The host that greeted us at Pier 39 - How fitting and because Zekie loves crabbies well, he couldn't take his eyes off of it.......that was the biggest crabbie any of us had every seen. Talk about artistic expression....
Today we took a jaunt down on the cable car (this was supposed to be Zeke's 'bus' ride but we couldn't fool him.......he knew it was a train) to Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. Our intentions were to climb aboard a San Francisco Harbour Cruise.........
While waiting for our cruise to board we walked along Pier 39 to see what we could see. "Brown Bear, Brown bear what do you see?" "I see stinky loud seals looking at me." Well, at least Zeke saw and heard them for himself......I don't think he'll ever forget what a seal bark sounds like.
We came across another brown shop.............one that tastes real sweet and delicious. There was SOOOOOOOOOO much chocolate in this shop..........every kind you could possibly imagine. I thought the displays were art in themselves. We didn't dare linger too long. Ok, we'll maybe we sampled a little.
Golden Gate Bridge......one simply cannot appreciate this artwork until you actually pass under it and look up from below. California's most famous icon spans the entrance of the bay. To think that opening day was in 1937 and that nearly 18,000 pedestrians walked across the bridge before it was opened to automobile traffic. In 1987, the Golden Gate celebrated it's 50th by closing the entire span to automobile traffic so pedestrians could walk across it as they did on opening day.
800,000 people showed up before sunrise in 1987 to take advantage of this unique opportunity. 200,000 crowed onto the roadway before their combined weight caused the arched center span to flatten out completely.
From the bridge there are breathtaking views of the City skyline, sailboats on the bay, and the vast Pacific Ocean. And it's this view that shows ample proof of San Francisco's designation as one of the world' most beautiful cities.
Length of suspended portion: 1.2 miles
Mid-span height: 260 feet above sea water
Height of towers: 746 feet
Paint Used: More than 5,000 gallons of "Internatinal Orange"
Vehicular Traffic: 100,000 vehicle a day
They say that this bridge is the most photographed bridge in the world andis also the most popular suicide destination in the world. I suppose one might think there is something romantic about suicide from the GG Bridge...... but the bridge ironically is a symbol of man being albe to conquer the elements and build spectacular structures.
The Controversial Documentary - THE BRIDGE documents 24 unfortunate souls drawn by it's siren call who chose to end their lives at the Golden Gate Bridge in 2004
Here's the website to check it out: http://thebridge-themovie.com/new/index.html
Zeke (with his bus in hand) plays peek-a-boo with the guy sitting behind us to help the time go by.
Alcatraz is a small rocky island right in the middle of San Francisco Bay. It has a checkered history that began long before it became a federal prison housing some of the nation's most notorious criminals.
The 22 acre island was originally named Isla de los Alcatraces (Island of the Pelicans).
Because of it's strategic positioning in the Bay in 1934 it was converted from an army fortress (dating back to 1854) for harbour defense into a maximum security prison.
During the 29 years Alcatraz was a federal prison, there were no successful escapes. It's the only prison where the inmates had hot showers (so their bodies wouldn't have the ability to adjust to the cold, cold water if they did try to escape).
We stopped at San Francisco's famous Boudin French Sourdough bakery. Here's some of what we saw................marine life in sourdough form (lobster, turtle, crab).
Can you guess what Zeke's favorite was?
Inside the infamous "bus" (cable car) down to San Francisco's Pier 39 Festival Marketplace.
Scroll down into October to see more of San Francisco.
"The grand sweeping views to neighborhood color and character, from glimpses of history to world class dinig and shopping - San Francisco is home to a little bit of everything. San Francisco is a unique and breathtaking metropolis. We would definately recommend you discover San Francisco for yourself if you haven't already. We know the Bacac's will definately be back!"
