It is official. I am in love with San Fransisco. We rode vintage street cars to the Fisherman's Warf and spent the morning at Pier 39. There were so many little shops that lined the pier and each one was more unique than the last. After a couple of hours of shopping we decided to find some food. I don't normally talk about about my meals but today my lunch was exceptional. We found a crepe cafe and I ordered a turkey pesto crepe. It was delicious.
After lunch we made our way to the Alcatraz loading dock. We climbed onto a ship that took us to the island a mile and a half away. The first thing you notice about the island is the smell - dead fish and salt water. Before touring Alcatraz I had preconceived notions but now I know so much more about the lifestyle of not only the prisoneres but also the wardens and their families. Alcatraz as an island has a lot of history. It started out as a military fortress during the Civil War; then it was turned into an army prison. The prison was built by the cons themselves. In 1930 it was too costly for maintenance but was saved by the cons like Al Capone and The Bird Man. It was made into a Federal Bureau of Prisons or a penitentury. There were thirty six cons on "The Rock" that tried to escape. Seventy employees and their families lived on the island. The prison was closed in 1963 because of deterioration and lack of funds. In 1969 American Indians claimed the island as their home and lived there for 19 months; during that time the Indians regained their independence and reminded the America who was here first. The National Park service took over Alcatraz in 1972 and has been a tourist attraction ever since.
"Break the rules you go to prison. Break the prison rules and you go to Alcatraz." Alcatraz was a feared place; prisoners dreaded the day they were told they were being moved to "The Rock." The last prisoner to leave Alcatraz, Frank Weatherman, said, "Alcatraz was never no good for nobody." The convicts were numbers not individuals. Being a prison guard at Alcatraz could be a dangerous job, especially when there were riots. The bureau of prisons said in 1946, "When men of courage and steadfastness lose their lives in the faithful performance of duty, there is little that need be said by those of us who did not face the danger. Their deeds speak far more eloquently." The history of Alcatraz is both sad and inspiring. The cons who ruined their lives give us grief yet the Native Americans who re-created their past in order to give themselves a better future give us hope.
Leaving Alcatraz was like lifting a weight off our shoulders. We returned to the pier and ate a delicious dinner at Bubba Gumps and returned to our condo, ready for a good nights sleep. Like I said, I am in love with San Fransisco and I can't wait for tomorrow's adventures.
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