Alcatraz Island, San Francisco CA

The first place we went to in San Francisco was the Alcatraz Island. 

Alcatraz Island (/ˈælkəˌtræz/) is located in San Francisco Bay, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. The small island was developed with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison (1828), and a federal prison from 1934 until 1963. Beginning in November 1969, the island was occupied for more than 19 months by a group of Native Americans from San Francisco, who were part of a wave of Native activism across the nation, with public protests through the 1970s. In 1972, Alcatraz became part of a national recreation area and received designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

Today, the island's facilities are managed by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area; it is open to tours. Visitors can reach the island in a little under 15 minutes by ferry ride from Pier 33, located between the San Francisco Ferry Building and Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco. Hornblower Cruises and Events, operating under the name Alcatraz Cruises, is the official ferry provider to and from the island.

Alcatraz Island is home to the abandoned prison, the site of the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States, early military fortifications, and natural features such as rock pools and a seabird colony (mostly western gulls, cormorants, and egrets). According to a 1971 documentary on the history of Alcatraz, the island measures 1,675 feet (511 m) by 590 feet (180 m) and is 135 feet (41 m) at highest point during mean tide. However, the total area of the island is reported to be 22 acres (8.9 ha).

Landmarks on the island include the Main Cellhouse, Dining Hall, Library, Lighthouse, the ruins of the Warden's House and Officers' Club, Parade Grounds, Building 64, Water Tower, New Industries Building, Model Industries Building, and the Recreation Yard. (Wiki)

Below are the photos i took. 

Welcome to America ( Unfortunate and Awful Experience) San Francisco Smash and Grab

Our unfortunate awful experience in San Francisco California. 

I came from Philippines and my husband is from Idaho. He drove eleven hours from Idaho to California to visit his family and of course to pick me up in SFO. His family is in Merced its like three hours drive to San Francisco. He never really been to SF that much and he wants to explore SF with me, so we decided to stay for two nights in SF before going to Merced. We had really great time exploring SF on our first day. On our second day we checked out from the hotel and went look for a parking because we planned to had lunch first before heading to Merced. We parked in Waterfront Plaza Parking Garage its near to Pier 39 where we plan to had lunch. We parked at 11:30 am and head to Pier 39, we explore Pier 39 and had lunch. When we came back to the parking we were so surprised and shocked to see the back window of our car was broken. OMG all of our stuff were gone. All my three luggages that I brought with me from Philippines was gone, all gone nothings left. Good thing my passport and important documents was in the front seat and they did not see it or else it will be so much disaster. I was so very sad and furious but had to look at the bright side. We’re safe and sound. We reported it to the Police. It’s rampant to SF that kind of incident. Police said its maybe because of the out of town plate, they think that we are tourist that’s why they broke our car and get the luggage’s. The gadgets and electronics can be replaced. But seriously we had some little things that cant be replaced in there. We had our wedding album in the luggage. Some of my memorabilia’s from Philippines. I am so upset but had to move on. It’s not easy to replace all the 90 percent of my things that was gone. 

This is how America Welcomes me haha. Its like welcome to America, All are new. New Life, New Beginnings and New Things. 

So therefore to all of you who wants to visit San Francisco, be vigilant all the time. Also i heard that the car they broke the most are the rentals and out of town plates car. I know bad things like this happens anywhere in the world. Its not just San Francisco its all over the world. 

Anyways San Francisco is beautiful. We went to Alcatraz and cruising around the bay. Got up close to Golden Gate Bridge. I will blog it soon. Stay tuned. :) :)