Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman's Wharf is definitely one of my favourite spots in San Francisco!  It's an entire stretch of street filled with wonderful restaurants and cafes, tourist souvenior shops, many interesting knick knack type shops, and even a Madame Tussauds Wax Museum!  

This picture was taken 2 years ago on my first trip to San Francisco.  Why didn't I post a recent picture?  Just take a look at the quality of the wax figures.. who are they?? EXACTLY!  I wasn't about to waste money to see this museum again!

Again this picture was taken 2 years ago with my mother.  :)

But my absolute favourite spot along Fisherman's Wharf has to be Pier 39.  This area oozes "tourist trap" but it's just portraited so beautifully that one would immediately forget about the extra prices you pay for food and drinks just to enjoy the wonderful ambience this place provides.

This day that we visited the wharf was another beautiful day with clear blue skies and warm-ish temperatures.  Pier 39 was packed with many locals and tourists, all taking advantage of this beautiful weather.  

Just walking up and down this pier, it feels like stepping into a whole new area and era.  It's like walking back in time to the cowboy era in the old wild wild west... minus the sand and the dust!  Shops here includes many restaurants such as Bubba Gump Shrimp (FORREST GUMP!! :P) and Crab House and interesting shops such a shop dedicated to left handed people (I am so taking Christine here) and a shop that sells all sports team name outfits and university outfits.  

Right in the middle of the pier is a magnificent carousel that totally brought out the inner child in me.  If only I had a willing participant to ride the carousel with me.... :(

Absolutely Magnificent!!!

They even have a giant Claw game machine with giant stuff toys as prizes.  Again, if only I had a willing participant to help me win a prize... :(

One of the famous attraction in this place are the seals that hangs around this pier.  Nobody knows why they just hang around, although they did mysteriously disappear for a whole year last year but now they are back!

Logically thinking, as a seal, why would I ever want to leave this pier!  The waters around have abundant amounts of food (from the sea and also from the oogling tourists!), they are perched on floating decks that has full exposure of sunlight and is secluded enough so no one can disturb them, and they are celebrities of the pier!  Pretty good deal if you ask me...

Personally, I think another important under appreciated attraction on this pier are the seagulls.  I have NEVER seen such huge seagulls ever in my life!!  If you have ever wondered to yourself, how did the birds in the Alfred Hitchcock movie ever killed anyone?  Well, if they were the size of the seagulls here, all I can say is RUN FOR YOU LIVES!!!

Alcatraz, the famous prison island, is just a boat ride away from the pier.  

A secluded prison on a private island... eventhough it is quite a distance away, I swear I can feel the sense of foreboding terror and solitariness that this massive hunk of concrete building gives.  Thankfully it's no longer used as a prison and is now a tourist destination which I hope to visit one day.  

Ok, now to show you my FAVOURITE reason for coming to Pier 39.  The Crab House!  I was introduced to this restaurant two years ago by my twin sister Lisa, and in my 3 visits to San Francisco, I have probably frequent this joint about 8 times now.  Many will confirm that I have a sick addiction to crabs of all sorts.  Mud crabs, flower crabs, King crabs, snow crabs.. and my number one favourite, dungeness crabs!  

Cooked in generous amounts of garlic butter, this sweet dungeness crabs are simply divine.  Only the claws are served and the best part about eating this crab is cracking open the shell and pulling out huge chunks of meat that makes all the hard work of cracking it so worth it.

Such an enjoyable meal that this couple of oblivious to anything or anyone around them... only the presence of the dungeness crabs.. :)

As hubby Phong always claim, this is the only time that I am silent cause I'm too busy concentrating on eating them.  True story.... 

In fact during our lunch with Rina and Clements, the only sound you could hear for a good 30 minutes was the sound of shells cracking.  Of course occasionally you will hear squeals of laughter as pieces of shells become airborne and acted as projectile missile aiming at unsuspecting victims (namely Phong!).

Another satisfied customers at The Crab House!  Now, have you booked your ticket to San Francisco yet???  :)