Our USA Trip Day 02 (III) – Alcatraz & Bistro Boudin

Date: 12 Dec 2009 Saturday

15:30 PM From Pier 43½ to Pier 33

It was almost time for our Alcatraz Night Tour by the time we finished our Golden Gate Bay Cruise. We had to walk over to Pier 33 to catch the 16:20 PM Alcatraz Cruise.

A – Pier 43½ Fisherman’s Wharf, Red & White Booth
B – Pier 39
C – Pier 33, Alcatraz Cruises
Total walking distance 1.0 km

Christmas tree at Pier 39.

Rainbow!

16:15 PM Boarding time

16:50 PM Alcatraz Island

The Alcatraz Island is located 2.4 km offshore from San Francisco. It is also referred to as The Rock, which was used asa federal prison in August 1934 to 1963. It was closed because it was more expensive to operate than other prisons.

Today, the island is a historic site operated by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is open to tours.

We landed on Alcatraz Island and was required to climb uphill to the prison, which is at the top of the island. The distance from the dock to the prison at the top is about 0.4 km and the elevation change is 40 meters, equivalent to climbing a thirteen storey building!

Both JR & I were the last 2 to arrive at the prison. 🙂 We were given a short introduction of Alcatraz and picked up our Audio Tour equipments. No one can tell the Alcatraz tale like the men who actually lived it. The Alcatraz Cellhouse Audio Tour includes actual voices of the correctional officers and inmates who lived on the island during the infamous Federal Penitentiary era.

A cell room.

Drawings drawn by the inmate.

A radio in the cell room.

San Francisco through a small window in the wall.

A head made of soap. This was made by one of the inmates for his escape attempt.

A hole in the cell room, dug by a spoon.

It was very dark and quiet when we walk down the hill back to the dock. Quite eerie.

19:40 PM Back to Pier 33

A – Pier 33, Alcatraz Cruises
B – Pier 39
C – Pier 43½ Fisherman’s Wharf, Red & White Booth
Total walking distance 1.0 km

Christmas tree at Pier 39 once more.

19:55 PM Bistro Boudin Wharf

Starter – bread + butter

Homemade Crab and Corn Chowder in Boudin Sourdough Breadbowl

It was extremely good to have something warm on a cold day.

Charred 14 oz Ribeye

Cheddar Mac & Cheese

Boudin Bakery

21:10 PM Ending our day

Fisherman’s Wharf of San Francisco.

We took a cab back from Fisherman’s Wharf to Hilton San Francisco Union Square.

A – Pier 43½ Fisherman’s Wharf
C – Hilton San Francisco Union Square at O’Farrell Street
Total distance 3.7 km

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