Dorothy's diary 24th May

Inside Alcatraz

Sunday 24^th May

We wanted to go to church but the only tour to Alcatraz was Sunday 24th at 10.30 so we booked for Alcatraz.

We managed to get a cable car to Fisherman’s Wharf and arrived early at about 9.00a.m.

Shops weren’t open but we walked round the piers and saw the California Sea Lions. Boy do they make a noise.

At Pier 33 where we needed to catch the ferry there was the usual queue and the customary photo call with a photo of Alcatraz in the background. The boat was full and the trio across the bay only took 10 minutes. A Ranger was waiting for us and giving us an overview of the island.

We went to the theatre to watch an introductory film and then set off up the hill towards the cell block. We picked up and audio guide which took us on a conducted tour of the cell block. The sounds of slamming doors was very realistic.

After the tour we called in at the shop and a lady was there signing books that she had written. She had lived on Alcatraz as a child. There were quite a few families who lived on the island. It was very safe, the worst fear for their parents was that they would fall into the water and be carried away on the strong currents.

It didn’t seem like a Sunday as back in the city, shops were just bas busy as any other day.

We went back to the hotel hoping to do some washing before setting off across America. Unfortunately someone was using both the machines, so we will have to take our dirty clothes with us.