Hello folks! Yes I am back from my break, and my did we pack plenty in! What felt like the world's longest flight got us to SF in just over 11 hours, which felt more like 20 for a reason I cannot explain as I have done these long-haul flights plenty of times previously. I was so excited when we finally landed. The city has a great feel to it and is certainly free thinking with some random things going on all day and night. I was going to fit right in! Our first day saw us 'bimble' up to Fishermans Wharf to take a look around, and there it was, just over a mile out to sea. I have to say I was overwhelmed when I laid eyes on it, and to keep you in suspenders no more here is a picture:
In the words of the great Rolf Harris, 'can you tell what it is yet?' Of course you can! It is the one and only Alcatraz. Now most of you will know I have a rather large prison fetish, so of course I leapt with joy when the Slayer told me we were actually going to VISIT the island and of course the prison! I nearly wet myself in excitement. Alcatraz was the most extreme regime in the American penal system until its closure in 1963. The picture below explains how many inmates ended up on 'The Rock':
Something tells me I would have ended up there if male and in the American penal system during the reign of Alcatraz. Why? I have never been one for the rules either. You should see my record at boarding school! The day finally came for our tour upon the island. I was literally jumping up and down in the queue, and Slayer could not stop laughing at my 'dumb-ass' grin! Naturally, there is plenty to see on the island, but we went to the cell blocks first, and at that point I nearly bottled it, I mean what if they did not let me go?
Yes, that is me, the supposed lover of all things prison making a break for it, but was I going to be successful like the (in)famous escape of 1962?! I doubt it (it is about 1.5 miles to shore and I am not that good a swimmer!), and of course no-one is quite sure those three men made it across the water alive, though I like to think they did, after all it was a most ingenious escape plan! Of course I did not escape and was soon within the cell block. The tour here was simply incredible, and here is a picture of yours truly enjoying probably the best holiday day of my life so far:
My ultimate dream. I was standing in a cell in the worlds most famous prison. Most would want to leave this terrible place, but I was more or less kicked off the island at the end of the day! I spent hours soaking up the place, I kept having to remind myself I was actually there. I think the only place I felt uncomfortable was D block, the segregation cells also known as 'the hole'. It was REALLY cold in there (and this was in summer) and a prisoner could be left in there with nothing more than a blanket in the darkness for up to 14 days (officially, though we all know rules can be bent and PO's are pretty good at it too, after all, why take such a job unless you were someone who enjoyed such power over others?), so I left pretty quickly after one picture inside the cell, door open obviously! Eventually we we due to leave and I sadly said goodbye to the venue of my dreams. We had a fantastic dinner, where we both talked over the day, the conversation naturally became kinky and I began to formulate what would be the ultimate scene in my head. What if we could hire Alcatraz and spend a weekend there? A whole host of female inmates wishing to get the true experience with CP for punishment rather than segregation, menial tasks and screws living up to their name in true style! I had in mind who would be the Governor and of course we would need a Matron (lucy McLean?) and principal officer (Paul Kennedy?). So, all we need now is to rent the island. Easy! Yeah right!! OK, OK it's never going to happen but we can all dream!
Above I am planning my fantasy weekend over a glass of fine Californian Pinot Noir, this of course took MANY glasses, after all there are so many fine details to discuss...
Of course Alcatraz was not only a prison, it also played a role in the American Civil War and was occupied in 1969 by a group of Native Americans who protested against federal policies related to American Indians. This was seen as a key moment for the American Indians who saw much land handed back to them after a succession of demands at Alcatraz. It truly is an interesting place. I recommend a visit.
In part 2 Las Vegas...I cannot say much in that post, for as the saying goes 'what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas' ;-)
8 comments:
Welcome back Leia ...... SF sounds fantastic, I'm a touch jealous but so pleased you had a great time !
Alcatraz is indeed amazing! During our recent visit, Ludwig and I even managed to take some kinky pictures (some of them in one of the cells belonging to the hole), despite of the huge number of visitors. It would have been very funny, had we bumped into each other at Alcatraz! :-)
Thanks folks! Kaelah! That is excellent! Yes, we went to the infamous D-block too, which was really quite creepy. I could not have coped in one of those cells with the doors closed as I am not one for enclosed spaces.
My old town…
Stage left of the pic of you in front of the shackles/rules-placard the portal to the Alcatraz wharf used to have a strange remnant from Capone’s days.
After his conviction (for tax evasion I believe) he and his guards were welded into a railroad car which brought them all the way from Chicago to where you are standing and then onto a floating car-flat, which a tug pulled over to the ‘Rock.’ Only there was the car cut open and ‘Scarface’ extracted – from the one and only through train from Chicago to Alcatraz. For it rail tracks were specially laid to connect the Embarcadero to where you are and through the portal and across a loading bridge which connected to the boat, which had also had rails fitted. Prison authorities can be sooo ingenious.
Next time you should visit the bay’s other island place of incarceration – Angel Island.
R
Leia-Ann, I can absolutely relate to your fear of closed spaces! We only shot the picture with the cell door open. Otherwise we wouldn't have had enough light anyway. This way, we just had to look out for people watching us. But Ludwig stood in the door, so it was quite okay. I've posted the picture in my report and also linked to your Alcatraz post.
I think I could have coped with the cell door being closed for a very short time, but only if someone I trust completely would be at the door and would open it immediately on my request. I tried that once, using a dark kitchen elevator. It only took a few seconds from the kitchen to the dining room, though... ;-)
But say: How do you do all these interrogation scenarios given that fear? Isn't being locked up in small and dark places a part of that? My fear about closed spaces is one of the reasons why I would never sign up for a scenario like that because of the panic attacks that can go along with it (especially in situations where I have the feeling that I can't breathe freely).
Redhead - We passed Angel Island and I did get to hear some of the history of it. In many ways I found that darker than that of Alcatraz...
Kaelah - Yes true, light would have been needed! Yes, I hear you on closed spaces, and yes I fear them greatly. I guess that is one of the things I was trying to exorcise when I did the interrogations. It did not work but the fear was at its greatest during those scenes. Maybe that is ultimate masochism?!
@ Leia-Ann:
That sounds like ultimate masochism indeed! :-)
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