I got an Alcatraz ticket on the same day of the tour!

The Alcatraz Island, San Fransisco, California

I got a ticket to Alcatraz at the last minute and paid regular price! !  Persistence pays off!

As soon as I found out I was going to San Francisco a little more than a week ago, I started making plans of what I wanted to see when I got here.

Alcatraz - an infamous Federal Prison until the 1960's

Alcatraz, America’s once most infamous prison, was on the top of my list. I read on line and learned from various travel sources and blogs that : Alcatraz is a very popular attraction and tickets are usually sold out days in advance.

While waiting for other people's response, I could not decide on which date. I figured I would buy my ticket as soon as I got to San Francisco.  On the day I arrived, I went to my hotel concierge who told me that the Alcatraz tour tickets were all sold out. The earliest I could get one would be for April 5 but I would have gone home by then!

Alcatraz - Once was used as a fortress to defend S.F.

I inquired other tour companies and was told consistently that tickets had been sold out days in advance.

However, I could get a combo tour package for $90.00 which would allow me to catch the Alcatraz tour as well as a cable car ride and another tour of which I had no interest. I kicked myself for not ordering the ticket online at least two weeks before I got here.

Feeling defeated but desiring to learn more about this infamous prison, I went to Pier 33 - Alcatraz Landing at the Fisherman Wharf. I strolled around looking at the displays, pictures and reading the explanations.

At the entrance to the ticket booth, a big sign read:

"Next Available Tour - Sunday"

It was Thursday when I went to the Alcatraz Landing at Pier 33. I was really mad at myself this time.

 

A Ranger Greeted us on the Alcatraz Island

This meant if I had come here to purchase a ticket as soon as I arrived, I could have gotten one. But I went to the hotel concierge and got the information that there were no tickets available.

Always willing to take a risk by asking, I went up to the ticket agent at the booth and asked to buy a ticket.

The same answer was given to me - all tickets were gone; the next available tour would be this Sunday.

Alcatraz- A former federal penitentiary - now part of the National Park Services

The outdoor exercise area for former inmates

The ticket agent stopped there and did not say anything else. But I saw a tiny sign on a stick in front of the ticket window. It read something like this:

"There is a limited number of tickets sold each day to visitors. It is first come first served, People must be present to purchase their tickets."

I confirmed this information with the ticket agent and she said it was true. The ticket booth would open at 7:30 a.m. but I needed to be there  bright and early as these tickets would be gone fast.

Along with other visitors like these early birds, I got a ticket to Alcatraz!

I was happy! I was determined to see Alcatraz on this trip but unwilling to pay an overpriced ticket. I went back to the hotel, set three alarms on my cell phone to wake up at 5:30am the next day.

I did wake up before the sun came up, called a taxi and got to Pier 33 at 6:10a.m. There were already people lining up for the tickets. A family with a couple of teens even brought their sleeping bags and were sleeping on the ground waiting for the ticket booth to open.

I was about the 12th person in line. Yes, I was sure I would get a ticket! As the sun started to peek through the dense morning fog, more people arrived. Some did exactly what I did; they came by taxi to ensure that they got here early enough to get a ticket.

I did get a ticket!!!

At 7:30a.m the ticket booth opened and I got a ticket to the Alcatraz at the regular price of $30.00. I was very proud of myself of getting this ticket without overpaying for it!

Other Building on the Alcatraz Island

The Alcatraz tour was an interesting one that lasted about two hours including the ferry rides.

The self guided audio tour gave a vivid recount ( including sound effects)  of the two most infamous attempted prison escapes at Alcatraz.

After the tour, visitors could take their time going through the different displays, walk on the ground, peer through the narrow secured prison windows, visit the gift shop or enjoy a picnic lunch on the dock area.

Former inmates from their cells could see and hear the sights and sounds of San Francisco across the other side.

I learned many interesting facts and myths about Alcatraz this time. Someone told me that no prisoner could escape from Alcatraz alive because of :

1. The frigid temperature of the water
2.  When prisoners jumped into the water, it sucked them down into the bottom of the water

True or myth? I don`t know. But it was surely an interesting experience at the Alcatraz!

R.T.
Alcatraz, San Francisco 

Oakland - An Unplanned Side Trip for Me!

BART - Subway system takes u from SF to Oakland

I got up early this morning and went downtown with Eric. In order to save time we hailed a cab and had some quick breakfast in a cafe. Eric ordered for himself and I had a bagel with cream cheese & tomato outside the restaurant.

An exterior wall mural on an Oakland building

A nice lady came to our table asking if she could share the table with us. Sure, why not. San Fransisco is just like New York - space is premium,especially in the downtown area. Therefore, sharing a table with a stranger is common practice. We started talking about many things; I told her about my visit in San Fransisco and my interest in architecture. Michele ( we introduced ourselves)  then told me that I could take the BART - San Fransisco's subway which would take me to downtown Oakland where there would be ample opportunities for me to see many beautiful buildings and take pictures.

