Downtown San Francisco.

Decided to explore the city today so set off from the hotel and walked towards Fisherman’s Wharf, the acknowledged tourist trap in San Francisco. On the way went past the part of Lombard Street which is billed as the “crookedest street”. 

Top of Lombard Street

Then saw one of the famous cable cars climbing up the hill. I had not realised until recently that the cars attach to a moving cable beneath the street so there is a constant whirring noise from the roads that have cable car routes.

Once at the waterside I looked around the maritime museum exhibits, from a large square rigger, through various tugs and the rowing boat that crossed the Pacific (rowed by two Brits).

Then discovered a City Sightseeing trip about to depart around the downtown area. This was a 90 minute trip which took in all the main areas in downtown San Francisco: the financial district, China town, Union Square, Tenderloin, the Embacardo and Fisherman’s wharf. I took the whole tour rather than hop on or off then walked along the various piers. Pier 39 has been rebuilt to look like a 19th century street but filled with all sorts of eateries and fun shops . This is also the location of the Sea lion colony, which appeared after the 1989 earthquake. The animals were initially unpopular but have now become such an attraction that anniversary parties are held for them.

Sea Lions at Pier 39

I then went on to enquire about tickets for the Alcatraz trip. There was quite a queue but I soon had a ticket booked for Monday morning. An early boat out so it shouldn’t be too crowed on the island (to start with at least).

Next it was onto one of the old Street Cars (not a cable car) back down to the financial district to explore. I had a useful chat with a local lady on the street car and she gave me some useful tips about the area. Once back downtown I spent the rest of the day exploring on foot and taking photographs.

I had thought about taking a cable car back towards the hotel but as I was nearing a convenient stop it appeared there had been a major problem as all the cables had stopped running, As I walked along there were stricken cable cars all along their routes. All the passengers had to seek alternative transport so not sure what happened to their $5 fares?

Cable Car, stopped!