Another trip, another blog.
This time, I'm super excited to be finally visiting the United States of America. After finding out at the last minute that I was one of 50 students worldwide selection to attend the Hesselbein Student Leadership Summit in Pittsburgh, I hastily organised a tour of the USA. So it's still all a little hap-hazard.
My flight was uneventful - although the woman I sat next to was lovely. She studies radiography at the University of Adelaide but was on her way home to Ontario for her summer break. But other than making a new friend, my arrival in America was largely uneventful. Then it was time to hit the streets of San Francisco.
I was glad everything went really smoothly arriving because I knew I had limited time to settle into my accommodation before my first tour of the day. Fortunately, I was able to drop my bags and hunt down a sim card for my phone before 11, which gave me enough time to sort everything out before heading out to Fisherman's Wharf. I walked past a number of beautiful buildings which I didn't get an opportunity to photograph on my past - but I intend to return tomorrow.
Having not eaten since the flight, it was at this stage I was starting to get a touch hungry - but Alcatraz called. So it was on the ferry out to the most infamous prison in the United States. My camera didn't open it's lens cover properly at first - so that's why my photos are artistically cropped.
 |
| Model of Alcatraz Island |
 |
| View of part of San Francisco overlooking Pier 33 |
Alcatraz island was incredibly fascinating. I didn't know much about it - beyond the stories of it being an inescapable prison. Once I arrived, I was amazed to discover that it originally started out as a fort to defend the bay during the Californian Gold Rush and prior to its final position as a national park, it was also the site of a significant protest by American Indians for their land rights. Similar to other places I have visited, such as Jerusalem, Alcatraz is built in layers - the prison on top of the old buildings from the fort.
 |
| The dock area of Alcatraz - note the graffiti on the wall written by the American Indians during their occupation of the island |
 |
| Today, the island is a safe roosting area for sea birds as there are no predators on the island |
 |
| The water tower with more graffiti |
The highlight of the tour was a narrated trip through the main cell building. In there, it was explained the daily life of inmates and the rules that had to be followed. There was a strong emphasis that this prison existed as punishment for criminals, particularly highlighted by Rule 5, which stated that you were entitled to food, shelter, clothing and access to medical care - everything else is a privilege. That meant, everything else could be taken away. And it was, as shown by the solitary confinement area - the holes - which shut out all light and any other form of stimulation.
The Battle of Alcatraz was also covered. It was incredible the ingenuity of the criminals involved - developing their own bar spreader and planning their escape. It really demonstrated how powerful desperation can make you.
 |
| Showers on entrance to Alcatraz - don't drop the soap |
 |
| Typical standard issue cell |
 |
| Not only were they small - but right next to each other and stacked three layers high |
 |
| Solitary Confinement Cell |
 |
| Dark and Small |
 |
| No light in the room once that door was sealed |
 |
| The concrete inside the cell block is scarred from where the US Navy bombarded the island during the Battle of Alcatraz |
 |
| The view of the city from Alcatraz |
 |
| Tear gas canisters in the roof of the dining hall - just in case |
 |
| Regulation 5 |
The ferry home was really where the hunger kicked in. So after leaving Pier 33, I went hunting for some fish and chips. Turns out it is a lot harder than I thought. Most of the food places were clustered at Pier 39 - which is a big deal for some reason. When I arrived - it was packed with tourists. San Francisco had been pretty quiet before I had left for Alcatraz, but coming back the tourists and scammers had arrived. It wasn't too bad - just busy. But Pier 39 had nothing but the Aquarium and ferries around the harbour.
My phone was also running out of batteries as it directed me to this fantastic little place - The Codmother. Cheap and good food. Which satisfied me for the rest of the day. The people there were also lovely. Then, at the other end of town to my hotel, with my phone rapidly losing charge - I had to check across the hills, through the winding streets to the public transport. Which was fine - except once my phone became flat the walk seemed a lot longer than the map indicated.
All in all a big day. I'm very tired - fell asleep at 6 whilst trying to write this blog. Whilst I haven't got anything specific planned for tomorrow - I'm sure to make sure I see a good view of the Golden Gate and climb the Coit Tower before I go.
