View from Fisherman's Wharf.Today was my last weekday before beginning my new job on Monday. Thinking, what would I do that I would not normally do on a weekend or do in a longtime while living in San Francisco, I headed to NYC's version of Times Square, Fisherman's Wharf.
Now, I understand why Rough Guide goes as far as to describe the Wharf and surrounding area as such:
"San Francisco rarely tries to pass off pure, unabashed commercialism as a worthy tourist attraction, but with Fisherman's Wharf and the nearby waterfront district, it makes an exception. It's the one place in town guaranteed to produce shudders of embarrassment from most locals. An inventive use of statistics allows the area to proclaim itself the most-visited tourist attraction in the entire country; in fact, this crowded and hideous ensemble of waterfront kitsch and fast-food stands makes a sad and rather misleading introduction to the city. It may be hard to believe, but this was once a genuine fishing port; the few fishing vessels that can still afford the exorbitant mooring charges are usually finished by early morning and get out before the tourists arrive. The shops and bars here are among the most overpriced in the city, and crowd-weary families do little to add to the ambiance." Indeed. But regardless, it's kitschy, I hadn't been in awhile and hey, Butter Lamb insisted. He wanted to see the world famous seals.
No, not those.
Now, I understand why Rough Guide goes as far as to describe the Wharf and surrounding area as such:
"San Francisco rarely tries to pass off pure, unabashed commercialism as a worthy tourist attraction, but with Fisherman's Wharf and the nearby waterfront district, it makes an exception. It's the one place in town guaranteed to produce shudders of embarrassment from most locals. An inventive use of statistics allows the area to proclaim itself the most-visited tourist attraction in the entire country; in fact, this crowded and hideous ensemble of waterfront kitsch and fast-food stands makes a sad and rather misleading introduction to the city. It may be hard to believe, but this was once a genuine fishing port; the few fishing vessels that can still afford the exorbitant mooring charges are usually finished by early morning and get out before the tourists arrive. The shops and bars here are among the most overpriced in the city, and crowd-weary families do little to add to the ambiance." Indeed. But regardless, it's kitschy, I hadn't been in awhile and hey, Butter Lamb insisted. He wanted to see the world famous seals.
No, not those.
These.
Unfortunately, because the Wharf is a tourist hot spot (think tons of kids running around with goopy, sticky and sugary treats and their clueless guardians), it was not safe nor possible to get Butter Lamb into a photo with the seals. However, he did pose with the sign at a much safer distance.
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