Day 2
Angel Island
and Alcatraz
We came to the conclusion that trolleys, cable cars, and buses were not always reliable. Depending on the crowds we may or may not get down to Pier 33 on time. We also wanted to stop at the Ferry Building for our lunch. We figured we should leave around 8 to get down to the wharf to board at 9:35 AM.
The night before an employee of the The Mark had told us about "The Club". For 60 dollars a day we could get an elaborate continental breakfast, High Tea, and hors d'oeuvres/ cocktails. We figured we would be exhausted after the boat tour so we decided to buy into the Club. Beside food prices are kind of high in San Francisco.
The Mark Hopkins is a class act. Valets, bell boys, the club, and the top of the Mark. The club was a room rich in leather and brocades and crystal chandeliers. There were elegant tables, a computer, wi fi access, comfy couches and chairs and a a TV.
Breakfast had a salmon platter(i.e. lox) with smoked white fish, a salami tray, cheeses like Brie, provolone, Gouda, bagels, pastries, fresh fruit, yogurt, and smoothies. I dined on lox and smoked fish! The brie was heavenly! I felt quite sophisticated. (smile)
Earlier in the week we had talked about the picnic lunch we wanted to take with us to Alcatraz. (By the way we got the last tickets for Angel Island and Alcatraz 3 weeks before. The tickets go quickly so be sure to order early.)
We had decided to revisit a memory from our college trip to Rome, Italy where we picnicked on the grass at the top of the forum. We went to the Ferry building for fresh bread, artisan cheese, and fruit. To be truly Roman we would have had wine to go with the meal but it was not legal to bring it on the island. (You could purchase it at the snack bar on the islands.) The bread was a dark rye, smoked Gouda cheese and pepper jack from Romanos of Crescent City, CA. (My neck of the woods!)
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| Picnic on the Palentine Hill in Rome, Italy. Jan Meier, Kris Brown. |
We boarded the boat at 9:35 and it was an hour boat ride to Angel Island, a California State Park. Besides being used for an Army post, Civil war and WW1 and 2, it was all used for the immigration of the Chinese and Japanese. Today you can bike it, camp it, and kayak it.
As a side note I must say SF has great coffee. Unfortunately you can't have any drinks on the trolley, cable car, bus, or BART. You can have a drink on the ferry though- in fact they have a snack bar on the ferry with wine and beer.
We decided to sit outside in the front of the boat. I have to say I was not prepared for how chilly it gets in SF. I wore my 1 pair of long pants, a lightweight Columbia jacket, a scarf, and hat. I still got COLD! The actual boat ride was not too bad. The islands blocked the wind.
Jan went inside but I stayed outside just to "commune" with the ocean. I just can't seem to get enough of it! This was only my 2nd time on the ocean in a boat. (Bottom fishing off Charleston, OR) I did not have any problems. The bay is really not as choppy as the ocean. I loved the tug of the wind and the occasional spray to the face.
I did not enjoy being cold on Angel Island. We took an hour tram ride on the island and there were just parts of it in the fog and shade. I wanted my heavy winter coat, gloves, blanket, and hand warmers for my pockets. One side of the island was warmer than the other. We saw old barracks, remnants of a missile site, a dairy farm, civil war remnants, and immigration quarters for the Chinese coming to America.
After the tram it was straight to the snack bar to buy coffee! We had our picnic at a table though instead of grass like at the forum.
We shared our table with a lovely couple from New Jersey who talked of Chuck Berry concerts and getting grounded. All of us were flashing back to Alcatraz movies and scenes we remembered.
It was time!
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