USA Adventures Part Four: San Francisco

Hi everyone! Hope you're enjoying playing along at home. Go read my last three posts if you haven't already.

As I made my way further north I stopped in San Francisco. A really close family friend from home lives in Berkeley so I was able to stay with him and spent a few days doing touristy things in the city. I was fortunate to have more great weather (and a little fog!) and really enjoyed just wandering around absorbing the city.

Here are a few highlights.

Alamo Square. Famous for lots of movies - but to me, they'll always be the 'Full House' houses!

 

This was as much as I ever saw of the Golden Gate bridge. And driving over it in an open-topped tourist bus = FREEZING COLD! 

The carousel at Pier 39. This place is rather tacky tourist heaven. Meaning that it is chock-full of souviner shops and anything you could possibly imagine with 'San Francisco' printed on it! I embraced my inner geek and had lunch at Bubba Gump's. Been there, got the t-shirt.

San Fran has some pretty funky architecture! Makes for great photography. (yes, I do say so myself).

Then I was off to Alcatraz. I've been a bad, bad girl. Kidding. If you ever get a chance to do a night tour of the prison island, I HIGHLY recommend it. You need to book well in advance as it sells out, and I can see why. The tour lasted for over three hours, and was fascinating.

There is a comprehensive audio tour, spoken by former inmates and guards. It really takes you back, and combined with being there in the evening, it was just a little spooky to say the least!

I also came across a particularly spooky prisoner. He's very lucky he didn't get left behind. Good thing he's impossibly fast and strong, he just made it to the ferry on time.

A few days later (after Napa - post coming soon) I had one more day in the Bay Area. I decided to take a ferry to Sausilito for some relaxed tourism!

I'm really sad to hear there's snow in New Zealand right now...

San Francisco city with Alcatraz in foreground.

Another partial view of Golden Gate!

Sausilito is a lovely spot. There are some really nice shops (I bought some rather slightly expensive earrings) and lovely park areas. I may or may not have fallen asleep on the grass in the sun. It's a hard life.