Not a very good night's sleep. I think I was stressed thinking about Lulu's flat purchase maybe falling through. Anyway, woke up with the alarm at 730 and we were already on the dock at Pier 35, San Francisco. An absolutely brilliantly blue sky and warm sun. Maybe about 21C, so perfect sightseeing weather.

We had breakfast and then set off to walk to Fisherman's Wharf, not very far, perhaps 15 minutes. We wanted to locate Hertz for tomorrow and also to check if there was a shuttle. No. Never mind….

Then we walked down to Fisherman's Wharf itself and had a look around. I always think it's a right tourist trap to be honest these days. It used to be quite picturesque about 25 years ago but now there are just too many t shirt shops and the like. Anyway, we had a look and then went into Starbucks for coffee and wifi. Managed to get Lu but the line wasn't good and she called us back. Good news! The purchase seems to be back on after she agreed to 50% of the legal fees for the purchase of the freehold. Not fair really but also not worth arguing about at this point. Hope to exchange now within 10 days. So glad for her and fingers continue to be crossed.

Scampered up to Ghirardelli Square and looked around there and then queued up for the historic tram to Union Square. It broke down after we got our tickets and in all we waited about an hour. Still it was a nice ride around some of the more interesting parts of town. Some of the Victorian mansions on Russian Hill and around there are just magnificent. Amazing streets, so steep, up and down. It was a good thing to do.

Got out at Union Square which is dead central main shopping district. All the big stores are around here and the big hotels. I'd stayed there once years ago at the Westin for an I.T. conference. We had a good look around the shops particularly Williams-Sonoma and Saks. Such a lovely day. We wandered around, moving downhill and walked all the way down Market Street. Had another coffee and wifi about half way down to try and catch Daisy but her bus was late back to Paris. Managed to get the blog updated and do some banking anyway.

Walked on down Market Street and came across a food stall selling Masala Dosas and other dosa delights. Well…. We had to have one and compare to the Krishna's dosa!! I have to say it was really really delicious and I'm glad we shared because it was ginormous!!!! Came with a lovely coleslaw and coriander salad. Further down there was a chai stall!!!! What is going on????

At the bottom of Market Street we met the Embarcadero again and went into the Ferry Building, now a wonderful food market. We had visited here in 2012 with Lucy before she went off on her foodie cross-country tour. It looked to be even better now. Then back across the Embarcadero we tottered, bit tired by now. Must have walked a good few miles.

Had an hour with our feet up and then next door to Pier 33 to catch the official National Park Service boat to Alcatraz for a Night Tour. They only do 2 a night and we got the latest one at 1830. Nice trip out to the island and at last after many years of trying (and not booking early enough) we got to put feet on the land. It was an excellent guided tour for part and then an even better audio tour round the cell block which was so atmospheric being night-lit. A lot of information and very very interesting. Would love to have spent longer but we had to get back for about 9pm in order to EAT!!!! We saw loads though including the very spooky hospital wing (straight out of every maniac asylum horror film you've ever seen) and the morgue!!!!

By the end I could hardly walk I was soooo tired and my lower back was just locking up. Maybe I am getting old….. anyway,, we ferried back and then walked to Pier 39 for dinner. Another very touristy place in all honesty but I just couldn''t walk any further. We had thought Chinatown but no….. anyway we struck lucky.

We ate at a place called The Crab House and it was jjust amazing. Totally enormous Dungeness crabs and I mean HUGE!! And other seafood too. First off for me was a pretty major glass of red to dull my backache and then we shared the Double Shrimp and Crab. We got over 20 huge grilled shrimps in garlic with two hot butter dipping sauces of differing flavours and a GINORMOUS crab. We had to wear bibs and in all honesty it is not a place or a dish for delicate eating or sensibilities. We fell on the platter like wild beasts, cracking and dipping and licking up hot butter and crab juice….. my god….. unbelievable value for $49.95. We met some ship friends on the way back and had to apologise for our garlicky crabness. We may go back tomorrow for more before we sail….. it was that good.

Now tucked up with a medicinal Courvoisier. Tomorrow up at the crack of sparrows and off to Napa for a bit of wine tasting……