Well I did it - at least as well as I could anyway - Praise God!! I woke up, had my half a waffle for breakfast (I couldn't fit much more than that since I had been unwell the day before) and a cup of tea and headed off for my tour to Alcatraz. After getting instructions on where to take the bus and getting there and finding the bus was crazily packed full, I decided to half run, half walk to Pier 33 where I was to meet for my tour. I didn't quite leave enough time and, not surprisingly, got there too late for the tour I had prebooked. Praying as I headed up to the ticket counter, they told me I could wait in the standby line and if the next tour wasn't full, I could join that. Thank God it wasn't and I was headed off on my first SF tourist destination. I couldn't have asked for better weather either - the sun was shining and though the winds were cool I'm sure it was a lot warmer than it normally was at that time of year. Very similar to Melbourne winter weather. Alcatraz is a great place to visit (I love history when I get to experience in person) and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting SF. My next stop was Pier 39 or Fisherman's Wharf - what a colourful place to go!! So many people, shops, things happening. I had a lot of fun walking through it all & picking up a hot dog for lunch - all those funny foods that you hear about on American shows - they're all there - and salt water taffy too. I haven't bought any yet but I will - I've always wondered what they tasted like! I took out my map again and decided that I didn't know how I was going to get to the Golden Gate bridge except to walk so (maybe somewhat foolishly) I decided to do it. I wouldn't change the experience for anything - I got to see so much of the SF architecture and walked through some really rich areas but let me tell you, it was a really long walk!! I didn't quite get to the bridge but I got close - to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. I spoke to a woman walking dogs and asked about walking all the way to the bridge but she suggested I visit the Palace of Fine Arts Exploratorium instead and if I had tried to go the rest of the way, I wouldn't have had time to see some of the other things I had planned for the day. The Exploratorium building and gardens were beautiful (I didn't go in) but it was a great place to take some pretty photos. From there I headed back to the cable car line - again another long walk and up some ridiculously steep hills - I tried to take pictures but they just don't do it justice so you'll all just have to come over here one day and experience it yourselves! When I got to the cable car stop I noticed (praise God) that I happened to be standing at the top of the crookedest street (the one used in all the movies). I had been looking for it everywhere on the map and had resigned myself to not finding it. I didn't get to ride down it (and there was no way I was walking down it only to have to walk back up!) but at least I got to see it and take a couple of photos!! I caught my beautifully decorated cable car - go Christmas - and headed off up the hill towards the bus line I wanted to take to Alamo park - where the famous "Painted Ladies" are. Let me tell you, a bus ride around school ending is interesting!! I made it safely to the park (thanks to some very lovely bus drivers) and took photos of the famous houses from one of my all time favourite shows - Full House. I know, I know, I'm a sad human being but at least I admit it!! I own all 8 seasons on dvd now!! It was great to enjoy the park and view but I was getting hungry and headed back to my hostel. Another surprise along the way was a park in Nob Hill (the more ritzy area of SF) - it was gorgeous and all the trees were lit up with coloured lights and the church was playing Christmas songs with it's bells - absolutely fantastic!! Great way to end my one day of touring SF!! I'm now in Memphis with my friend Brandi after some half empty flights over and no sickness - yay!! I'll update with more when I have time and news. Love to you all!!
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