Cable cars are on the adgenda today, so we walked over to the start of the line (right by our hotel), bought an all day ticket for $11 and waited in line.
Although waiting in line wasn't fun, we did get to watch the cable car operaters rotate the cars. 
We got a seat and quickly realized that we would see nothing sitting down because everyone stands in front of you... oh, well... at least they offered to take our picture :)
We got off the cable car at Lombart Street to walk down the "Crooked Street" which has eight turns in one city block. While we walked down it, there were cars driving on the brick laid street. The most amazing part, people actually live in the houses on this street... they must loath the tourists.
Back on the cable car, and off at the Cable Car Musemum and lunch at a little sidewalk cafe (yummy, turkey-cranberry sandwich). It was fascinating to see how the cable cars work and have worked since the 1800's.
Back on the cable cars to Union Center--the biggest shopping area with every high-end store you can think of and a mall with nine stories. Our favorite find, you ask... A four story OLD NAVY! Although it didn't look like they had anything different than other Old Navys, their clothes were displayed much nicer and farther apart. They did have one full floor dedicated to materity and plus size which isn't normal.
Every Sunday they have "Jewel's in the Park" and we decided to sit and watch the show. We were quickly surrounded by gay couples and then introduced to a dance that "supports love of every kind and marriage equality for all." We stuck around just long enough to see that their dance wasn't very pretty (very harsh movements and no grace) and left.
Instead of getting back on the busy cable car, we jumped on the F bus (sort of like a old fashion trolley car that only ran around Fisherman's Wharf) and ended up at our favorite place...eating our favorite treat.
We sat in the park eating our ice cream and watched people for awhile--there were actually people swimming in the harbor!
After a trip back to our hotel to stock up on warmer clothes, we headed to Pier 33 for our Night Alcatraz tour. Waiting in line.
We got on the "cruize" boat to ride over to the island.
The tour actually started on the ship. All 250 of us were given the background of the island and told which buildings were which as we approached the island.
After landing at the dock, everyone walks up three steep hills as a National Park guide gives us more information. It would have been much more enjoyable if there weren't so many people crowding around and talking in 100 different languages. The history of the island before and after it was a prison were the most interesting part to me.
After a trip back to our hotel to stock up on warmer clothes, we headed to Pier 33 for our Night Alcatraz tour. Waiting in line.
We got on the "cruize" boat to ride over to the island.
The tour actually started on the ship. All 250 of us were given the background of the island and told which buildings were which as we approached the island.
After landing at the dock, everyone walks up three steep hills as a National Park guide gives us more information. It would have been much more enjoyable if there weren't so many people crowding around and talking in 100 different languages. The history of the island before and after it was a prison were the most interesting part to me.Originally, the island was used as a military base to safeguard the bay, then when they decided that it was escape-proof, the military used it as a military prison/work camp. The military prisoners actually build the building and structures that they were then held in. At that point, many civilians lived on the island in houses that still stand. When the military decided that it was too expensive to run (no fresh water, no sewer system, access of food difficult), they turned the prison over to the Federal prison system, who made it into the highest security federal prison in the US. The prisoners who broke out of other prisons or were extremely violent were sent here. When the Feds decided that it was too expensive for the same reason the military did, they left the island for the birds. For eighteen months, Native Americans lived on the island declaring it Indian land in protest of the US' policy on relocation of Indians. When they left, it only sat empty for 2 years before it became a National Park and hundreds of thousands of people began coming daily.
The water tank held all water for the entire island. The four blocks of the prison were never completely filled.
Although visitation was allowed, few visisted. Except for Melissa, of course, she wanted to come see Jennifer in the D block (isolation).
They have several small tours that anyone can take after the audio tour. Melissa and I went up to the hospital and on the "Escape" tour. Melissa is in the operating room.
By the time we left at 9:40, it was freezing (but still not dark). I wasn't cold (as you can guess by my outfit), but there were many people around me wishing they were dressed like me :) 
The water tank held all water for the entire island. The four blocks of the prison were never completely filled.
Although visitation was allowed, few visisted. Except for Melissa, of course, she wanted to come see Jennifer in the D block (isolation).
They have several small tours that anyone can take after the audio tour. Melissa and I went up to the hospital and on the "Escape" tour. Melissa is in the operating room.
By the time we left at 9:40, it was freezing (but still not dark). I wasn't cold (as you can guess by my outfit), but there were many people around me wishing they were dressed like me :) 
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