USA & Canada Trip - World Trip Gold Edition

Author: Wu Rongshui/Country:
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Fisherman’s Wharf
To Fisherman’s Wharf, you’ll inevitably think of the American writer Jack London. He is the son of San Francisco, and the harbor he depicts is always brimming with life. Every time a ship enters, the big clock on the high-rise buildings in the port rings out, the sound echoing. The captain stands on the high bridge deck, giving orders. The dock is always noisy and bustling. Fishing boats return, Italian fishermen carry baskets of seafood ashore, and then head straight to the taverns. The scent of fish, tobacco, and strong drink lingers day and night on the dock.
Jack London described the port in 1937, before the Golden Gate Bridge was completed. He didn’t see the dock’s decline afterward, nor did he imagine it would become a lively entertainment and tourist center. Yet, people still call it Fisherman’s Wharf. Today, there are no ships setting sail or fishermen casting lines. Only ancient masts attract tourists. In the distance, a giant crab logo stands, becoming the symbol of modern Fisherman’s Wharf. Take the Powell–Mason cable car to the terminal to reach here, which includes the area between Beach Street and Jefferson Street along the coast. Almost every travel book claims with conviction that crabs from San Francisco are recognized worldwide as the most flavorful and tender. The crabs here are huge—each leg is enough to satisfy lunch and dinner. You should choose the small, fist-sized hairy crabs, covered in fine, long, red hairs, with round bellies that may seem unassuming but are full of rich yellow roe.
The dock is filled with tempting souvenir shops, where folk artists sell handmade crafts. Costumed musicians play the flute, while long-haired street painters draw portraits for visitors. It’s said that some of them have even become famous performers and artists. Additionally, Fisherman’s Wharf has a few unique museums, such as the "Unexplained Museum" and the "Believe It or Not Museum." Given such quirky names, they’re definitely worth a visit.
To the east of Fisherman’s Wharf is Pier 39, originally a cargo dock, now a bustling shopping street. Countless sea lions climb ashore from the sea to sleep and bask on the dock and the shore. P72-73