, it's a game what car you can get, at what price & what you can negotiate and I enjoy it! My best deal so far is Hertz, 2 days w/e rental, brand new Toyota Camry, fully loaded, for 25UKP incl. full insurance.