Alcatraz and the Aquarium
Today has been so non-stop that I haven’t had a chance to sit down and just relax. The day started officially at 6:30 am, but I woke up on my own at around 4:30 am because my mind is still on the east coast. I’m planning on using jet lag to my advantage tomorrow morning, when I have to wait in line starting at 3:00 am.
So, I guess there was a snow day in Maine today, lucky for your guys. Just make sure you don’t have another one tomorrow, because Mr. Chovanes is having a little party during the keynote.
The first thing I noticed when I went outside at 7:00 am was that they actually wash the sidewalks every night. This is partly to clean up the bird droppings, but it really keeps the image of the city clean. The first visit of the day is Alcatraz Island, or “the rock.” Since the cable cars run from 5 in the morning to midnight, we took one of those to the piers.
After the cable car ride, it was just a quick walk to Pier 33, where the boats leave for the island. We were actually there a little early, so I got to head over to check out Pier 31, famed for “Pier 31 Imports.”
I also encountered a shark.
I managed to get a great picture of the city.
Unfortunately it was on the side of a truck.
The ride to Alcatraz Island was fairly quick; maybe ten minutes long.
Thank god they had “ADULT IFE ACKETS.”
On the island, they have very comprehensive tours, and they have opened up almost every corner of the former prison. They let you in places such as the dining hall…
the outdoor exercise area…
and the prison cells themselves.
There was something very eerie about being in a place where so many of the worst criminals used to accept their fate.
It was even weirder when you walked into the cells, especially the highly isolated D-Block cells.
One of the ironic features of the island is that it is full of beautiful vegetation and wildlife. Many of the plants are unique to the island.
We headed back to the mainland after a couple hours. After grabbing some food from the local IHOP, we headed over to the Aquarium of the Bay.
From there, you take an elevator to the underwater level. You can walk though underwater tunnels and look at the various fish at eye level.
They have many different kinds of underwater life, such as starfish, stingrays, jellyfish, and sharks.
After that, they bring you back to ground level, where you are invited to touch some of the fish. My mom was somewhat hesitant about this, but I found it fun.
About Me
Hi, I'm Neil! I'm passionate about building delightful products at scale, creating music, and performing in theatre and comedy shows.
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