Alcatraz

Another early start - a walk to Pier 33 to pick up our Alcatraz trip. The ferry left at 9.30 for the short trip to the island. We walked up to the Cell Block to start the audio tour. It was a very atmospheric tour, wandering around the cell block listening to the inmates discussing their life there. Afterwards we were able to go out and view San Francisco. The inmates were so close......

 The second part of the day was a boat trip to Angel Island, where immigrants from the Pacific Rim were interrogated and interred. We had an hours tram tour of the island with a guide, and then a beer at the little cafe before getting the ferry back to San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito

Up and out very early - awake just after 3am! We walked down to Union Square and decided to take a trip on the Street Trolleys. A day ticket cost 20 dollars so off we went. What a noise and clatter but what fun! Up and down all these steep hills. Horses used to pull them - incredible!        

We walked from Fisherman's Wharf to the Ferry Terminal, right along the coast. Pelicans, sea lions and great views of Alcatraz. Take away breakfast overlooking the water at the Ferry Terminal.

Sitting having breakfast around 11 we decided we'd walk the Golden Gate Bridge! So tram and bus got us to the Visitors Centre and off we set. It's 2 miles across and another 2 miles to Sausalito, where we had lunch. A well deserved beer and burger!

 

   

We caught the ferry back to San Francisco at 4.25, went to the hotel for a coffee and some downtime and then went out again to explore Japantown, close to the hotel. A beer and some nachos at Harry's Bar on Fillmore Street whilst watching the SF Giants play baseball rounded out the day.  

California

Ticking off another item on the bucket list we are heading off to California to "do" the West Coast.  Here we have a couple of happy campers in the plane at Edinburgh just about to start the 14.5 hour journey to San Francisco.  

 

We flew from London to Heathrow on an Airbus A380, downstairs this time but the BA economy experience was not too shabby.