As I walked down the main cell block that the old prisoners called 'Broadway', I can feel the hair on the back of my arms stand up. I can hear the echo of my own footsteps. I can practically smell the sweat and taste the desperation of the inhabitants of Alcatraz.
In my opinion,the main difference between actual travel and reading about travel are the details. One can spend hours reading about a place, the sights, the sounds- but until you are actually standing there and breathing in the same air as the keen tourists who came before you, you have not truly experienced a place.
Day three in San Francisco was jam packed- breakfast with a friend in Dobuce Triangle, delicious pho in Chinatown, and then a good 30 minute walk to Pier 39, where we proceeded to wait in line for half an hour to have a picture taken against a fake Alcatraz background before we finally got to board the ferry to the island.
Truth be told, I knew close to nothing about the nations maximum security island prison before I stepped unto it. Before we started the tour, we were told that the last ferry to depart Alcatraz was at 615 and "everyone has to be on that ferry. You can not stay on the island." Who would want to spend the night in an abandoned maximum security prison?! People truly are odd.
The 90 minute audio tour transported me back in time as we walked through the cell blocks, viewed the dining hall, and enjoyed the view of San Francisco city- yes, the view from the prison is one of the best of the city skyline- almost like its taunting the prisoners. All that lay between them and freedom was a few miles of freezing Pacific Ocean (and armed guards!)
After all that walking down memory lane, I was more than ready for a delicious dinner of much- awaited clam chowder at North Beach, the Italian district of SF. Although I could not help feel a little homesick for Papaginos on Lygon, I truly enjoyed the ambiance of the tiny family run local restaurant. I ended my third day in San Francisco with a nap and then a quick drink at a nearby lounge (btw strawberry mojitos are not as good as lychee!) Dragged my tired old self to bed by 1 am.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
San Francisco: Day Two
After a blissful 10 hour slumber, I awoke feeling victorious over beating jet lag, took a hot shower (thank god!) and went downstairs to brave American style drip coffee and creamer- which was actually not that bad! Its no skinny latte at Chicolata but it did the job. I then headed for the the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (or SFOMOMA as the locals call it) which is free every first Tuesday of the month... lost myself in three floors of modern art and fell in love with the Andy Warhol exhibition.
Having Savoured a satisfying lunch of pepperoni pizza and coke zero (which, btw is surprisingly hard to get here in the States), I embraced my inner tourist and took the cable car down to Fisherman's Wharf. I ventured into the Mechanical Museum, stretched my penny into a souvenir with the Golden Gate Bridge on it, and got my palm read by a machine.
Dinner was a 'mini' burger at a local joint near the hostel, which once again was the size of an average Australian burger. Took joy in having the room to myself for once, and then FORCED my grandma self off the bed and went downstairs to common area in hostel to mingle! All of you out there who think I am a grandma will be happy to know that (after a cuppa tea), I went out with some folks I met and had a few drinks that night. So there:P
Having Savoured a satisfying lunch of pepperoni pizza and coke zero (which, btw is surprisingly hard to get here in the States), I embraced my inner tourist and took the cable car down to Fisherman's Wharf. I ventured into the Mechanical Museum, stretched my penny into a souvenir with the Golden Gate Bridge on it, and got my palm read by a machine.
Dinner was a 'mini' burger at a local joint near the hostel, which once again was the size of an average Australian burger. Took joy in having the room to myself for once, and then FORCED my grandma self off the bed and went downstairs to common area in hostel to mingle! All of you out there who think I am a grandma will be happy to know that (after a cuppa tea), I went out with some folks I met and had a few drinks that night. So there:P
Leaving my Comfort Zone behind
The nerves started to kick in as I stepped off the wet, muddy Melbourne ground to hoist myself up into the Starbus and I reminded myself that it is a crappy Monday morning for most people but I get to start my long- planned journey.
The journey was mostly uninteresting except for this lady who LEFT her atm card in the machine at Sydney Airport (after entering the pin and without completing the transaction!) - I had to run after her and return it. I can only hope the travel karma will come back to me:) United Airlines flight from Sydney to San Fran was as expected, shared TV screen, bad static all the way, horrible plane food with delicious desserts, and the worst choice of movies EVER.
1998 called and it wants it shared airplane movie screen back please. In fact, it could have been 1984 because the Karate Kid was on - nope, not the classic with Mr Miyagi but the 2010 remake with Jayden Smith and a very aged Jackie Chan...why do people take amazing classics and remake them? Immigration was actually not as bad as expected although they did ask quite a few questions"I resisted saying "It's because I am brown, is'nt it?!"
As I waited outside San Francisco International Airport for the airport shuttle with my HUGE backpack and trench coat, I was absolutely DRENCHED with sweat- and I could not stop smiling! Its amazing how happy I was to see the sun again! The shuttle also took this older lady with EIGHT bags (and a live size baby doll) who could barely get into the van. I could not help but feel sorry for her. Check in to my hostel was fine but I had trouble figuring out the old fashioned lifts- have not been in one since Equatorial Hotel in Penang Island when I was a kid.
After a much needed shower and change, I headed down to Union Square, ate a hot dog and coke along with the other overcharged 'overly-excited but pretending to be cool' tourists, and located Westfield mall. I took great comfort in the air-conditioned interior and bright lights- why do we always seek the familiar? I spent most of my teenage years in Malaysia in malls and I work in a mall in Melbourne, but yet the sight of a huge multi-story shopping complex and escalators made me feel happy and relieved. Am also ashamed to admit I located a L'occitane store to compare what they had and we didnt:P
Bought a sim card but I really dont understand the concept of paying for an INCOMING call or text- everything here is different. However the free wifi on what appears to be every corner makes up for it. I then met a friend and her husband and took advantage of the brilliant weather- went to golden gate bridge where I cam-whored it up and ended the day with an amazing burrito at Poncho Villa in The Mission, which is the Latin American area of SF.
I got a BABY burrito and it was waaaay to big- I have to keep reminding myself how large the portions are. We had Indian ice cream for dessert- they had CHIKKU flavor but i opted for the safer pistachip and almonds instead- but promptly dropped my cone outside the store. I blamed jet lag but I think we all know it was usual Kristineness. The nice Indian man gave me another scoop for free (I think he saw me take a pic of the cone and felt sorry for me!
Checked out the hostel common area- they have an awesome kitchen and party lounge- but didnt feel alert enough for socializing so came back to room. Went to bed in red Elmo summer PJs like a grandma and slept for a solid 10 hours.
I dont feel like Mary Ann Singleton yet- thank god!
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