Escape to Alcatraz, Part II
Alright! Now for the good stuff! (This enthusiasm means that I’m really excited for you to see these photos).
I suppose I already said what I wanted to say in Escape to Alcatraz, Part I, so let’s get rolling…
First sign you see at the dock at Alcatraz. Don't really know the whole backstory about the "Indians Welcome" paint. November 26, 2011.
The Guard Tower at Alcatraz stands tall to overlook the dock, which is the only way on and off the island...unless you swim, of course. November 26, 2011
Here's the old Officer's Club where officials would hang out, relax, and party. Doesn't quite look fit enough for that anymore... November 26, 2011.
This lighthouse sits right in front of the main cellhouse. It's tall and is clearly visible from Pier 39 back in San Francisco. November 26, 2011.
Uncared-for condition of windows of the old main cellhouse. November 26, 2011.
A wider shot of Alcatraz inmates' shelves. They are located adjacent to the shower room. November 26, 2011.
Typical cell at Alcatraz. I recall that my audio tour guide said that it was required for inmates to fold up their washtowels and hang them on the sink, just like in the picture, otherwise they would get punished. November 26, 2011.
Three floors of cages. November 26, 2011.
Just a cute little "vintage" sink at Alcatraz that I liked. November 26, 2011.
Visitation area for inmates at Alcatraz. November 26, 2011.
This former Alcatraz inmate was a guest at the gift shop that day, as he was there to sign his book about...being an inmate at Alcatraz. November 26, 2011.
View from below, on "Broadway" in the main cellhouse. November 26, 2011.
This warning sign is the first thing you see when approaching the dock at Alcatraz. It reads, "Persons procuring or concealing escape of prisoners are subject to prosecution and imprisonment." The look of the sign itself is enough to prevent me from trying. November 26, 2011.
Alcatraz Island as seen from the ferry ride headed back to San Francisco. November 26, 2011.
And, as promised, here is a little bonus picture for your enjoyment:
That's me in the middle, with no idea that an orb is right above/in front of me. November 26, 2011.
The four of us stood in one of the solitary confinement cells on D Block, in which there was barely an ounce of light. My dad took this picture with his iPhone, and it wasn’t until we were sitting in an In-N-Out later that night that I discovered the clear, white stream of “light” descending toward my head in the photo. Of course, there is no way to tell whether it really is an orb or just dust, but I’m pretty certain that it is not dust. (Not only do I believe in aliens, but I believe in ghosts/spirits/whatever you want to call them). Having run through the scenario in my head a million times in the past, I was actually excited, despite imagining being severely creeped out if it ever happened. I did, however, wonder if there was a reason why it made itself visible at that time, and I figured that it was because I had actually laid down on one of the cell beds just minutes before. Yes, I actually laid down, on my back, on one of those filthy things. See? (Another bonus picture!)
That's me laying on an Alcatraz cell bed. November 26, 2011.
It was actually Kyle who first “dared” me to do it. I didn’t actually find it to be a “daring” thing to do, so I did it. Just like that. I mean, come on, it’s not like the demons were going to rise from the crypt and take me back with them. It was just a bed. Kind of agonizing once I was on it, though, and not because of scary thoughts but because dozens of people were staring at me and waiting for their turn to go in the cell for their own pictures to be taken. And it didn’t help that the time it took Kyle and my dad to snap like ten pictures felt like forever.
Well, there you have it. Alcatraz: an “inescapable experience.” I hope you enjoyed this series. Stay tuned for more on my visit to San Francisco in the coming days!
P.S. If you’ve got your own Alcatraz stories/thoughts to share, leave me a comment! I’d love to hear about them.
