Alcatraz!

Well, my lack of Internet access has certainly sent my posts to a screeching halt. BUT, I just found out that my local library has free wi-fi and is open until 7 pm. Can you say 'awesome?' Hopefully I will be back on a regular basis for the foreseeable future.

Now that I'm back, the question is: Where to begin? I think I'll begin with accomplishments. Back in July, I managed to cross not one but two things off my 30 Before 30 list. For this post, I will only talk about my visit to Alcatraz. I also made it to my third concert of the year, but as I am going to a fourth this Friday, I will wait and post about it after I get back from that.

(Right off the boat)

 

So, Alcatraz. A group of friends and I went to San Francisco in July for a week of fun, and our last tourist activity was a tour of Alcatraz on Friday afternoon. We originally had wanted to see it earlier in the week, but it didn't work out. It turned out better that we had to wait. After a week of being together, some on the trip were a little tired of, well, being together. Alcatraz afforded the perfect opportunity to break away from the group (which is what I did when I got tired of frayed tempers). There was a lot about Alcatraz that I didn't know. Did you know that there are beautiful gardens on the island? That it used to be a fort? That Native Americans staged a sit-in on it in the 60's? Well, now you do!

(Sigh. Why do I do that with my hands in pictures?)

 

The weather was beautiful on the day we went--sunny and cool. We couldn't have had better weather if we ordered it. My initial impression upon disembarking from the ferry was surprise; I didn't expect the island to be so...rundown. It was neat, don't get me wrong, but I was a little disappointed if I'm being honest. We started the trek up to the prison, and I couldn't help but be a little dismayed thinking I had built the place up to impossibly high expectations.

(Remnants of one of the buildings)

 

 

But, then we got to the jail, and the experience became everything I hoped it would be. If you ever find yourself on Alcatraz, I highly recommend that you take the audio tour of the prison. I had my doubts but found it to be engaging and interesting.

 

(An inmate had fashioned a bar spreader that led to an almost successful escape attempt)

Eventually, I split off from everyone in my group and headed for the gardens. I think I was the only one of us to traverse every single sidewalk visitors were allowed on. What can I say? I had anticipated Alcatraz for months and months, and I was going to take in as much of it as I could. Instead of backtracking when the sidewalk ran out, there was a set of steep stairs that led to the recreation yard. I took them and then wound back through the prison eventually making my way back to the dock. I parked myself and my bag of souvenirs on a bench and enjoyed the cool breeze. It took quite a while for the group to find their way down.

(My favorite plant in the gardens)

The families had joined up with the couple at some point, so I was the only one missing from the group by the time they made it to the dock. One of the little girls spotted me and came running over. “Where have you been?” she demanded. “I haven’t seen you in so long.” Then another of the girls came over, climbed in my lap, and eventually went to sleep. I wish I could capture in words that feeling of being together with people and simultaneously apart. In that moment, I felt content with myself and the world. It was a very good day.

(View of San Francisco from Alcatraz)

And now my favorite picture of the Alcatraz tour, taken on the ferry ride home. The flag lined up perfectly, and I was there to take the shot. Seeing it makes me wish I were still on that ferry enjoying the cool breeze in my face.

 

That's all, folks! Thanks for reading.