We took the cable car a short distance to Chinatown. We looked around and peeked in shops, but most importantly, found dim sum for lunch. I could have eaten much more than I did because it was so good, but for healths sake we stopped after pork dumpling, spring rolls, steamed pork buns, pot stickers, and shrimp dumplings with a generous helping of tea to wash it all down.
We hopped back on the cable car until the last stop of Fisherman's Wharf. On the way up, we noticed we had passed the "crooked street", or Lombard Street, so we back toward this landmark before the next. Walking up a giant hill after a lot of dim sum almost ended terribly, but we made it to the top, got a few snaps, and took in the beautiful city.
Finally, we made it down to Fisherman's Wharf. The thing I wanted to see most was featured on HeyUSA, the inspiration for my trip. Musee Mecanique is an antique coin operated arcade. And when I say antique, I mean slightly racist/ totally politically incorrect/ extremely creepy old timey games. It was everything I hoped for and more.
The arcade was cool but actually 20 degrees hotter inside than in the fresh air. We walked around the Wharf a little longer and passed a boat tour that was loading up for $15. They were advertising a 90 minute boat ride on this regular boat, not a big ferry with too many people crowded together. We couldn't pass up opportunity to see the city from this perspective, on such a beautiful day, and for this great a price. It was worth every penny! The captain and first mate were super nice, the ride was a little bumpy, but fun, and we saw so many great things!
We saw the sailboats out for a day of races, the Aquatic Park where people dare to swim in 50 degree water, the warehouses that were used as the holding cells before prisoners where sent to Alcatraz, great views and angles of the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island (basically the West Coast version of Ellis Island), and lastly, Alcatraz.
Apparently, tours of Alcatraz sell out weeks in advance, which neither Eliza or I realized, so we were bummed when we didn't think we'd get to see it. Not only did we get to see it from all angles, but we also got the abridged version of the history of the prison. Did you know that the prisoners weren't allowed to take cold showers because the guards didn't want them to get acclimated to the frigid waters below to attempt escape? And did you know that after the prison was abandoned, local Native Americans came and stripped the property of anything valuable and absolutely destroyed the wardens home first?
Next stop, Ghirardelli Square. I was salivating as we walked through the chocolate shop that not only had a mounds upon mounds of chocolate squares, a sundae bar, and chocolate artists making molds of the Golden Gate Bridge, but they also gave you free chocolate squares as you walked in. I mean, fine, twist my arm.
Our long and full day ended with Mai Tai's and crab dip. We spent lots of time winding down and soaking in everything we saw in one day. I love having days where you just keep moving because then we can see everything that needs to be seen. And we still have one more day in San Francisco! Stay tuned!
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