We’re off to Fisherman’s Wharf – Pier 41 The Wharf Inn. Jump In
Welcome to the Wharf Inn on the Bay Front
San Francisco Cable Cars 1873
We rode a cable car. SAN Francisco is built on really steep hills. Until two massive Earthquakes in 1906 and 1989 there were lots of cable car routes 23. There are only 3 left. It’s the last cable system left in the world.
UThere are a few original cars left. They go up and down really really steep hills. They are pulled by underground cables.
Brakes: They need blocks of wood replaced every few days and the cables are replaced every few months.
They ring bells that are very loud – they can’t stop quickly so people have to jump out of the way.
They are really fun.
When the cars get to the end of the line at Fisherman’s Wharf the men push the cars and turn them around by hand. It’s hard work. $7 to ride.
A MASSIVE WAVE SOAKS ME
I have to change my clothes
I took a ship from Fisherman’s Wharf to see Alcatraz prison and the Golden Gate Bridge which is painted Orange.
It was very windy and the waves were really big when we got to the Golden Gate Bridge. It was the Pacific Ocean.
Right next to our ship was a World War 2 submarine and a World War 2 ship in the Bay.
The wind was really strong and the waves got bigger. They don’t look big but a huge wave was waiting for us under the bridge.
Here is a medium sized wave.
The next wave came right over the front of the boat. Right over our heads and everyone was screaming like a disaster movie. The wave came over my head and dropped right on top of me and I had to change my clothes as they were really wet. I’d only just bought my jeans and coat. They were new 😳
Dad’s phone was drenched and it wouldn’t switch off. I had to go inside the cabin to dry out. I needed a hot chocolate.
My hair, coat and jeans were soaked through. Dad was dripping wet. Sea water soaked my grey tee shirt.
We were right under the Golden Gate Bridge when it happened.
The Golden Gate Bridge FACTS FOR KIDS. SUSPENSION BRIDGE
A VISIT TO THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE BY OPEN TOP BUS. IT WAS EVEN WINDIER THAN THE BOAT but much drier 😂😂
We drove back to San Francisco
STREET ENTERTAINERS AT FISHERMAN’s WHARF
Oh no – dad got picked out by the street dancers to be a street dancer – he said he was going to do his moon walk. It’s terrible. He was really 🥴🥴🥴 in the show. He kept waving to the crowds 🥴🥴🥴🥴 LATER
Anyway. FIRST we watched a one man band. He was like my sister Kirsty’s husband Harry.
He built all the instruments himself. He really hot the crowd going.
He built all the instruments himself and comes from Kansas.
Alcatraz Prison was right behind him. I am going there tomorrow. He played the whole drum kit with just his feet.
STREET DANCING SHOW
The street dancers were amazing – flips – hip hop – break dancing and then they got dad up to dance 🕺🏽🥴 dad was loving it 🥴
OH NO. MY DAD doing DAD DANCING 🕺🏽in SAN FRANCISCO 🥴🥴🤢🤢🤭😪😪
The dancers were really funny and cool. Amazing dancers. They did lots of positive motivation and they all chanted positive messages about achieving positive things in your life.
Dad’s turn 🕺🏽 He never got to street dance 🙏🏾👍🏽 but he kept waving to the crowd 🕺🏽🥴🥴
Anyway, he had to stand still 🙏🏾 with two other dads and then this happened…
But dad got to hold hands with the street dancers and take a bow with a lot of applause. He was happy. But I think I was more happy 😁 I didn’t know he was good at standing still and not dancing 😂 I will remind him of that in the future.
SPECIAL MEAL TO SAY GOODBYE TO OUR AROUND THE WORLD ADVENTURE IN 44 DAYS
tomorrow is our last full day before we fly to Los Angeles and straight to London.
We went to the best fish restaurant AT Fisherman’s Wharf – with its own pier and big fishing boat.
I said we should eat something that we’ve never tried before. I had shrimp and dad had crab on beef. I loved it. Dad gave it 10 out of 10.
We had three waiters. They wore white chef’s tops. Every time I drank some water they filled my glass. They had a little table brush to keep our table clean and tidy.
I loved swimming with two Bottlenosed Atlantic Dolphins. One was named Lulu.
Get Ready. No jewellery or rings or necklaces or glasses.
Hello Alice
Hello Lulu – Your Soooo Cute
I held on tight to Lulu’s flippers. Wow. Lulu swam really fast on her back. I had to hold tightly. It’s brilliant. She’s extra soft. I had to concentrate to catch her and hold on.
Lulu’s brother came to have fun too. He gave me a really really fast ride. I had to hold his big fin and left flipper. He pulled me really fast.
I just kept giggling. Even after the ride. It was sooo exciting. Dolphins are really clever. They like to play and show off.
The dolphins were Atlantic Ocean Bottlenosed Dolphins. They are smaller than Pacific Bottlenosed Dolphins who need an extra layer of blubber for deep sea Pacific swimming -it’s colder. Pacific Dolphins are a dark grey and longer too.
