(Don't start reading this post unless you've read the two previous ones, SFSF Weekend Day 1 and 2 - otherwise you'll think I'm a complete nutter)
Day 3 - Saturday
It's day 3 on the big Super Fantastic San Francisco (SFSF) Weekend, and HOS and I have just started warming up.
Today is super tourist day - ending with a naughty twist (I bet that piqued your interest)!
As you can see there are a billion pics above - I just didn't know what to include so I just bunged a whole lot in.
Let's start the day with a visit to the San Fran coastline - in our super dooper cool Mustang we get and off to see what the beach looks like. Hmmmm....you can see it above...sort of like a big beach in winter (although it's not winter). Nothing too earth shattering, but glad we saw it nevertheless.
Nex on the list was Sausilito for breaky, via The Golden Gate Bridge (in our super dooper cool Mustang). HOS (Hung of Spunk) put his foot down and we zoomed over the famous orange bridge, pic above, it sorta seemed a little underwhelming, though HOS made it more exciting with the roar of his Mustang...impressive stuff HOS.
We arrived at the picturesque Sausilito, which is on the other side of the bay from the city of San Francisco, so we got fab views from our cafe table (pic above). It was cool to see the contrast of such a built up city in one direction, then green topped hills with yachts sailing in front in the other direction. That's what I really liked about San Francisco, it had such stark contrasts that worked together and made sense.
Breakfast was average, but the views fantastic.
We had to hurry our little butts though, the car had to be back before we caught our 12.30pm ferry to Alcatraz - never fear, ol' Fangio got us there in plenty of time, in fact with time to spare.
We put that time to good use. A little birdy had told me that there was a fab Farmers' Market at the Ferry Building, just a 10 min walk from where we were taking the ferry. It was Saturday morning and the perfect weather for a little wander...and a little bite! IT WAS FANTASTIC. Do not miss the Ferry Building Farmers' Market - held on Thursday and Saturday - real farmers bringing their wares, and lots of other good things to eat as well. We bought gorgeous red strawberry-smelling strawberries, and divine cherry-coloured cherries to take with us to The Rock. Sort of like a little picnic (and we threw in an Apple Turnover for good measure).
With picnic supplies in hand, off we trotted to visit the most feared prison in the USA. We boarded our ferry (after having the obligatory tacky tourist pic taken, which, btw, they do at every single vaguely touristy attraction), and headed off to this incredibly imposing island. It sits out there in the Bay, all alone, with so much history, so much darkness, and this permanent cloud of eeriness. I remember visiting when I was 14 years old and being quite moved by it - by its sadness and its strength, and of course it's such a curious thing - a place where really really bad men were sent, all locked up together, on one island. It made quite an impression on me.
As a grown up, it made an even stronger impression.
I don't know how to describe the feeling of being there, other than that cloud of eeriness I mentioned. It is truly a very sad place, and yet it's one of the most interesting places I've ever visited. You could imagine the coldness, the hopelessness, the lonliness of being an inmate here - I felt all those things and I was there with HOS and about 5,000 fellow tourists. We all walked around with earphones on, in a subdued sort of fog, listening to the audio tour which was narrated by former guards and inmates, and which was spectacularly interesting. HOS and I were quite pensive when we finished, we walked around a little out on the recreation yard, then headed back to the ferry, mostly in silence, it's that sort of experience.
We became more animated though on the ferry back, digging into our cherries and strawberries and wondering what we would do next...I suggested we head back to the Ferry Building to look at the luscious shops I'd seen a few hours before, that are actually permanent shops inside the building. Boy, I'm glad we did. We discovered the Cowgirl Creamery, where we purchased some Fresh Herb Fromage Blanc, and a chunk of a Wisconsin hard cheese called Roth Kase Private Reserve. We also discovered, coincidentally right next door, Acme Bread, where a sweet baguette and a sourdough baguette (I couldn't make up my mind) was purchased. We then sat out on the wharf eating wonderful cheese and bread, enjoyihng the sunshine and warmth of the blue sky, and of course each other. It was bliss.
But dear readers, fear not, the day is not yet over for these two interpid tourists...after a wonderful coffee at Froghollow Farm, still in the Ferry Building, we started to wander towards the hotel, looking for some transport. And then we saw it. The number one San Francisco tourist attraction (well, that's really Alcatraz, but never let the truth get in the way of a good story). The Cable Car.
Yes, the Cable Car. HOS had been busting to get on one of these, and it just magically appeared before our eyes. Lucky HOS. I'm not sure when I've seen HOS quite this excited...he was more excited about this than the super dooper cool Mustang. Crikey! Up California Street we went...HOS going on about the cable system, the pulleys, the brake, blah blah blah...he really really loved this stuff. He was enchanted by it all. In fact I think I recall him saying it was the best thing about his SFSF weekend (hmmmm...best thing, my love???).
HOS doens't just stop at a cable car ride. When he's into something, he is really into something. After a wander around Nob Hill and the Grace Cathedral, we tracked down the Cable Car Museum. Here, HOS could study to his heart's content. And he did. He was most excited that he'd found where all the cable engines are kept! You can see them above, these drive the four San Fran Cable Cars - he was beside himself!!
But alas, the Museum finally had to close, so with a sad face HOS took my hand and we meandered back to the hotel...meandered up and down the streets (well, hills really) of San Francisco (that was a tv reference in case you missed it).
We headed out for dinner at Rose Pistola in North Beach. I'd eaten there on my first night and had quite an amazing experience - simple spaghetti in their tomato sauce was to die for, followed my a scoop of orange and amaretto sorbet...really really special. Unfortunately the food was rather disappointing on the Saturday night - but I'd definitely recommend giving it a go.
We took the dodgy track through Chinatown home to our hotel...with a dodgy stop-off on the way!!! This little stop-off is in the vault, but I know that HOS is smiling as he reads - it was the perfect way to finish off our last night together in San Francisco!!!
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