Keropie's Cuties: Alcatraz...

Sunday 20/7/08

After waking up well after 9am most of the time we made an extra effort to be up early this morning for our early bird tour of Alcatraz. We walked to Pier 33 just past Fisherman's Wharf to board the ferry for the 15 min ride across the bay to "The Rock".

The Bay Bridge was off to the left of us, the Golden Gate Bridge was off to the right and today was a little extra special as there wasn't any fog hiding it and all it's glory.

We hopped off the ferry to be greeted by a Park's Ranger complete with ranger hat! He informed us of the do's and don't's and some interesting things to take note of. Alcatraz was absolutely fascinating - the history of it, the stories during the course of it's life - we hung off every word we read and heard.
The tour started with a short film giving a background of "The Rock". It initially was a Military Base as it is situated in the Bay but with perfect view of the heads out to the ocean. Over time it became a military prison and then became the prison as we all know it. It's security mechanisms were upgraded when it was decided to be changed into a prison for hardened criminals. People that worked at Alcatraz actually lived on the Island - guards, wardens etc and their families. However contact with the Prisoner's was not possible and very segregated that they never saw each other. The children would catch a ferry to school everyday and back again.
We did an audio guided tour and the gaol's reputation is true to form. It actually appears as it does in the movies!! Does anyone else find things like this surreal?
One of the rangers ended up doing a demonstration of how the goal cell doors open and close and we saw a row of 14 cells in unison doing just that. The sound of clanking of the doors sent shivers down my spine.
A lot of the buildings around Alcatraz are now extremely weathered like the Warden's House and Social Hall. There are no roofs or floors on these 2 - 3 leveled buildings. They are now just a shell of their former existence which adds to the eeriness as you try to imagine what it was like to live just outside the block of cells that housed the worst of the worst.

We caught the ferry back to Pier 33 and walked a few minutes up the road to Pier 39. Pier 39 is a tourist mecca full of tourist stores and seafood restaurants. However, it had a great atmosphere and we enjoyed a lot of window shopping and a fire juggling show. We strolled around the pier until we came to the barges where the sea lions reside. Apparently they showed up in 1990 and haven't left. The population of the sea lions dwindle in summer and can reach up to 400 in winter. We enjoyed watching them for a time as they barked at each other, we would make up things that we think they would be saying if they could talk. It was really hilarious!
Another place we stopped at was "The Hard Rock Cafe". Damien and Aurora wanted some shirts that Bono and Edge designed where money from the sale goes towards charity. We also spotted much memorabilia that was awe inspiring, like the guitar of George Harrison and Elvis's trademark sunnies LOL

Strolling back to Pier 41 we stopped at a restaurant for some crab chowder which seems to be the go here. I had no idea what chowder is - and if you also have no idea then that makes me feel better LOL It was just a creamy soup with crab meat - quite tasty. They also like serving it in sourdough bread rolls. Had a problem with the waiter though, he couldn't seem to understand my Aussie accent even though he too spoke English LOL So hence the service wasn't so great - never mind, but come to think of it I don't think it would have been anyway after realising that they were shuffling people in and out and taking their money. If only TJ's sold hot chowder LOL

We all had a wonderful day and going to Alcatraz rates high up on the Pearce Family holiday fun scale.