One of the things on my list to see while in San Francisco was Alcatraz. Much to my dismay, so do millions of others. Which means, no tickets available for 3 weeks.....however, they release a few tickets every morning and if you are one of the lucky ones, well...you get a ticket. So, my sweet Guy woke up in the wee hours of the morning to drive downtown and stand in line to hopefully get some tickets. The best he could get was "stand-by" for the night tour which was exceptionally lucky! So, we had the tour on the agenda for the evening and decided to stay around San Francisco in the morning and view more of the sights. We started with breakfast at Pier 39 followed by the many shops in the area. They even had a farmers market with the biggest cheries I have ever seen....and so sweet and juicy. Yes, I ate the entire bag as we strolled along, (not such a bright idea) but I couldn't help myself.
Next stop Coit Tower, a structure similar to the Washington Monument but on a much lesser scale. A short elevator ride to the top and fabulous views of the city surround you.
We then headed back to camp and enjoyed a leisurely afternoon with a nap and stroll on the beach with the dogs before heading back to the city for our night tour. We had the first two tickets for stand-by and still did not get on the first boat. Fortunately for us, there was a second boat and 7 out of the 20 waiting as stand-by got on! The tour begins with a 20 minute ride to the island through the swift and rough currents of the bay. As the backdrop of the city skyline got smaller, anticipation grew as we began to approach the island.
Upon first examination, the island is beautiful with its steep cliffs and many species of birds inhabiting the area. However, as we sailed closer, one could see the rough condition of the buildings. I suppose with the lack of upkeep and the constant damp salt laiden and windy weather that exists here, it doesnt take long to take it's toll. However, the stimulus package from the president has dumped over 25 million dollars to restore an empty building, so repairs are underway. Okay, I understand it's a landmark and a time in history....but couldn't that amount of money be more wisely used?
Once off the boat we began a self-guided audio tour that took us through the cell blocks, dining hall, library, hospital and administration building. We were allowed to walk the grounds as well where we viewed the recreation area and guard tower as well as the army barracks and housing for the guard's families. Yes, children grew up on the Island of Alcatraz!
As the sun began to set, the jail became increasingly erie and a chill went up my spine. To think of the inmates like Al Capone, Alvin "Creepy" Karpsi, George "machine gun" Kelly and Robert Stroud, the "birdman of alcatraz" and all the activites that precided was quite bone-chilling. We toured "the hole" a part of cell block D that was used for solitary confinment for unruly prisoners. Guy volunteered to be locked up for 2 minutes. He said the worst part of the ordeal was the sound of the door as it slammed shut.
We also viewed the cells of Frank Morris and John and Clarence Anglin who chisled their way out with a spoon near their ventilation duct, through the bowels of the prison and slipped into the water. It is a mystery to this day if they made it to shore or drowned in the chilly waters of the bay. Alcatraz closed it's doors in 1963 due to funding and it remained unihabited for 6 years until the Native American Occupation took place as they demonstrated a reclamation of their land. In June 1971 federal agents removed the remaining individuals and began to bulldoze the buildings into piles of rubble. However, Congress created the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1972 which made Alcatraz part of the National Park Service and in 1973, the first visitors arrived on the island. We enjoyed our visit there and was glad that it was only a visit....
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