Alcatraz island
Hi friends, I recently watched rock with Nicolas Cage, Sean Connery and that good old Ed Harris for the tenth time at least and it made me want to know more about Alcatraz Island and its jail. And as one day I want to go to San Francisco, this is an opportunity to learn about it before I go.
Alcatraz Island is located in San Francisco, USA. It is on this island that the first lighthouse of the country was installed in 1854.
It is also on this island that is a well known penitentiary that has been seen in many movies (The Escape of Alcatraz 1979, Murder Alcatraz 1995, Alcatraz Prison Escape: Deathbed Confession 2015, ...). This penitentiary opened in 1934 and closed in 1963. It is quite a few years of welcoming prisoners of all kinds.
Now, it is a tourist place, indeed, the tourists can visit it during a few and goes there by ferry Alcatraz Cruises for about thirty euros. This ferry drops the passengers on the island which allows them to visit the prison, the atmosphere is very particular.
This prison has locked up some of the most notable American criminals like MGK, Al Capone and Frank Morris and John and Clarence Aglin, the only prisoners who escaped successfully from prison in 1962 (they had cheated night watchmen into making themselves false heads with cardboard and fled raft).
This is the only ferry that can dock on the island, other cruise ships may miss but not stop so make sure you do not go wrong with a ferry company if you go there.
The program of the visit, you will have a small historical presentation, the visit of a cell, the tour of the island and you will be able to admire its fauna and its flora, indeed, there are many birds which there are installed. They built their nests in the old prison.
On arrival on the island, passengers receive audio-guides, who explain them during the visit on the life of prisoners and guards and who also make them hear real prisoners share their stories about their incarceration in the prison, which they nicknamed The Rock.
There are also volunteers who make guided tours, it is also for those who do not appreciate the audio guides.
The weather on Alcatraz Island is generally cold, foggy and windy most of the year, so be sure to put on a good warm jacket to visit. You can go there with your children there are there are adapted spaces where they can let off steam before having to remain wise during the visit.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this little explanation. If you have not seen it yet, do not hesitate to watch The Rock with Sean Connery, I love this movie. I like films shot in prisons in general and documentaries too, I find it very interesting. I also liked Prison break necessarily, besides I think they have released a new season, I need to update !
