The Rock
While in line you have your picture taken in front of a back drop of Alcatraz. Of course it is super expensive to buy the two 5x7s when you return to the main land, but it may be the only good picture of you in front of the island! (I have found many many people to not be that great of photographers which is why I am rarely in a picture or the pictures are taken by stretching out our arms!)
The ferry ride isn't that long, but they do have refreshments and bathrooms on board. You can choose to ride inside or on the top. If you want to ride out in the open, be warned that it is cold out there and you may get wet!
When you dock at the island don't try to be the first one off the ferry. Everyone has to stop and listen as someone from the State Park tells you a bit about the island and what you can do there. So, if you are the first one off the boat, you will just have to stand around and wait for everyone else!
This is an excellent tour! It is very interesting, it keeps you moving around the area, and you don't get crowded by others because you can start and stop the audio if you want and spend as much time in one area as you would like to! I can't stress how awesome this tour was!! If you are on the island take the time to do this! Where else will you hear from the actual people who experienced the events in a historical place?!
The tour and a trip through the gift shop took us all the time we had to spend on the island so it was perfect! Ernest E. Lageson, the author of two books on Alcatraz (The Battle of Alcatraz – a Desperate Attempt to Escape the Rock and also Guarding the Rock – the Father and Sons Remembrance of Alcatraz) was seated at a table signing copies of his books purchased in the store. He had grown up on the island while his father had worked as a guard. His father was also one of the guards that was captured by the inmates during an attempted prison escape! I can't imagine growing up in such an environment, but apparently they felt very safe and never locked their doors! We bought the book and Ry is reading it now - so far so good!
Inside the prison |
A cell |
Ry listening to the audio after I locked him in |
The exercise yard |
The prison is so close to the city that the prisoners could hear the sound of parties and city life carried over the water! |
This is such an amazing blog, meaningful content with some meaning unlike those useless blogs on the internet. Hindi Speeches For Students
ReplyDelete