Dolphins are mammals and have babies called dolphin calves. The mom is pregnant for a year and the calf stays with the mom between 1 and 2 years. Atlantic Dolphins like to swim closer to land. I saw a puppy dolphin swimming with its mom boy the Volcano at White Island.
Dad had to have his turn because I was too young to swim with the dolphins on my own.
Afterwards Dad needed a sit down and a ‘cold drink’ !
I went to see the sharks being fed.
I didn’t swim with sharks. They are Definitely SCARY.
The Turtles were huge. I bought my BFFs Turtle presents.
There was another dolphin pool where you were taught about dolphins too.
There were bigger Pacific dolphins in this area.
SUNSET WAIKIKI SWIM
After the day with the Dolphins I went to the beach and dad came for a swim too.
He let me stay in the sea forever. The Ocean was sooo warm. And it was really cool to be swimming when the MOON came out. The crescent of the moon was at the bottom because Hawaii is close to the equator.
Everything turns from turquoise blue to golden orange. That’s my head bobbing about.
All the surfers come in at the same time from the reef.
The Ocean was really warm and colourful.
Dad said it was like watching a film called a girl in paradise.
You can see the moon in this pic.
Touch the Moon and Reach for the Stars – I know – it’s just my dad – he needs a cold drink 😂
GOODBYE TO WAIKIKI BEACH
Hawaiin Hula Dress And last night
Elvis made his feature films in Hawaii. I saw the beach where he made his films.
Hawaiian Hulu Dress
On the last night I wore my Hawaiian dress with flowers in my hair. Dad said my hair turned gold after the sunset swim – but it was his cold drink
This was our waitress. Her name was Estella which means ‘bright star’.
THANK YOU FOR READING MY BLOG. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO MAKE A COMMENT ITS FUN
Over a thousand sailors slept in bunkbeds like this. There lots of big restaurants with a bakery and cooks. A post office. A dentist. A hospital. A factory to make engine parts.
a battle ship sunk in the surprise attack by the Japanese, there were tthare over 1100 sailors still trapped below decks. We went to the World War 2 submarine USS Bowfin.
This is me in the hotel pool and their is a spa for dad. The pool is 3 foot deep and 6 foot deep. I had to ask dad how deep that was. In New Zealand everything was measured in metres and kilometres. In Hawaii everything is measure in feet and miles.
Waikiki Beach where surfing was invented
Waikiki Beach
I went straight to the Waikiki beach.
Surfing and surf boards were invented here by Paoa Kahanamoku. called The Duke.
Between 1913 and 1932 he won 3 Olympic gold medals for swimming and 2 silvers in 4 Olympic Games. He died in 1968.
The sea was really clear and was turquoise blue everywhere.
There were hundreds of surfers. Most of them were right out to sea on the reef. But there was a lot of people learning to surf.
I found this amazing tree and this beautiful flower whilst we were out walking in the evening.
I borrowed dads phone and took this photo of the flower for my mom. It’s shaped like a heart. They are red and pink in Hawaii.
It is called an Anthurium or Ozaki. And was brought to Hawaii from England.
Hawaii ‘s really like flowers and they are part of “Aloa” which Hawaiian people say when they say ” hello”. It means love for family, friends and strangers. They like to flowers in their hair. So do I.
I really like the Ozaki.
Pearl Harbour
We are going to Pearl Harbour. Dad has told me about the ships and planes and the Americans and Japanese and World War 2 and there are sunken ships that are graves. We are going on a World War 2 submarine. Dad is very excited about Pearl Harbour.
There are lots and lots of Japanese people in Hawaii now and they are friends with everyone. And I like Sushi too. There were a lot a Japanese families out on the beach and walking around last night.
Swimming with Dolphins
I am going to meet some Dolphins and swim with them. There are sharks too – but I’m not swimming with them they might be hungry.
We are going to fly from Tauranga to Auckland and on to Honolulu.
We will be crossing the Equator and the International Date Line all in the same flight.
The Pacific is really big. Hawaii is a little dot in the middle.
When we fly across the International Date Line I will get an extra day. When I set off from Whakatane it will be February 5th. When we land at Honolulu the next morning it will be the 5th February again ! I get two February the 5ths 😃
We got to Auckland airport and the sun set when we were waiting for the plane.
I was searched by a security guard at Auckland Airport. He took my Bananagram game from my case. I had to explain what it was. I thought I was in trouble.
The flight safety film was a rap song telling you how to put your like jacket on
I love the video. It was funny.
😂😂😂😂😂
Our hotel in Honolulu is called Aqua Bamboo. SEE YOU THERE
is a spa for dad. The pool is 3 foot deep and 6 foot deep. I had to ask dad how deep that was. In New Zealand everything was measured in metres and kilometres. In Hawaii everything is measure in feet and miles.
Waikiki Beach
Around the World in 44 Days by Alice Rowland 