The Oakland City Hall

The Federal Building - Oakland

This is why I love traveling and visiting different cities. While we are traveling or on vacation, there are ample opportunities for us to meet other people.

 Sometimes we could have gone to work and seen our colleagues every day, yet know little about some of them.  However,  we can meet someone for the first time during our travels and we can talk as if we have known each other for a long time.

Meeting Michele was just like that. She was very friendly, open and easy to talk to and we had a great conversation.  We exchanged contact information before we said good bye to each other.







I did not plan to visit Oakland during this trip but I did follow the advice Michele gave me.

After we parted, I took the subway on Market Street, and paid  $ 3.15, one way to Oakland, another city in California!

Life is an adventure. I want to travel and see as much as possible when I am still healthy and able to do so.

Viola! Twenty minutes later, I was on 19th Street and Broadway, in the middle of Oakland.

Since I was on my own that day, I needed to use common sense and stay in the safe area.

Michele told me between 12th - 19th Street is the downtown area and it should be pretty safe during the day. So I made use of the day and captured many beautiful scenes and buildings on my camera.

I had a lot of fun strolling along on Broadway - the main street in downtown Oakland. Since I was by myself, I did not have to follow anyone's schedule and could take as long as I wanted at each stop.

Very pretty recycling containers in the city square

Lincoln University in Oakland

The downtown  area looked clean and tidy.

Oakland was much quieter than San Fransisco. There wasn't as much traffic and there were much less people.

It was a nice change from all the hustle and bustle of a big city.

All day Free Shuttle bus to downtown Oakland!

I think the weak economy has impacted this city.

As I walked by a few empty stores and retail shops  covered with brown paper on their windows in the business area.

City Centre - Oakland

    







Passing me by a few times were free shuttle buses taking people back and forth to the downtown area.


I think this is a great idea to encourage shoppers
to visit the stores and boost the local economy.








 Downtown Oakland has a lot to offer to its residents. It has beautiful and spacious public space where people can meet up with friends to have coffee, relax and enjoy the sunshine.

Even though it is much smaller than San Fransisco, downtown Oakland does have many restaurants offering a wide variety of food. I saw a couple of Hawaiian restaurants advertising their luau menus!

  

Because I wanted to experience a different mode of transportation,  I walked from 19th Street all the way to the Port of Oakland at the waterfront, snapping pictures in between my walk of some of these beautiful buildings in downtown Oakland.

Equipment used to bring in & load  container cargo ships - Oakland

I took the ferry back to San Fransisco and the fare was $6.00, one way.

I got another experience. I learned about how important the terminal was to the local economy.

It was an unplanned and unexpected visit but one that I enjoyed thoroughly!

R.T.
Oakland, California

Coit Tower - A Gift to San Fransisco

Coit Tower - Telegraph Hill, San Francisco

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Coit Tower is built on the hill and it can be seen from most part of the city.

The walk to Telegraph Hill was very pleasant as the hill is home to many interesting houses with various architectural designs.















The climb to Telegraph Hill was step and could be strenuous for some people.

 But the walk was worth it as I saw many colourful and interesting architecture on my way up the hill.

After I reached Telegraph Hill, there was still some distance to go.  Following a shady winding path ahead of me, I climbed up further and higher to reach the tower.


The walk up to to the hill could be tiring for some.
Therefore a lot of people do drive up to get to the top of the hill. However, parking is very limited and drivers may have to wait for sometime on their way up.












Once when I reached the top of hill, there was a really good view from here.

I was looking forward to climbing the steps all the way up to the tower like I did with so many towers that i climbed.

I saw interesting and colourful buildings walking up Telegraph Hill

But at Coit Tower, visitors are not allowed to walk all the way up to its observation deck. There is an elevator to take visitors up all the way.

The admission charge for going up to the observation tower was $7.00, adult fare.

However, there was no charge to stay on the ground floor of the Coit Tower and to enjoy  those huge murals.

One of the many murals decorating the walls of Coit Tower

Coit Tower was completed in 1933 and it is unique in that there are many interior deco murals covering the walls of the tower on the ground floor. 

One of the murals depicting American life in the 1930\s

These murals are huge, colorful depicting the lives of Californians during the Depression. These murals were painted by over twenty artists from San Francisco. This display of artwork is open to the public and there is no admission charges to the main floor.

Observation Deck, Coit Tower

The good news is that there is an elevator to the Observation Deck, therefore people would not have to climb the 210 feet tall tower. 

The Trans America Building seen from the top of Coit Tower

This is the Trans America Pyramid Building seen through one of the many openings on the observation level located at the top of the tower.

All the openings on the Observation Deck are covered with see through glass.

Notice the change on the ledge of the opening?

