Last Sunday I had in agenda a political event in San Francisco (apparently I can’t go without politics even on the other side of the Atlantic… or on the Pacific indeed!) and of course it was a good occasion to sightsee a little bit in the City. I didn’t have too much time, actually, so I planned a very short program: lunch at the Ferry Building’s Marketplace – which I had talked about in my previous post – and then rapid sightseeing around Pier 39.

As I had guessed last time, the Marketplace is literally appetizing: there are a lot of tempting places and for sure it would be worth to come here more than once (also because there were a couple of places specialized in fish which appeared really interesting but which had a huge queue, incompatible with my schedule).

After eating a tasty sandwich with beef and BBQ dressing on the Bay shore, I take some more random pictures at the Ferry Building and sorroundings…

 

… and then I move to Pier 39. By the way, concerning eating, I anticipate some criticisms from the readers who know San Francisco: I already knew that Pier 39 is famous, among other things, for the crab dishes, but due to my tight agenda, I didn’t want to do everything in a hurry with the risk of not enjoying it. I will have time for that.

Anyway, some fifteen minutes of F tram and I’m there (no tramcar from Milan, though: this time the car comes from Dallas, and from the forties). Pier 39 is the starting point of the Fisherman’s Wharf, which is a promenade of about one mile on the Northern San Francisco’s seashore, with a view over the Golden Gate Bridge, as you can see from the photo (well, it’s not super clear indeed, there is a bit of mist – and then, yes, my Samsung S6 is not a professional camera!).

It must be said that my guide doesn’t talk too enthusiastically about the Fisherman’s Wharf, which is essentially a tourist attraction in the most “commercial” sense. Let’s quote the guide itself: “There are three main reasons attracting people here: water, the irresistible lure of sloppiness, and restaurants specialized in fish. Food, shopping and attractions for families make the Fisherman’s Wharf the trap… uhm, the most appreciated tourist attraction in San Francisco”. I don’t know if this applies to the whole Fisherman’s Wharf, but it surely does to Pier 39: it is indeed a bit a circus, but the atmosphere is really attractive.

Plus, there is a nice view of the city behind it.

Precisely in front of Pier 39 we also find Alcatraz.

And naturally, them: the sea lions colony, which settled here in 1990, is the real attraction of Pier 39!

Apparently 2017 is also the 39th anniversary of Pier 39, and this thing must be celebrated: fair enough!

Gosh, it is already late and I have to go: to be continued!

PS. I reached the event two minutes in advance, and I was one of the very first: it’s no fun like this 🙂