Have you ever heard so many different languages in one place? French over there, Chinese right here, Korean somewhere by that building and German over at that hot dog stand! The amount of people within the city's walls is shocking. All speaking different languages but still being able to communicate. There are several tours offered in this place and if you choose to do the audio tours the languages are endless. If you want to visit a place of certain culture, I would advise visiting Chinatown or Japantown. Bustling with the tourist crowds, it is very hard to navigate through but if you stop into the shops and restaurants it becomes less of a crowd and more just locals. It's absolutely remarkable.
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| (Image Courtesy to Ritz Carlton) |
San Francisco's Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in the nation as well as the biggest outside of Asia. Being one of the most popular tourist attractions, it is also one of the most crowded. Gift shops and unique dining places are distributed along each side of the street. Try to not waste your time in the gift shops though, try to learn some about the history and what the people do, not just on bobble heads and t-shirts. Japantown holds the same opportunities as Chinatown but with a different aspect of culture. Yes, there is a lot of cultural cuisine and shops but they also have cultural entertainment and experiences. In the courtyard, festivals and activities are held for visitors. Again, like most attractions, there is a massive amount of people, all trying to see the same thing. But, it is quite interesting for those who haven't been out of the country and want to learn more.
If you want to learn some of the history of old San Francisco, look no further than the Alcatraz Penitentiary. The island in the bay is know as "The Rock" and is known to hold the most dangerous of criminals such as: Al Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Robert Stroud "The Birdman of Alcatraz, and so many more. All of which convicted unforgivable crimes. Taking the tour, enables you to view every cell and hear inmates stories about the Battle of Alcatraz, the Escape from Alcatraz and several more. Every year, there is a race starting at the prison and ending at the Golden Gate Bridge. You have to swim through ice cold water and then run to the finish, to feel like the escapees.
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| (Image Courtesy to iNe Tours) |
There is so much more to talk about but I don't want to spoil it. If you've already been here, I would propose going again because chances are you missed something. Ride the cable car, take a ferry, ride a bike across the Golden Gate. Just unwind, have fun and learn a thing or two. Good luck! :)