There was just a very tiny crack between the glass and the wall. How these coins got thrown in there?

Not sure.

Coit Tower is a an excellent place to see downtown San Fransisco as well as the many parts of the city.

I am glad that I got the opportunity to visit Coit Tower and learned about its history.

The Bay Bridge & Ferry Building seen from top of  Coit Tower

I have been to numerous cities in USA and visited many of its heritage sites and famous historical buildings




Time and time again, I have learned about the generosity of Americans on my travels to various cities and famous sites.



I also learned some well to do Americans have bequeathed and shared their wealth with others to better their communities, consequently their country.

Columbus stands proudly underneath the Coit Tower

Coit Tower is another such example.

R.T.
San Fransisco

Chinatown, San Fransisco

The San Fransisco Chinatown Established Since 1889

There are many China Towns in North America. Wherever there is a sizable Chinese immigrant population in a city, there will be a China Town.

In the 1800's, when United States of America was building the railroads, it was in need of a lot of people to do this dangerous hard work.

The City Bank Building in Chinatown

The railroad engineers wanted Chinese workers in particular as they believed that if Chinese people could build the Great Wall in China, they certainly would have no problem building the railroads.


As a result, the railroad company recruited huge number of Chinese workers from China to work on the Pacific railroad construction project.






However, after the railroad construction, there was no need for Chinese labourers and anti-Chinese sentiment started to rise.

During the early 1900's, discrimination against Chinese people was so strong that both the U.S. and Canadian governments passed the Chinese Exclusion Act  making it lawful to discriminate Chinese people and legally barring any Chinese immigrants into North America.

One of the Tea Rooms in San F.'s Chinatown

Chinese people were not allowed to vote, own land nor business. Chinese men were forbidden to date or marry white women nor were they allowed to bring their wives to the U.S., consequently, creating a bachelor society  in the Chinese community.

The anti Chinese sentiment in San Fransisco was so strong that it led to the infamous Chinatown riot resulting in burning many business, houses and even murder in Chinatown.









During WWll, Chinese Americans joined the American arm forces and fought against the Nazi. After WWll, the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed but still Chinese Americans  were limited to operating business such as restaurants and clothes laundries only.


Historically, Chinese people have been discriminated so much that they need to stay together for support and assistance.





San Fransisco's Chinatown is the largest Chinatown outside of China.

It stretches several blocks and has a few tearooms, many different stores offering arts and culture items, numerous restaurants and many shops selling everything one can imagine imported from China and other Asian countries.

For an interesting and different experience, the San Fransisco Chinatown is worth a visit.


 If you are into shopping for not so expensive souvenirs to take back to many friends or colleagues, be prepared to spend at least a couple of hours there! There are a lot of shops to visit!


R.T.
Chinatown, San Fransisco

Lombard Street - the Crookedest Street in the World!

Getting fed & energized before climbing up Lombard Street

I got up this morning, ready to go!

Walking along Columbus Street, I found many great little restaurants. Knowing that I would be walking a lot today, I went into the Columbus Cafe to have some lunch there.

Columbus Cafe, San Franciso

The Columbus Cafe, decorated in a very homy and casual style with  some light coloured tables and chairs and a leather sofa, wing chair, side tables and table lamps,  reminded me of the coffee house in the very popular American sitcom " Friends".

I parked my knapsack;  sat back on the sofa and enjoyed the crescent sandwiched while watching the news on the TV set. It was a different setup and atmosphere indeed. After lunch I set out to Lombard Street.

Lombard Street is quite steep

 Lombard Street is a very famous street in San Fransisco because it is the crookedest street in the world!

You would not find another one like it anywhere in the world!

I walked from Columbus Ave up Lombard Street which was quite a climb. But the tree lined street and the pretty houses situated on the sloppy street made the walk up a little easier. 





 Lombard Street is indeed very crooked!

There are 8 sharp turns on a narrow street and there are houses on both sides separated by a narrow walkway on both side of the street leading up to the top of the hill.

 The speed limit is at 5 miles/hour and drivers have to be very careful and be mindful of the vehicles in front of them.

It is quite a spectacle and a lot of fun driving on Lombard Street.

Look at these guys in their little yellow car!


After I climbed the 240 steps to the top, the view was amazing! It was worth walking up the stairs!

San Francisco seen from the top of Lombard Street 

Alcatraz, the famous former prison -seen from the top of Lombard Street

Lombard Street is another must see place to visit. If you looking for some exercise like I am, walking there would be the best way to do it as there are many beautiful houses lining this famous street and the scenery at the top is fabulous.

You can also buy the cable car day pass for $14.00, so that you can hop on and off and enjoy this famous attraction at your leisure ( No admission charge there!)  Taking the Hyde Street cable car to get there will help reduce the amount of walking if you are not so mobile and allow you to take some beautiful pictures at the top.


R.T.
Lombard Street. San Francisco