POSTCARD FROM CALIFORNIA
Along the Bay
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From Pier 39 to Hard Rock Café, the Bay area has enough attractions to make you wish you had more time on your hands.
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Photo: AFP
Picture-perfect beaches: Ideal ambience to unwind.
IT was my first visit to California. My flight made a smooth landing in San Jose airport on a glorious January afternoon. Having heard so much about its IT industry, I was quite eager to explore the lighter and sunnier part of the State rather than its IT opulence. The next morning my brother and I hit the road and drove towards San Francisco on Highway 101. We headed towards Pier 39, a popular tourist destination on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. We decided to visit the six top attractions of the bay area breaking for food and drink along the way!
Sea-lebrities
Our first stopover was the grandstand attraction of sea lions next to the Pier Bridge. Nick named "Sea Lebrities" their cute mannerisms attract every single visitor to stop by and enjoy their endearing ways for hours. After the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, these pinnipeds started arriving in droves around 1990 and soon with the good protection available on the docks, their numbers swelled to more than 300 within a few months.
Pier 39 was once a commercial area, which has been converted into a shopping and dining complex. It not only appeals to shoppers and souvenir-seekers, but every visitor because it has a lively character about its ambience. Be it young, dating couples, a lone tourist or a group of non-English speaking vacationers, there is something here for everyone.
Aquarium of the Bay
Being a nature lover myself, it was heartening to get a glimpse of the cross section of marine life at the aquarium. Standing next to the sharks is an adventure of discovery and learning by itself. The aquarium gives an opportunity for people who cannot dive underwater to be face-to-face with San Francisco's fascinating marine life. The 300-feet crystal clear tunnels house colourful marine creatures such as varieties of fish, eels, octopuses and other marine animals.
San Francisco carousel
Our next stopover was at the San Francisco carousel. Handcrafted in Italy and intricately hand-painted, the carousel depicts famous San Francisco landmarks including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Coit Tower, Chinatown, Lombard Street, Alcatraz and the popular California sea lions at Pier 39. It is the only carousel in the country that has artistic renderings of its home city. Eighteen hundred twinkling lights illuminate this carousel, which features classic moving horses, rocking chariots, spinning tubs and swings. Throughout the ride, patrons hear traditional organ music and see Pier 39's bustling promenade.
Hard Rock café
The sun was shooting up but I was surprised to feel a cool breeze gushing through my hair. We walked down the pier on to the Embarcadero to the Hard Rock café and it was time to cool ourselves with a mug of beer. Embarcadero sustained a major damage during the 1989 earthquake but is today lined with plazas, walks and parks with public pier access which give visitors and residents a chance to enjoy the spectacular waterfront setting. Hard Rock café on Pier 39 is a popular getaway destination overlooking the ocean. We quietly slipped in to enjoy the wonderful ambience of its superbly set-up interiors, not to forget the fantastic view of Alcatraz.
This is a great place to get back your energy and put your feet up. The café is also famous for its exquisite collection of memorabilia from famous rock stars. Today there are more than 70,000 guitars, drums, pianos, harmonicas, microphones, shirts, pants, scarves, shoes, handwritten lyrics, cars, bikes, a bus and assorted rock memorabilia from stars like Eric Clapton, Tori Amos, Rolling Stones, to name a few.
Out on Pier 39, we sat on one of the pavement seats overlooking the pedestrian bridge where cable cars caught my attention. For tourists, San Francisco cable cars are not a means of transportation but an attraction; something one has to "experience" if they visit the bay.
Street performers
Pier 39 is the perfect place to watch San Francisco's world-famous street performers. These multi-talented tricksters, magicians, jugglers, comedians and mimes entertain Pier 39 visitors daily at the Crystal Geyser Alpine Spring Water Center Stage. The laughter that emanates from these tricksters keeps you enlivened for days. These zany performers are there every single day and the show is free for all.
On the ferry
While walking on the Pier is a wonderful experience, it is altogether a different thing to cruise along the bay area. A ferry ride offers a panoramic view of the Pier, with uphill roads, buildings and the San Francisco skyline at the backdrop.
It was time to wind up our tour and indulge in some excellent food which was not a problem to find. In fact there was so much variety to choose from that we were literally scratching our heads about where we should be dining that night. While in this area, one can one also relish the aroma of some exotic seafood delicacies. "Killer Crab" (Whole crab roasted in a proprietary garlic sauce), sizzling crab legs, crab chowder, crab Caesar, crab enchilada and crab cakes are some of the much sought after courses.
The sun was going down at the far end of the Pacific Ocean painting a colourful picture on the horizon. The temperature dipped down dramatically and home seemed like a cozy place to be in. Truth be told, I wished I had more time to linger around the Pier and soak up its vibrant energy.
D.K. BHASKAR
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