I am slightly behind in blog posting, I know. My apologies. Since the last post, we arrived in Hawaii, and all intentions of writing something went out of the window. Upon arrival, we did what any rookie tourist would do – sign up for every possible activity that our schedule would allow. The tour operator dude that made our bookings can probably feed his family for a month on the commission he earned off us! So, this is the first little gap that I have had. (In an hours time we are going to a Luau – a Hawaiian celebratory dinner which showcases island culture and music. Another tourist trap! But it must be done.)
Cycling towards the Golden Gate Bridge on a chilly day
Okay, so here’s a quick overview of San Francisco: having only allowed for a 2 night stop, we effectively had a full day to explore the cosmopolitan city and it’s unmistakable landmarks.
Morning: We decided that the best way to get around was via our favourite transportation mode – bicycling! After grabbing some rental bikes, we made our way around the peninsula of the downtown San Fransisco.
Apparently 1 person per week jumps or attempts to jump off the Bridge
Though sunny, it was a chilly, windy day – but we persevered and were rewarded with some great sights. The highlight was of course cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge, and enjoying the spectacular views of the Bay.
Lunch: We were told that we HAVE to have Clam Chowder on Fisherman’s Warf when we got to San Francisco. We’d passed the Warf earlier in the day and were in no mood for Chowder then. So we opted for Organic Clam Chowder at a Whole Foods Market instead. Perhaps not the authentic Chowder of the Bay City, but I enjoyed it very much! (Whole Foods Market is a chain of health foods grocery stores in the US. It is my favourite place!)
The Rock
Afternoon: Of course no tour would be complete without a trip to “The Rock” Alcatraz. After a short ferry ride to the island that was once a high security prison, we took a self-guided audio tour which gave us an insight into what life in the prison was like. (The prison was closed in 1963 and is now a National Park.) Once home to the likes of Al Capone, the stories of what happened on the island were fascinating!
The prison cells are tiny!
Though there were several escape attempts over the years, most escapees were recaptured, or died in the attempt. There are 5 escapees who are to date unaccounted for. Some believe they never survived the swim across the icy waters to the main land, while others believe that they are probably living in Mexico today.
Evening: We dined with friends of Andy’s – ex South Africans (Durbanites to be exact) who are currently living in San Francisco. While it was a reunion of sorts for Andy, for me it was a great non-tourist glimpse of San Francisco life. Many discussions were held around how San Francisco compares with a typical South African City. For one thing, property is MUCH more expensive in SF. Also, marijuana is readily available – with a prescription – for any ailment you can think of. (People seem to get their hands on prescriptions in some dubious ways though.) Train drivers apparently earn $100,000 a year – makes some professionals re-think their career. All in all, some interesting discussions!
Durban Reunion. From left to right: Eric, Jade, Valerie, Verna, Kevin and Andy