Yesterday was Martin Luther King Day, and as a public employee, I was lucky to have the day off. Not so fortunate is one of my friend who works in the private sector: she definitely did not get a three-day weekend. It was just as well, because that friend happens to work at Salesforce, and through her I can gain access to the observation deck - 61st floor - of the shiny new Salesforce Tower. The free Monday yesterday was the perfect opportunity to finally make the visit since the tower opened for business, because a bunch of us had the day-off, and she didn’t.
Honestly, I was surprised the observation deck of the tallest building in San Francisco is not open to the general public. The gleaming towers in other cities usually offer a chance - often times for a fee - for the public to go high up and see the respective city from a totally contrasting perspective. Most famous of towers has to be the Empire State Building in New York City. I guess Salesforce can’t be bothered to take the public’s cash: it’s too busy raking in the money from its “day job”. Besides, having the masses of people queuing to go up would interfere with the coming and goings of actual employees.
Therefore, to have the privilege to go up to the 61st floor - “The Ohana Floor” - one must know a Salesforce employee. And I’m really happy that I do, because the views up there at the highest point in San Francisco is expectedly spectacular, truly a perspective you cannot get anywhere else. On a day when Karl the Fog takes a break from blanketing the city, you can see as far as the Golden Gate Bridge and the western end. To have such a view to enjoy while slowly eating our lunch was an absolute highlight of yesterday. There’s also coffee and tea on offer; gratis, of course.
I have to say it’s somewhat of a shame that not everyone can have the experience of going up to the top of Salesforce Tower. A private company can do what it wants, obviously, so find yourself a friend who works there. Preferably someone who can defer about four hours of work on a Monday to hang out. Thank you, Hannah!
I’m very high.