After a few more days in Brisbane after Thala beach, then following 12 sleepless hours across the Pacific and the rigours of US immigration we are happily settled in San Francisco.

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Tom has been an excellent guide and host, but the culture shock is still there. SF is an interesting mixture: American brash plus genuinely friendly and helpful people – interesting, often stunning, domestic architecture; where we are there is free wireless internet (courtesy of which this blog is being updated), and apparently there is currently a left wing political rennaissance that is being funded by a bunch of venture capitalists! Many remnants still of 1960’s flower power and a thriving gay/lesbian scene – something for everyone it seems, although we haven’t detected a very vibrant theatre or classical music culture. SF also seems a shade more aware of the world beyond America than is the US in general, although the TV is as appalling as elsewhere.

We have explored a lot of the city (and Oakland and Berkeley across the bay) on foot and hardly any of it is dull. The (publicly owned) public transport is very good and cheap - a sad contrast with London. Even the weather has been sunny, though a bit chilly. There’s plenty more to do and see in and beyond the city – hopefully another update before we leave.