Still freezing the first thing we did this morning was to get a warmer sweater for daughter number 2. Thus equipped we tried to hop on a tram to “Fisherman’s Wharf”. We had even pre- booked the tickets via the MUNI App. Otherwise you have to pay for the tickets in cash. At $7 per person that was too much cash for us to carry around. Funny how you get used to paying every single purchase by card, isn’t it?

Getting on to the tram turned out to be more difficult than we thought. The queue at the starting point was very long but we were told that they kept a few empty seats so they could add more people on their way. So we waited a few stops higher up. Eventually a tram came that could accommodate all four of us- I was able to sit, Hubby and the girls were clinging on to the sides. Riding the tram is a very touristy thing to do, I doubt any San Franciscan would take one to get around town, but it is definitely fun. And we had a driver who obviously enjoyed his job doubling as entertainer as well.

We took the tram all the way to it’s final stop at Fisherman’s Wharf.

From here we walked to Pier 33 to hop on the ferry to Alcatraz.

When you debark on the island there is a mandatory introduction that explains the different options you have for exploring the prison grounds.

We opted for the self guided audio tour that takes you on a journey across the building. It is very well made using interviews with former guards and prisoners to tell the story of prison life and the escape attempts.

 

All the time the San Francisco skyline was hidden in the fog within sight from Alcatraz. The concierge at the hotel explained to us that this kind of weather is fairly normal in San Francisco. Usually it does not clear up until September and that’s when it tends to get warmer. We definately had not expected this kind of cold for California!

We had lunch on Pier 39. I wanted to try the clam chowder in a sour dough bowl. It was delicious and warmed me up nicely. We also ordered tomato soup and sandwiches.

At the end of the pier there was an area were sea lions had started to gather several years back. We could have watched for hours how they were cuddling in the sun, crawling over each other, fighting and playing in the water. If you would like to watch them you can do so on their own web cam!

Though we had a hotel close to Chinatown the girls did not want to join us on a walk through this area. So Hubby and I took the stroll the next morning while the girls were packing their suitcases.

While San Francisco is definately worth a visit I am glad that we had not booked more time here. It was just so freezing cold!