After a very early start on Thursday 22^nd October, 40 pupils and 5 staff set off from Harris Academy to begin an exciting 10 day geographical tour of the Western United States. Flying from Glasgow to San Francisco, via London Heathrow, we finally arrived in the city just before 5pm Pacific Daylight Time. We were greeted at the airport by our tour guide, James, and taken straight to our first hotel on 8^th Street.

Everyone was tired after the long journey from the UK, but desperate to explore San Francisco, so we quickly got changed and ready to go. The driver and passengers on the tram we boarded were slightly bemused by the 45 tourists from Scotland trying to cram themselves onboard, but  we managed to fit everyone in and off we went down to Fisherman’s Warf and Pier 39, chatting to the locals and soaking up the atmosphere. Some of the group were lucky enough to spot the resident colony of Californian seals at the pier, despite the darkness, and everyone enjoyed a wander round the shops and a bite to eat before returning to the hotel for a much needed night’s sleep.