The city of SAN FRANCISCO is a real paradise for shopahlics.

There's something for everyone in the city, and sales and discount are pratically everyday occurrences.
Most of the famous store names are downtown, above all on Presidio Heights, while the most exclusive are to be found by Union Square.
But then, every tourist simply has to go and see the famous Golden Gate Bridge and the fort of Alcatraz.
So it's time to head for the marina.

The bay shore is like one huge market place selling souvenirs, and all the souvenirs are marked with black and white stripes, exactly the same as those on the clothes of the Alcatraz inmates.
This is because in this part of San Francisco life revolvers around the former prison, the world's most famous.
All possible books abaout the fort are on display along Bay Street and the Embarcadero.
They are signed by the obligatory 'former prisoners of Alcatraz' boasting an appropriate three-day growth an suitably gloomy countenance.
An unending row of shops opening out over the bay offer a full range of T-shirts, such as those proclaiming 'Alcatraz - the best hotel in the city', Psychiatric prisoner no. 042 from the Alcatraz hospital'or Alcatraz - open all day'- all for between 10 and 20 dollars.
Woman looking for a surprise gift for a friend can choose from black-and-white striped nightshirts (15-30 dollars) or thongs (10 dollars).
For little children you can buy a prison bib (15 dollars) or a striped mug (from 4 to 17 dollars).
And of course you can buy caps, bags, handbags, tennis shoes and anything that might be useful for an honest prisoner.
Another attraction on the shore is that of the seafood stall.
You can enjoy a crunchy snack of deep-fried seafood while walking around in the colourful crowds.
The youngest visitors will fall in love whit the great 'World of Jungle', a multistorey shop whith life-sized elephants and giraffes; all over the store you can hear the sound of the jungle, and gigantic exotic fish swim around in the enormous aquaria.
Closer to the center, on Sacramento Street, you can buy the most exclusive jewellery in the city.
Windows displays shine with rubies, emeralds, diamonds and pink sapphires set in pure platinum.
At Dean Hutchinson, on the same street, you can find clothes by designers from all over the world, for from 40 to a few hundred dollars.
Great deals are to be had the two GAP shops on Union Square, where there are frequent discounts.
Booklovers should look into Tillman Place Bookstore on Grant Ave near Union Square.
Tourists could certainly find it helpful to pop into Rand McNally on Second Street, with thousand of maps and guidebooks.
Bold and slightly crazy travellers should make sure they visit the Haight-Ashbury close to Buena Vista Park, where the 1960s are still alive and kicking.
Any fantasy can be fulfilled in the shops here, for example a live-size figure of Presley, a crazy wig, eccentric clothes, anarchistic books, posters with Jesus, costumes for Halloween, a drag-queen dress, a Hawaiian shirt and everything that can help you have a fantastic time.
When returning from San Francisco, then apart from the flowers in you hair you'll definitely also have a black and white striped cap and bags full of unusual and far from inexpensive shopping.