Day 2
Monday
22nd November
Up at 6am, did some work on my photo's and pages ready for another web update, the connection is poor and keeps dropping out so can't upload anything yet.
7.30 went down to buy some breakfast from the cart in the lobby, also got some milk for a cuppa.
9.30 I headed off to Pier 33 for my cruise to Alcatraz. We landed on the island at 10.40. There was a guide there that gave us some information about the island, and some safety instructions before we went up to the top for an audio tour of the prison. The building on dock level is not a part of the prison, it housed the staff and their families in 2 bed apartments. One story the guy told us was about a question that was often asked of the people that lived here: "Aren't you scared living here?" There response was "No, we know where the murderers in our neighbourhood live." The residents never locked their doors, it was the safest place to live in SF.
The tour was fascinating, and the story of one escape had me thinking that these guys would never get a job at Madam Toussaud's but they didn't do a bad job with the materials they had access to, cement powder, soap and hair that one guy collected whilst working in the barber's shop. Quite resourcefull really. 4 of them made dummy heads, and over time had been tunnelling through the back cell wall with a spoon. The heads were put in their beds and they made it out by climbing the pipes in the maintenance corrider behind the cell. 3 of them were never seen again. The prison was closed 9 months later on June 11, 1962.
It was so fascinating I missed the ferry that I was supposed to catch to get me back in time to the the Muir Woods tour. Oh well, I'm sure you've seen enough trees on this trip that you won't mind missing a few tall cedars.
Back at the hotel I booked the shuttle for the airport tomorrow, another early start, I have to leave at 5.45am. That done it was time to shut my grumbling stomach up once more. I decided to treat myself, as I missed the afternoon tour I'd splash out on a posh restaurant. I had the best Seafood Spaghetti at Alioto's Italian Restaurant. The squid would have impressed you Sandy, no Goodyear or Bridgestone here. Hey Gem, I even managed to fit in a dessert.
After a short wander I was back in my room at 7.20. You'll be impressed though, I went in 3 shops and came out of all empty handed. :-) What was that? Did I hear a "Thank Goodness" from some of you? I am sure Matt's relieved after all the parcels he's collecting. Hope you get #5 before I get home. :-)
Up at 6am, did some work on my photo's and pages ready for another web update, the connection is poor and keeps dropping out so can't upload anything yet.
7.30 went down to buy some breakfast from the cart in the lobby, also got some milk for a cuppa.
9.30 I headed off to Pier 33 for my cruise to Alcatraz. We landed on the island at 10.40. There was a guide there that gave us some information about the island, and some safety instructions before we went up to the top for an audio tour of the prison. The building on dock level is not a part of the prison, it housed the staff and their families in 2 bed apartments. One story the guy told us was about a question that was often asked of the people that lived here: "Aren't you scared living here?" There response was "No, we know where the murderers in our neighbourhood live." The residents never locked their doors, it was the safest place to live in SF.
The tour was fascinating, and the story of one escape had me thinking that these guys would never get a job at Madam Toussaud's but they didn't do a bad job with the materials they had access to, cement powder, soap and hair that one guy collected whilst working in the barber's shop. Quite resourcefull really. 4 of them made dummy heads, and over time had been tunnelling through the back cell wall with a spoon. The heads were put in their beds and they made it out by climbing the pipes in the maintenance corrider behind the cell. 3 of them were never seen again. The prison was closed 9 months later on June 11, 1962.
It was so fascinating I missed the ferry that I was supposed to catch to get me back in time to the the Muir Woods tour. Oh well, I'm sure you've seen enough trees on this trip that you won't mind missing a few tall cedars.
Back at the hotel I booked the shuttle for the airport tomorrow, another early start, I have to leave at 5.45am. That done it was time to shut my grumbling stomach up once more. I decided to treat myself, as I missed the afternoon tour I'd splash out on a posh restaurant. I had the best Seafood Spaghetti at Alioto's Italian Restaurant. The squid would have impressed you Sandy, no Goodyear or Bridgestone here. Hey Gem, I even managed to fit in a dessert.
After a short wander I was back in my room at 7.20. You'll be impressed though, I went in 3 shops and came out of all empty handed. :-) What was that? Did I hear a "Thank Goodness" from some of you? I am sure Matt's relieved after all the parcels he's collecting. Hope you get #5 before I get home. :-)