alcatraz

since we didn't have much time to spend in s.f., we decided to maximize our time and go somewhere few of us have been: alcatraz. i'm not one for audio tours, but i must say, it was by far the BEST audio tour i've ever experienced. i understand why it's award-winning...it's rich and detailed, and combined with your actual presence inside the Rock, the overall effect is moving. i looked inside the cells [some of them with actual artifacts of the prisoners] and couldn't help but feel bad for the inmates there. but then mary gave me a dose of realism by stating, "they were criminals hannah...they did really bad things." still, i couldn't help but feel a little sad when the narrator said that the day the inmates looked forward to the most was new year's eve...not coz of anything special going inside alcatraz, but because the inmates could hear peoples' laughter on passing yacht parties from the Rock's windows...and they suddenly didn't feel so alone. by the time the tour ended, my feet had callouses all over them [note: if you're going to visit, wear comfortable shoes!] and the rainbow that had greeted our arrival had disappeared. it may have been the touristy thing to do, but seriously folks, it's worth a visit!