It had been twelve years since I’d laid eyes on the island. But it looked very much the same as I remembered it.
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I went through the same motions: waiting in line, having my photo taken and boarding the ferry.
I made my way past the same sign to have my picture taken. It was just as cold as it was when I was a child, but I was even less prepared for the weather now that my mom no longer packs my suitcases.
The lines were long, full of fellow tourists soaking up the history of the former fort and prison.
The ruins of the abandoned and burned down buildings, like the Social Hall remnants above, were beautiful in their despair. When the building burned down after the Indian takeover in 1969, these flowers grew over in their place.
I found myself thinking that I could be okay in prison, given the right books. Not that I would end up there by choice. I was also surprised to find out that former inmates of Alcatraz are still in prison today.
The small windows of freedom would have been too much for me to bear. It makes the city look so close, all though most people never survived the swim from the Rock, let alone making it out of the prison.
Scotti and I bundled up as best we could in our scarves and jackets with the wind biting at the exposed skin on our faces.
Looks like you had beautiful weather! I say, any day without rain in SF is a good day!
I nerd it up on the ‘Traz once a decade and just went on the night tour in January (talk about COLD!) but I still loved it. See you in 2020-ish!
Night tour! Sounds spooky! I’m sure I will be back again!
I didn’t realize that some people who were in Alcatraz were still in prison! Crazy. I went there in middle school and thought it was awesome. I loved learning about how people escaped and seeing Al Capone’s cell. So glad they saved it and kept it as as museum! And yes, I remember the ferry ride over being SO cold.
I know! There were at least two guys who were moved to a different prison when Alcatraz closed and are still in prison. Another former Alcatraz inmate was released and now on the run after more crimes.