Project Alcatraz San Francisco
The agenda for the day was Alcatraz. We had wanted to do this earlier in the week but tickets were sold out. We really hadn't planned on anything else for the day and it worked to our advantage. I had perused a local paper last night and saw an ad for a Taqueria in the area. I love these little joints. Taqueria's are usually very small and run by only a few hardworking people. I have yet to eat at a bad one and I have been to plenty my friends. This one was no exception. Prices here in San Fran are a bit ridiculous so we had to plop down about 30 again for breakfast. I don't think we have eaten for less than that yet here. But I can complain about the prices but not the food this morning. The eggs and tortillas were great. We also lucked out and planned our vacation during the 100 year anniversary of the big San Fran earthquake. It is a big deal here and there have been festivities all around. As we ate breakfast we watched a parade go by. And let me say we are going through Louisiana parade withdrawal. We keep expecting beads to be thrown and the parades (there have been 2 now) just don't have the fun feeling. But I guess the second parade should not have been fun since it was to commemorate the horrific earthquake. Nonetheless, it was a great showing of blue collar workers (fireman, construction workers, sanitation workers, police, and local government nobility). The old vehicles were great to see and I always love to see men in kilts...how I fantasize about the Chief in a kilt...one day, I tell myself, one day. After the food and the parade we hightailed it to the subway to try and catch the free streetcar (free to celebrate the earthquake). We finagled that and made it to the wharf in time to climb aboard the ferry to Alcatraz. The ride was great with a terrific view of the bay. San Fran looked great from the water. As we disembarked from the boat I was leary of the verbal warnings given by the park rangers (Alcatraz is a protected wildlife refuge and national park) about the climb to the top. I had psyched myself up for this climb after the unexpected climb of Sunday. We watched a historic film of the rock island in which I was able to doze through to gather my strength for the trek. I was pleasantly surprised that it was not difficult and actually quite nice. I enjoyed the wind and the sun and just took my time. Nothing to it! Woohoo! We toured the prison and found out some new and interesting things....did you know that we can thank Al Capone for the expiration dates on milk containers? I didn't. Very interesting. I found this great little fact out as I listened to a ranger speak on Capone who was one of the most famous inmates of Alcatraz. This was a surprising treat to the whole tour of the rock. I hated to leave but the tribe was tiring quickly. We walked about some more enjoying the lovely scenery. It is gorgeous out there and the nesting birds and wildflowers added to the view. We had an uneventful and tiresome trip back on the ferry, some eats which included rawhide for bread sandwiches, then a devil of time catching a ride back on the free streetcar. We did manage it all quite nicely and are all totally exhausted now except for the youngest who we have now nicknamed birth control. He will change anyone's mind of having kids. No, he isn't that bad but being the youngest he is automatically going to get a bad rap. Poor guy. We do love him to pieces though. All is quiet for a bit as everyone gathers their strength for dinner out. I am sure the phone will be ringing soon for the call to eat from the youth of the tribe. They are always eating. No set plans for the last full day of our vacation but I am sure I will come up with something. Details will abound.