San Francisco

A stop in El Salvador

Panama to San Francisco went via San Salvador. I never left the airport, but the view from the window was all green, right up to the edge of the apron.

El Salvador is apparently known for its surf, too. I did not see any of it this time, but it looked like a country worth coming back for.

San Francisco, second time around

This was my second visit. I landed to find the city packed — there was some sort of Pokémon event on, and the crowds were everywhere.

Going to eat an In-N-Out

I had wanted to try In-N-Out for a long time, so I walked out towards the bay to find one.

It was heaving. But by American standards the price was reasonable, and that alone explains the queue.

The taste, personally? So-so.

Staying in Chinatown

This time I stayed in Chinatown.

For dinner I went to a local Chinese place called Sam Wo.

Sam Wo has been in Chinatown since around 1907, which makes it one of its oldest restaurants. It closed in 2012 over safety concerns and reopened on Clay Street in 2015; it closed again briefly in 2025 before reopening under new management. The two-storey Cantonese spot still has its dumbwaiter, and was once home to a waiter billed as "San Francisco's worst."

I also went to the neighbourhood library.

Home to Haneda, lying flat

The flight back to Haneda was in business class, so the last leg of this whole trip was a comfortable one. A seat that goes properly flat makes an extraordinary difference.