the good life: Alcatraz

What a big week it's been for our little girl!! First camping and then a trip to Alcatraz!! She's such a trooper. Tuesday for Matt's last day off we decided to do something we had been wanting to do since moving here and that was to visit Alcatraz. Matt bought the tickets online so we wouldn't have to wait in line once we got there and we decided to take the ferry across to avoid having to find parking. This was all good in theory but it made for an interesting adventure. We arrived at Fisherman's Wharf with plenty of time to walk down to Pier 33 to catch our ferry over to Alcatraz. Soon enough we were in line to board when Matt noticed something wrong with our tickets!! They were for Wednesday not Tuesday!!! This was not good since Matt had to work Wednesday and the tickets clearly stated no refunds or exchanges and the ferry was booked until the next day!! So we get out of line and head over to the ticket booth to try and figure out what we can do. They were kind enough to give us standby tickets but even that wasn't a guarantee we'd get on that day. As we were in the standby line we decided to come up with ideas of what to do if we didn't get to go that day. As much as I didn't want to go our first time to Alcatraz without Matt, I really didn't want to just throw away $50!! Fortunately for us we got on anyways and were very relieved!! We had so much fun on the tour and it was very interesting. I learned a lot!!
After we were through with the tour we decided we needed to get something to eat!! Unfortunately we had been craving Joe's Crab Shack and that was in the opposite direction as the Ferry Building that we needed to be at before 8:25 but we figured we had plenty of time and that it would be ok. This trip to Joe's was the most fun because there were a lot of kids there and the employees were doing more dancing than usual and Alyssa loved it!! We were having so much fun we lost track of the time and when Matt looked at the time it was 8:06!! How in the world were we going to make it to the Ferry Building when it was at least 2 miles down the road!! We made a mad dash out of the restaurant and down the sidewalk running as fast as we can and trying to spot a cab at the same time since that was the only way we were going to make it in time if it was even possible!! Matt thankfully finds and cab and we pile in as fast as we can and ask the guy if he thought we could make it before the ferry left and he sounded pretty confident!! Normally I would be scared out of my mind the driving that he did and to tell you the truth I still was since my precious daughter was in there with us!! We made it to the building with 4 minutes to spare but we still had to get to the pier that had our ferry. I was terrified we weren't going to make it but I ran with the stroller and Matt ran with Alyssa and we made it with 2 minutes to spare. Next time I think I'll drive and pay the parking just so I don't have to stress as much!! What an adventure for Alyssa though!! She was smiling the entire time!!