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A week after and the Government reopened the Park. I was lucky as I had booked tickets to go the following weekend. It has been a dream of mine for a while to go and see Alcatraz, I have seen the films, documentaries and read the books. I arrived at the Pier at 7.20am and was first in the cue. The line behind me suddenly grew. Then a man that towards me, I couldn't believe it, it was the director from the convict signing. He said he was with a Warden named Frank Heaney and asked me if I wanted to come on a earlier ferry. I sat next to Frank on the ferry and had a chat about his life, he was very interesting.
I was given a VIP tour to the Hospital and Robert Stroud's cell, it was definitely one of the favourite parts of the day. These were un authorized areas, when we were walking up the stairs we were getting so many funny looks from tourists. When we came outside, there were journalists wanting to take pictures of us and asking me how I know Frank, I felt like a celebrity. We went to Block A and I heard Franks speech. They then left me for a bit to do the audio tour of the cellblock and dining room.
The audio tour was brilliant, it had real voices from the time telling us stories and directions of where to go and stop and which cells to look in. I think it made it more special that I had already read William Bakers book and so seeing these places he had been talking about for real put everything into place. I loved the cellblock so much I went around again, I found it fascinating and seeing the ranger open the cells and the recreation yard was great. I could imagine the convicts in the yard playing cards or volleyball.
Afterwards I looked around and seen the industrial buildings where all the convicts worked, I also seen the Algarve trail where all the birds are and exotic plants. I watched a 30 minute film about how Alcatraz was made from the civil war to the prison to American Indians to now a prison you can visit. Then I went to the gift shop, the choice was out of a rock or a spoon. I thought the spoon would be kool as that is how they escaped in 1963 but then 10 dollars is a bit high for a spoon. Then I thought the rock is probably fake so I didn't get that either. I just stuck with a postcard.
It was time to go so I said goodbye to Alcatraz then boarded the ferry back. I didn't want to leave the island which is weird as all the convicts ever longed for was freedom and its crazy as the view from the island was beautiful and that was definitely a punishment for them seeing their freedom was 1.75 miles from them. It was the best experience.
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