So on Monday we thought we'd satisfy our slightly more morbid side and check out some prisoner tales from the island jail of Alcatraz. (not Azkaban from Harry Potter as Jenny kept saying!) Meant a cool ferry trip over, we're getting in quite a lot of them so far in America, stood up top so we could take pics as we approached again (note pic above which shows the island!) Greeted as we arrived by a over enthusiastic guide who proceeded to tell us rules and regulations and then about various films based on escape attempts here. I could go into more movie trivia for you but less likely many of you have seen these films!! Very steep climbs working our way up to the cellhouse seeing various buildings on the way such as the officers mess, family homes and an old still-working lighthouse. Best bit was def the cellhouse though as we had an audio tour included in the trip. Was pretty long too went into loadsa detail about famous inmates and stories of life here as it guided you round. We had lots of fun taking pictures in cells behind bars and even stuck in the isolation rooms pulling very scared faces!! Yes it was fun for us alright!!! They aren't sure if anyone ever managed to actually escape 'the rock' the nearest one was three guys who dug themselves out with spoons and jumped in the ocean to try and swim away. Though bodies were never found they reckon tjhey drowned as freezing conditions. Me and Jen reckon they are in Mexico somewhere, sipping cocktails and loving the films being made about them!! Spent quite a lot of time there then got the boat back to the harbour where it was so time for a Ben and Jerry fix! Then we thought we'd check out the Mission district advertised in hostel brouchures as a fun, vibrant latin quarter with lots of thrift shops etc. Did spend ages checking out some vintage shops (mention for Vicky who would soooo love it) and bookshops (we're getting thru way too many of them on all the coach journeys!). One end of it had loads of bars and cafes and so we found somewhere to eat for the eve. Got back to the room to discover we had new room-mate and my god the room stank!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jen tried subtely to open window which resulted in this girl trying to cover herself with spray instead, NO!! that does not help!!!

Thought that was bad but we woke up several times in the night not just with the smell but the snoring too. It got so bad we were hysterical and couldn't stop giggling, not helped by me (liz) jumping around trying to wake her up as she was on the bunk below me. This cracked Jenny up even more. Luckily the fourth girl wasn't disturbed too much by us but we had to see the funny side somehow!! Anyway later that day when we'd tried to doze a little more we rejoiced when she checked out!! Then we headed back to the Fisherman's Wharf as a fun area and had brunch in a seafood cafe cos one of us actually had to try something traditional for here. Jen had this clam chowder soup which we had seen everywhere and wasn't actually too bad (Steve you should def try it!) Went next to Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum (bringing back loads of memories for Liz, where was that from parents??) lots of gruesome stories from around the world of things people can do, like the guy who puts snakes up his nose and they come out his mouth, someone who can twist his neck entirely round and see his backside, those sorts of weird and wonderful things. There were one or two places where they got you to try gurning (eating your own nose) and tongue curling in front of a mirror....only to realise later on that you can watch people from the other side. We're praying no one was watching us as Jen def tried to touch nose with her tongue and Liz was trying to copy the pictures of different ways to tongue curl!! Then further round was a barrel with a hole saying don't look in here which obviously we did and it shows you your arse!! Again funny at the time until later on we again realised you could see people's arses as they did this!! Moved onto the Wax Museum next door which had some of our favourite stars again but also quite a few different scenes including (Liz's favourite) the Egyptian tomb of King Tut and a chamber of horrors that luckily this time didn't have anyone making us scream!! Took another walk along the piers as a sunny day again before heading back to pack again as we are on the move again in the morn. We'll let you know how it goes prob on Friday so until then, everyone take care, keep the messages coming and we promise pics as soon as we can. Us xxxxxxxxxxxx