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Published: November 8th 2012
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Had a quiet day yesterday suffering from the after effects of a big walk from Market St to the Golden Gate Bridge the day before so watched surfers and slept on the beach. Today awoke ready for my visit to Alcatraz looked out of the window guess what, foggy still I guess it sets the scene for the visit. Caught the MUNI in to SF everyone was either plugged in to a phone or looking like a zombie standing or sitting with their eyes shut. The train was really crowded and all these people with their eyes closed was like something off a horror movie. Anyway arrived at the quay ready to catch the boat. Can't believe the difference in the weather from yesterday to today the temperature must have dropped about twent five degrees. So picture the image try and put yourself in the prisoners shoes, there you are on the dock waiting to be shipped on to an island where there is pretty much no hope of escaping. The air is cold and the mist hangs over the city like a shroud, this might be the last time you see any sort of normality for years. Prior to being
a prison the island was a military post. So the infrastructure of buildings was there. During the depression when the gangsters ran riot Alcatraz became a prison for the most notorious gangsters like Al Capone who sent four and a half years of his sentence on here. Despite the film the birdman of Alcatraz, Robert Stroud never had any birds here he kept birds whilst at Leavenworth Penitentiary. Apparently he was an extremely intelligent man but completely mad. Apart from food water and medical care the prisoners were given nothing. The cells were about 6 x 4 and all that was in theme was a toilet a sink and a sort of shelf that was used as a desk. They were not allowed any personal items and rarely had visitors. The hole as it was called for the bad boys was a cell with one door and no light. Once the door was closed there was no light whatsoever. On the tour you hear thE transcripts of the prison officers and prisoners along with sound effects which adds to the atmosphere. Three men did escape once by digging a hole through the wall behind the sink and then climbing through
some ducting to the roof. Apparently they got off the island with a man made boat made from a raincoat. They were never found and are believed to have drowned in the cold water and currents that surround the island. It is quite a bleak place but I guess it may have a different atmosphere on a sunny day. The commentary tells us that because it is only one and a half miles from the city prisoners could actually hear parties etc. going on which reminded them of the life they were missing. After the gaol closed the Native Indians took over the island in a bid to bring attention to their plight and as a result the government made changes. It is now a National Park.
After the trip a retail therapy was necessary as my granddaughters birthday is in a few days. Ono the way back to the MUNI I saw a lady with a pair of trousers that had a huge sunflower design on them. I just love SF, it's fun, weird, whacky and there are some great musicians here. Today it was the turn of a great saxophonist.
Saw this on a poster today
quote by Jimi Hendrik "when the power of love is more than the love of power, then there will be peace". How true!!!!
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