23 September 2010

Trip Day 7 — San Fancisco Day 3 — Alcatraz & Warf

Posted by BaBa under: Daily Life .

Today, we got up early. We have slept hard each night as our site seeing pace is very active. Still we have only gotten a little real rest and today was an early day. We had tickets to Alcatraz for 11:00am. To pull this off, we had to find and catch the bus in Milbrae to the CalTrain station. Then we had to get the CalTrain into San Fran and finally get on the 47 to Fisherman’s Warf (the 47 stops all over town before arriving at the Warf) and then finally onto the F trolley to pier 33.

It was just a little complicated and we could not afford to miss the sailing as we would have missed the trip since you have a set time for the trip. We made it with about 45 minutes to spare which is good since you still have to queue up to get on the ship to the island.

We were near the top of the queue and got to select our seats with a table on the bottom of the ship. We had a window to watch the sights. It just happened that Celebrity Ships had the Millennium in port. We showed the ship to Magoo as we went by it. We explained one of most memorable cruises was on the Millennium when we sailed the Med on the Millennium for a fortnight. On that cruise we departed Venice and went to Debrovnik, Athens, Santorini, Naples, Athens, Monocco, and ended in Barcelona. What a great ship and a great cruise, but back to San Francisco.

It was not long till we docked at Alcatraz. We got the dock talk and then boarded the tram to the top of the rock. We had gotten Magoo a map (he just loves maps) and found when we got to the top that the audio tour was included. So we took the 2+ hour audio tour.

It is truly a fascinating place filled with so much history. Even though MaMa and I had been once before, it was interesting to go again and see it with Magoo. Magoo got to go in the hole along with several other tourists to experience 30 seconds of quiet darkness. Well it really was not quiet or pitch dark. Magoo had to talk the entire time and then to chase away the darkness, he turned on his camera to provide some light. Smart little guy to be so adventuresome and innovative.

He walked with me to see the sights and wanted to take pictures of everything that I shot. I helped him out with knowing what to shoot and when. It seems that I have a photo buddy in the making.

We took the tram back to the dock and soon were able to board the boat back to San Francisco. The views of the city are great from the Rock. You can see the steep hills as they lead down to the Warf. You also have a great view of the Golden Gate and the Golden Gate bridge. On the way back, I went on deck to take a few shots and Magoo went with me, but just for a few minutes. He soon returned below to MaMa and I followed within a few minutes.
We left Pier 33 for a short walk to Pier 39. Here we ate lunch at a bar/restaurant. It was surfer themed restaurant. Magoo ate all of his popcorn shrimp with great gusto. It was good meal and we were recharged for the rest of the day.

We walked out to see the Sea Lions at the end of the pier. They were barking and a few were swimming in the bay. I got a few photos of one swimming in the bay and a couple of others who were playing chase in the baby in front of the docks.

We left the pier and then went to the Bay Aquarium. This was the first place that wanted to charge Magoo for admission. I negotiated half off the suggested admission since I had inquired extensively when buying our City Passes that we would not need a pass for him. The Bay Aquarium has some neat walk through tunnels where the fish swim over and around you. They have one for the tide pool and another for the bay. Each has unique set of fish and sea life. However, this was really the only unique thing to the aquarium. The first floor had some exhibits and small tanks, but nothing great. The third floor had one touching pool for small sharks and rays. Then there was a tide pool to see the sea stars and other sea life. However, they also had an exhibit skinks, king snake, frogs and chinchillas. Not really sure what most of these animals have to do with sea life. I was really not impressed with the Bay Aquarium and it took very little time to see what little was there.

We left the Aquarium and then did a little walking in an attempt to shop for two upcoming birthday presents. We did score a book at the Bay Aquarium for one of the birthday boys since he is very interested in sea life and fishes. However, I was not successful in coming up with another birthday gift.

MaMa was tired and I needed to do a little looking so I found a Burger King where she and Magoo could have a cold drink and rest. I went out to look. I had gotten a great jacket here two years ago that is reversible and where the sleeves zip off to become a vest. It is one of my all time favorites. I like to wear vests in the winter and so I was on the hunt for a vest. I found a blue fleece vest and then another of the same type of jackets in a blue/black color combo. It was reduced and the price was right. I can always just take of the sleeves and use it just as a vest since I cannot get a vest for the price I got the jacket. I also scored two long sleeve shirts in the clearance bin. I gathered my purchases and went back to pick up MaMa and Magoo.

We got on the 30 going back through ChinaTown and onto the CalTrain station. We arrived and boarded our train back to Milbrae. We were lucky to spot a cab and got in. He did not engage the meter. I inquired about the fare and it was twice what it should be. We got out. We walked back down to the station to wait for an honest cab. No such luck. We were refused transport by another cab of the same company. We grabbed a shopping cart (again we were lucky that one had been left at the station) and there was only one cart.

We loaded up our purchases, backpack, camera bag and Magoo and began the walk to the hotel. We found a cab from the other company in town, but he was on a call (I guess that was it) and pulled away without us as passengers. It could have been that we truly looked like street people pushing a shopping cart with Magoo and our stuff in the cart. He may not have wanted anything to do with these “urban pioneers.”

I was ticked off at the cabs. At home it is illegal not to engage the meter unless it is a flat rate trip like an airiport trip. This was not a flat rate trip. At the very least it is unethical to do this. However, I have no power to require a cab to transport us and so off we went on foot again.

The walk is a little less than 2 miles and all flat. It is well lit and we did not feel unsafe. However, MaMa was tired and I did not want for her to have to make the walk. He back and feet hurt and at the end of another full day, an unplanned two mile walk was not what either of us wished. Magoo just though it was another adventure and I shortly came around to his point of view. These types of adventures are the stuff that memories are made of.

Here are a few iPhone photos from today’s adventures. Enjoy.

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