It was somewhat of a relief being in port yesterday, after the not very nice sea day from Los Angeles the day before. Apparently, there’s a stomach condition some people (including me) are experiencing which feels rather like seasickness. In fact, I thought that the turbulence of the Pacific Ocean had indeed got the better of me, and I invested in further seasick pills whose cost had doubled to $12.25 since March! I did feel better in the evening and found myself actually on the dance floor, just like when I was in my early twenties!
I left the Queens Room when the band had finishes its set for the evening, returned to my room, and caught up on my blog and other outstanding business. As usual, I woke up in the night several times, but went straight back to sleep. Finally, I was awakened by the ship’s siren, as we approached the Golden Gate Bridge in thick fog. I tried to go back to sleep, but nearby vessels were also sounding their discordant horns! I parted the curtains of my stateroom just in time to take the murky photographs which open this blog.
My chosen shore experience in San Francisco was Alcatraz and Sausalito. In fact, a tour of part of San Francisco was also added at the beginning, before crossing the Golden Gate Bridge to the lovely riverside town of Sausalito, with its very high-end shops, bars, eateries etc. I succumbed to the temptation of buying a revolving black and silver globe which will be shipped to Harpur Hill at the beginning of July. I then purchased a chicken and avocado sandwich which acted as lunch when consumed discreetly between Sausalito and the Dock at Alcatraz!
From the tranquil and pleasant Californian settlement of Sausalito, Alcatraz made a sharp and brutal contrast. The coach dropped us off at (I think) Pier 27. The tour guide issued us with till receipt type passes for the ferry and entrance to what comes under the National Parks. Alcatraz, which closed in 1963, is completely reliant on admission charges, donations, souvenir sales and fundraising. The walk to the top didn’t feel too steep, and we passed several exterior buildings along the way.
The best way to navigate this huge complex is with the audio tour. One is given an electronic device not dissimilar to a TV remote control panel. A recorded voice guides the visitor at his chosen pace through the prison cells in many different locations. The voices of prison warders and inmates describe in uncompromising detail, life inside.
As you can see from some of the pictures, nice views are to be had from “The Rock”. This, of course was a pleasure denied to prisoners, incarcerated for up to twenty-three hours a day in cells smaller than my bathroom at home, as shown in these photographs. Walking around inside was a sobering but enlightening experience. I didn’t come away as an authority on Alcatraz. Books need to be read, and the place visited several times to gain a real comprehension of Alcatraz. Did anyone ever escape? There were several attempts, but again, I need to read more on the subject.
I opted for the 16.30 hrs ferry back to the mainland. As in Los Angeles, we were blessed with a gorgeous, if cool at times, clear day with pristine skies, and bursts of warm sunshine. It was cool and very windy on the top deck of the ferry in both directions. There were patches of distant fog which shrouded the Golden Gate Bridge, as well as elsewhere.
After walking the short distance back to the ship, I joined two table companions for drinks at a trendy bar/restaurant on the opposite side of the main road and F Line tramway, which runs past the piers. Still, I don’t “drink”. However, I did enjoy a refreshing sugar-free fruit cocktail billed on the price list as a spaceman. The girls had strange cocktails at even stranger prices! There are no Wetherspoons in the shadow of Silicon Valley!
After debating a bar bill which raised the eyebrows, we made our way back to the ship, across the wide road and tramway operated purely by vintage trams restored to the appropriate livery of the cities they once served. To me, this adds even more charm to one of the world’s most attractive cities. Unusually, we did not need to be on board until 9 pm. However, dinner, at our new assigned table 505, still on Deck 3, and by a starboard window, was at 8.30. There was opportunity to witness and record one of the best sunsets seen on this voyage.
So, we had a new table, new waiters, and a new “first day”. Passengers were scheduled to embark at San Francisco for the start of their holiday. It was also the end of the cruise for many, most of whom would return to their homes almost immediately. Dinner was rather late in materialising, especially as our orders became cross-hobbled. I think it all worked out in the end! Tomorrow would be another (sea) day, and the start of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Many thanks for reading, David. Blog completed, Friday 3rd June, 08 28 hrs.
David's Cruise 