I learned that drivers in San Francisco are somewhat crazy, and are mildly likely to run you over. Also, parking is a nightmare. If/when I go back...I am going to stick with public transportation. The Bart takes a little getting used to with their payment options, but overall simple enough. It also takes you to many of the touristy places.
I took a day "off" from helping the family and got my tourist on. I wasn't sure how I would enjoy being a tourist on my own, but it went pretty well. I left my bed and breakfast and boarded the Bart at 24th and Mission. Erin had given me instructions on how to get where I wanted to go, and they proved 100% awesome, and I managed to make it to the Embarcadero unscathed. I basically followed the crowd a little ways and found the landmark I had been looking for...the Ferry Building.
I walked myself down to Pier 33 1/2 and purchased my ticket for my Alcatraz tour. I had a few hours to kill, so I took some more random photos as I walked the length of the Embarcadero a few times.
 |
| Coit Tower |
Then, I discovered a tourist trap. There were people selling pearls on the boardwalk, and had a bucket of oysters in water. You got to choose your own oyster and open it up. If there was a pearl inside, you paid $15 for it. No pearl - no money. How could I resist?
 |
| My first pearl! |
After a while, it was time for Alcatraz! I am somewhat of a history nerd/buff, and this was one of the things I definitely had to do.
All I can say is it was amazing. Their audio tour was fabulous, well executed and informative. They had several educational videos regarding the Native American occupation, as well as the history of Alcatraz Island.
Here are a few highlight photos (not super awesome...my batteries were dying.)
 |
| Watchtower and building. Burnt down. |
 |
| Main prison building. |
 |
| Note the graffiti. That is from the "Indian Occupation" that occured after Alcatraz prison was shut down |
 |
| Confinement on D block. They would be left in the dark for days at a time. |
 |
| Gun gallery. None of the guards had weapons (or weren't supposed to, many carried saps) on the floor. Guards with guns would patrol the gun gallery. |
 |
| What a cell could look like if one respected the rules of Alcatraz. Note the crocheted table cloth! You knew fiber would make it in here somehow! |
 |
| In the middle of the picture, you can see the gas canister in the dining hall. They were never deployed, but always threatened. |
 |
| Throughout it's history as a fort, then a military prison and then as a federal penitentiary, many layers of flora were added by the people who lived here. Garden archaeology, if you will. |
 |
| Not sure where this goes, and there were no signs, but it was a neat little door in the mossy brick. |
The "Birdman of Alcatraz" actually never had birds during his stay at Alcatraz. He had them at Levenworth prison, but when he was transferred, his birds did not accompany him. That was a bone of contention for him. Also, he knew several languages and was a math whiz.
No one was ever executed on Alcatraz. A few people were murdered or comitted suicide, but no proper executions took place here.
After Alcatraz, it was time to eat some lunch. Can we say chowder in a sourdough bowl?
Then it was time for the Aquarium of the Bay! Erin had introduced me to another new person to the city, so she and I met up for the Aquarium. It was pretty awesome! Also, we got $2 off admission because I had gone on the Alcatraz tour.
We arrived just in time for the smaller shark feedings! That was pretty wicked. My pictures aren't awesome, but too bad.
 |
| This starfish was eating something...awesome! |
By the end of the day, my legs were killing me. I still decided to take a walk down Valencia to see if I could find Princess Animal. I did! And I bought a wonderful skein of yarn, specially dyed for this shop called, well, Princess Animal. I don't have any pictures of it yet, but will soon!
Next up...my visit to Twitter!
No comments:
Post a Comment