Riding Cable Cars In San Francisco

When I lived in the Bay Area of California one of the things I really enjoyed was riding the San Francisco cable cars. I'm sure you've seen many movies with the famous panoramic scene of the Powell-Mason cable car where it seems almost perched at the top of Russian Hill. You can see the magnificent view all around of the Pacific. Breathtaking! And yes...people do actually hang on the sides from the poles! San Francisco is very easy to get around by public transit, which is recommended particularly if you're not accustomed to driving up and down very steep hills. Currently the charge for riding the cable cars is $5.00, but you can also purchase day passes called Passports. They provide unlimited travel on different modes of transit in addition to the cable cars.

To visit The San Francisco Cable Car site click here. There are 3 cable car lines, 2 that go to different parts of Fisherman's Wharf. The other goes through downtown, east to west. So go through them all, there's a lot going on in San Francisco. Check out this site for 20 things to see and do while you're there. 

Been to this amazing city yet? Feel free to comment below on what you enjoy about San Francisco!

Happy Travels,

Sondra Carpenter

Pack Your Bags Travel

http://PackYourBagsTravelNow.com

Tip For Shopping In The Caribbean Markets

One of my favorite activities in the Caribbean (other than spending time on the beach, of course) is shopping in the crafts markets. I love checking out the beautifully handcrafted items available. I've seen so many items offered from intricately woven baskets, scarves, hand carved wooden statues, original paintings from local artists, hats, and jewelry boxes just to name a few. 

What's important to remember, though, is that by touching something and picking it up you're actually indicating to the seller that you're an interested buyer. That's the way the bartering system works in the Caribbean handicraft and produce markets. So unless you're sure that you're ready to make a purchase, look but don't touch! You don't want to cause confusion in the marketplace. If you have questions, just ask the sellers, they'll go out of their way to help you. So look around and have fun, but know how to play the bartering game!

One of my favorite purchases from a Caribbean marketplace is from Negril, Jamaica. It's a small brightly colored painting of people taking a break after harvesting fruit. After some bargaining I got it for $20.00 USD. The bargaining process is part of the fun for me.

Want to share your story about your special find at a crafts market? Feel free to comment below on what you bought, where you got it and how much you paid.

Happy Shopping!

Sondra Carpenter

Pack Your Bags Travel

http://PackYourBagsTravelNow.com

Smart Packing Tips

This site has some great tips on packing light and getting through airport security quickly. Click the link below.

Smart Packing - Home

Sondra Carpenter
Pack Your Bags Travel