Anita's Travels

As i got on my flight to San Francisco i met a woman Karen Sagee, at the other side we bumped into each other again while collecting baggage. Her and her husband offered for me to stay with them while i was in San Francisco! It was all very strange, they ended up giving me a lift to my hostel.

My first day in San Francisco i wandered the (very steep) streets. I walked through Chinatown, past Washington Square, through North Beach to Fisherman's Wharf. I walked along Pier 39 with all its shops and attractions. At the end u can see Alcatraz and round the side were many many sea lions. They were so much fum to watch, some sunbathed while others played. Some were fighting, they would push each other off the platforms into the water, while making a lot of noise to deter others from coming aboard. One platform seemed to be the crib as all the little ones were on it.

I then walked all the way to the other side of San Francisco and headed through Golden Gate Park. I went to the DeYoung Museum, it houses a lot of American Art. I liked the room which had the artifacts from New Guinea.

My last wander of the day was Union Square. After 8 1/2 hours of walking up and down steep streets my legs were aching. I headed back to Adelaide Hostel, in my dorm i met Emily (Swedish), a Spanish guy and 2 guys from France.

On the 7th I walked to Pier 33 and boarded Alcatraz Cruises. We landed on the dock and headed for the museum; we learnt about the Indian Occupation, the American Prison Experience (the officers and their families), and in the last room was an exhibition on Ageing Prisoners. I then went into the theater and watched the presentation - Alcatraz, Stories from The Rock.

I walked to the morgue then into the Cellhouse. Here the audio tour began, we went around the cells learning what the prisoners daily lives were like. We went to the library, recreation yard, learnt about the attempted escapes and the famous prisoners. We went to the officers station, wardens office, the lighthouse, the visitation area and the dining room (where u could still see the tear gas cannisters).

The following day I walked to Fishermans Wharf and hired a bicycle. I cycled along the bike path; past Fort Mason, along the Marina, through Crissy Field and then up a hill (oh my god, so unfit!), i bumped into Emily going the other way.

Up onto Golden Gate Bridge, maneuvering around the pedestrians I cycled along the bridge. The other side i went down a hill to Sausalito. I cycled through the town then back for the ferry. As we cruised San Francisco Bay we went past the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. We landed at Pier 1 the Ferry Building, from here i cycled along the Embarcadero past all the piers until i was back on Jefferson to return the bike.

Heading home soon!