Microsoft Build 2015

I landed in at LAX in Los Angeles last Sunday evening, after about 17 hours in the air. From here I’ve been working from the NetRelations Inc. office in El Segundo.

At the NetRelations Office in Los Angeles.

During the week we’ve been working a lot, and we’ve also been out doing a lot of other stuff. Amongst other things we went to see Jimmy Kimmel, which was a fun and intense experience. We’ve also seen Furious 7 on a 4D theatre downtown. That was cool.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! was filmed in a studio, and afterwards we went out backside for a concert.

For the second year in a row, I’ll be going to Microsoft Build in San Francisco. Last year was an exciting event, but this will for sure be even more awesome, with the upcoming release of Windows 10, new servers and Visual Studio 2015. And of course HoloLens, which I hope I’ll be able to try.

Moscone Center

The Developer Conference kicks off in San Francisco on April 28. But I’ll arrive in Los Angeles on Sunday April 19th. So I will be spending a week in L.A. with my friend and former colleague Johan.

The first week I’ll be working from Johan’s office in L.A, and sometime around the weekend we’ll fly up to San Francisco together to attend the Developer Conference.

I just got back from Microsoft Build in San Francisco, which was an amazing event.

Yesterday (Monday 31st) we arrived in San Francisco and checked in at Hilton Union Square. We got a good nights sleep after a few bears at a local pub.

Today was registration day at Microsoft Build. The entire block around the Conference Center was full with Microsoft Commercials. Unfortunately it was raining heavy almost the entire day, so I couldn’t get a good photo from it.

Since registration opened as late as 3.00 PM, we had a full day with sightseeing in San Francisco. Here are a bunch of photos from our day.

You can’t really tell the height by looking at this photo, but the angle of this slope is quite amazing. We took a walk up Nob Hill and down to the docks.

Local competition

Here are some Panoramic Photos from the docks. The island in the middle is Alcatraz.

Above, is Alcatraz Island. After our long walk down the docks, we went back to the hotel for our car, and went on a trip over Golden Gate Bridge.

When we got back to town, the registration for Build opened, and I went there to register and pick up my pass.

After the registration, I went back to the hotel to freshen up for the Swedish Microsoft Meet Up at the ThirstyBear Brewing Company. On site there were around one hundred Swedish Developers hungry for snacks, beer and a social time.

It was a great day, and an equally great evening with Microsoft Sweden.

Tomorrow Microsoft will open up with a keynote, announcing some new cool stuff. I will be there reporting live at the event.

This is by far the coolest road trip I’ve ever done. Los Angeles to San Francisco.

We started out at Johan’s apartment, Downtown Los Angeles.

Our first stop was Duke’s in Malibu, where we eat a large breakfast.

Bacon, Melon, Chicken and Strawberry. Breakfast for Champions. After breakfast we continued on Pacific Coast Highway One. Our destination was Big Sur and a stay-over in the wilderness.

The road to San Francisco is remarkable. It cannot simply be justified by my pictures. It has to be experienced, because it is so grand.

Below is the view from our lunch stop.

Once in Big Sur, we found a Lodge dating back to 1925 (If I’m not mistaken).

A healthy breakfast…

After a good night sleep, we decided to take on the trails of the nearby mountains.

Now, we’re on the top and it’s time to head back to the ground.

At around 20:00 (07:00 Swedish Time) we arrive in San Francisco. After checking in to the Hotel, we went out on the town to get a refreshing glass of beer.

Friday 28th. Today we took it slow, with breakfast at home and some sun tanning by the pool on the roof. Then we took a trip to Santa Monica Pier, and ended the day watching the sunset on Venice Beach.

We went down to Santa Monica Pier, and had lunch at the Lobster.

View over Pacific Coast Highway.

The Pacific Ocean.

After our lunch at the Pier, we went on the Pacific Avenue to Venice Beach.

Venice Beach Boardwalk.

Selfie at Venice Beach.

Sunset on Venice Beach.

After the sunset we went back to Downtown, bought some hot dogs and had a barbecue on the roof top.

On Wednesday 26th I started my trip from Stockholm. I flew to Chicago with SAS where I stopped over for 4 hours, and later on continued to Los Angeles on a flight with Virgin America.

I landed in Los Angeles at around 20:30 (4:30 Swedish Time). My friend Johan picked me up at LAX and we went back to his place for some sleep.

Thursday 27th

Today we went on a road trip in Los Angeles.

View from outside of Johan’s apartment building.

Rodeo Drive

After a drive through Hollywood, we went up to Griffith Observatory.

We continued our trip through Beverly Hills and out on Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu.

We had lunch at Duke’s, and the continued up the road. Then we took a drive over the the mountains and out on Mulholland Drive, and back to Downtown Los Angeles.

When we got back, we went over to a terrace on one of the sky scrapers Downtown.

It was an amazing day! And now time for some sleep.