|
San Francisco
Port Rating: 
San Francisco
The sun finally came our as it was 85-90 degrees today. The ship was docked at Pier 27 which was farther east than the other coastal cruises that we've been on. On deck 12 we had wonderful views of Alcatraz, Coit Tower, and the Trans-America building. We got it together quickly this morning and left the ship at 10:30 to go to Union Square area. We took the F-Market/Castrol bus for $2 per person. We asked for a transfer which was good till 1:30 so we had return fare to Ghirardelli Square. (You could take always take the Mason-Powell cable cars to Chinatown then walk towards Union Square for $5 and take the F-market bus back as we did the year before)
The F Market & Wharves line is one of several light rail lines in San Francisco, California. Unlike the other lines, the F line is operated as a heritage streetcar service, using exclusively historic equipment both from San Francisco's retired fleet as well as from cities around the world. Despite its heritage status, the F Market & Wharves line is an integral part of Muni's intermodal urban transport network, operating at frequent intervals for 20 hours a day, seven days a week. Unlike the San Francisco cable car system, standard Muni $2 fares are levied.
We strolled along the street from Pier 47 back to Pier 27 visiting all the shops along the way. We stopped to see the sea lions at Pier 39. Hundreds of sea lions basking in the sun making a terrible racket for the tourists. We got back onboard at 4:00 which was longer on shore than we expected.
Pier 39 is a popular tourist attraction built on a pier in San Francisco waterfront. There are shops, restaurants, street performances, the Aquarium of the Bay, and views of California sea lions hauled out on docks on Pier 39's marina. A two-story carousel is one of the pier's more dominant features, although it is not directly visible from the street and sits towards the end of the pier. The family-oriented entertainment and presence of marine mammals make this a popular tourist location for families with kids.
|