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Alcatraz - The Rock

Posted by admine in California, California Travel, San Francisco on 09 23rd, 2005 | Read Comments(8)



Alcatraz San Franicsco

San Francisco: For tourists this means Golden Gate Bridge and Cable Car, China Town und Pier 39. If you are sick of the hurly-burly , take the ferry and travel to a completely different world: Alcatraz, the island located 2 kilometers from the city in the bay of San Francisco. Once fortress, then prison and finally occupied from the Indians, the Island stands under nature protection today and is part of the Golden Gate National Park.

People, who visit Alcatraz, have to consider some rules: So for example eating and drinking is only allowed at the pier and visitors have to keep away from the locked off ranges. This is about the sea gulls, which breed between flowers, bushes and trees. The plants once where cultivated by the families of the prison guards and spread all over the island today.

Prison guards although than prisoners left Alcatraz more than 30 years ago: The prison was closed in 1963 about to high costs. But stories and myths about “The Rock” are still alive: Al Capone, “Birdman” Robert Stroud or the 14 attempts for outbreak: On a walk over the island and through the cell buildings the past and it’s myths becomes alive. And all this under the watchful view of the sea gulls. They are the new and probably also the last guards of Alcatraz….



Alcatraz San Francisco

Alcatraz San Francisco

Alcatraz San Francisco
click pictures to enlarge!

Ferries to Alcatraz leave in San Francisco at Pier 41. The journey lasts only 15 minutes, but you should take minimum 4 hours into account for a visit on the island. In summer the ferries are completely written off. An internet-reservation in advance is advisable and helps to save time: You can pick up your tickets at ticket-machines and you have not to wait in the queue.

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8 Responses to “Alcatraz - The Rock”

  1. Mark Lucas Says:

    Does anyone know if any prisoners from Alcatraz when it closed are still alive and incarcerated in other prisons?
    I have tried to find this out oover the years but never had any luck.

  2. admin Says:

    Mark, I’ve been there just some weeks ago and they said again, that the last prisoners WERE actually alive and they WERE incarcerated in other prisons… I think I remember that the oldest and most dangerous guy even died in one of those other prisons…

    cheers-christoph

  3. Travel review blog » » China Town, SF Zoo and Alcatraz Says:

    [...] If you want to see something a little more risqué, visit Alcatraz , perhaps the most famous former jail in the world. Also known as “The Rock”, Alcatraz [...]

  4. Pramod Says:

    ya you provided good information about San Francisco and tourist places of there. can you suggest me how can I reach there by plane. which is the nearest port of San Francisco.Are there any opportunity of trekking in San Francisco.

  5. Matt Bamberg Says:

    Great prison!

    Matt Bamberg, Author of http://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Photo-Opportunities-San-Francisco/dp/1598638009

  6. jonathon donahue Says:

    was their a gaurd or a prisoner as the name of tony e

  7. ferry Says:

    Hello U there, that was good thinking. I wait for more of this stuff..Thank you..

  8. ferries Says:

    Hello U there, that was good thinking. I wait for more of this stuff..Thank you..

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