Alcatraz tours website
We decided to do the night tour of the island, as it promised less people and more atmosphere.
The weather had cleared up from Sunday and we had a clear and sunny cruise over to the island at around 6.10pm.
We were given some back ground information on our way over and once we had landed we were taken in small groups as though we were the new inmates for the island. We had to trudge up the hill towards the cell block. Once inside we were walked passed the showers and allocated our audio equipment to carry on the tour.
Our tour guides were a set of ex cons and wardens.
The audio tour made us feel as if we were new inmates, there was the sound of the prison and other cell mates talking to us, doors slamming etc. It took a little while to get used to it, having never been in a prison before.
We were taken through the process of being allocated our uniform, cell and duties. We were introduced to the Alcatraz hall of fame.
The daily routines were shown to us, where we had to eat, what jobs were available to us and where we could exercise. Only if we were good prisoners, otherwise we would be confined to our cells,or worse still, solitary.
Several escape plans were hatched here, some were carried out and maybe just one was success full. 4 people were never accounted for after an attempt, they could have drowned, or they could have got to South America, no-one knows.
We heard stories from the inmates, the prison wardens and from the wardens' families who also lived on the island with them.
As it was beginning to get dark when we resumed our tour inside the cell block, The cells were dimly lit and we were taken to the hospital wing,
where the 'Bird man' was held for his entire sentence. It was beginning to get spooky up there as we were being told that the 'Bird Man' was like Hannibal Lecter, very dangerous. The rooms were dimly lit and they held old operating tables or medical instuments.
When the audio tour finished there were a number of other talks around the prison. One warden showed us where escape attempts had been made, bars filed away etc, one warden showed us how the cell doors were operated.
We made sure we were waiting for the last boat to come and pick us up, we didn't want to be left behind with all the ghosts.
The daily routines were shown to us, where we had to eat, what jobs were available to us and where we could exercise. Only if we were good prisoners, otherwise we would be confined to our cells,or worse still, solitary.
Several escape plans were hatched here, some were carried out and maybe just one was success full. 4 people were never accounted for after an attempt, they could have drowned, or they could have got to South America, no-one knows.
As it began to get dark we were treated to a lovely sunset over the bay, lighting up the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. The prisoners told us that when the wind was in the right direction they could hear the citizens on the wharf laughing and going about their business. It is very close to the mainland.
As it was beginning to get dark when we resumed our tour inside the cell block, The cells were dimly lit and we were taken to the hospital wing,
where the 'Bird man' was held for his entire sentence. It was beginning to get spooky up there as we were being told that the 'Bird Man' was like Hannibal Lecter, very dangerous. The rooms were dimly lit and they held old operating tables or medical instuments.
When the audio tour finished there were a number of other talks around the prison. One warden showed us where escape attempts had been made, bars filed away etc, one warden showed us how the cell doors were operated.
We made sure we were waiting for the last boat to come and pick us up, we didn't want to be left behind with all the ghosts.
No comments:
Post a Comment