FrozenDreamer

Another day at sea… all I need is the Rum and a parrot on my shoulder!

We got up and wondered over to Pier 34. We had to go by bus, and spend 5 minutes talking to a scary drunk homeless person at the bus-stop… which was very nerve wracking.
I picked up the tickets and we got on board the Alcatraz Cruise Ship… which took us over to the Island. Once we arrived at the dock, you could tell we were in an old prison. Bars everywhere… plus the sign on one end of the island that says ‘no closer or you’ll be arrested’, all add up to a rather foreboding feeling.

We wondered up to the top of The Rock and picked up our audio tour in ‘The SHower Room’. Up some stairs and before we knew it we were in the famous cell block itself. Broadway, Time Square, CD Street… all the names for each row of the block. The audio tour was brilliant and led you around the place showing everything you could ever want to know. Siezes, breakouts, death and ‘the hole’… it really is a scary place. How people survived for more than a day up there I do not know. We also saw the wardens offices, staff quaters and the recreation square (giant concrete courtyard).
All of this while the infamous water tower loomed overhead.

After three hours of exploring The Rock, we caught a boat back to the city, and had lunch at The Hard Rock Cafe. I’ve never been before, so it was a new experience for me. I do however think it’s a con!

We left THRC and walked up the steepest street I have ever seen in my life. Lombard Street is incredible, and the thought of hauling a weeks shopping up it would make me want to seel my house straight away.
However, on the other side of the hill is one of the most bizarre sights I have ever seen. ‘The Crookedest Street in the world’ winds its way down the hill using a series of eight hairpin bends to guide traffic down its 45 degree incline. The pictures will be in the gallery, and you really should have a look as words don’t do it justice!

We walked down to North Beach, wandered around Washinton Square (a big version of Soho Square) and then to a lovely street cafe where we drank a bottle of Pinot Grigio and are bruschetta and olives for a few hours while watching policeman drink coffee.

By this time we wre trully shattered… so headed back to the hotel where we fell asleep for another few hours (8). I watched a good little movie though… NOW AND THEN… might have to buy the DVD.

O yeah… Day 3… and the city has grown on me even more!