The Escapee Visits Alcatraz

The flora of Alcatraz was spectacular. No wonder the American Indian Movement wanted to reclaim it.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Jakob is a student at Berkeley, who is taking classes with George Lakoff and reading Cialdini. I joined him and his friend visiting from Denmark, their native land, for the guided tour of America's most infamous prison. Historically, it was unusual to wear earphones in solitary confinement at Alcatraz!

Members of the National Park Service were preparing the sail on this junk to welcome the Year of the Rabbit.

 

My moment in solitary confinement was a lot more fun for me than it sounds like Bradley Manning's stay has been.

Two ordinary cells at Alcatraz.

Hyde Street Pier

The control room at Alcatraz to which all staff reported if there was a suspected escapee.

My favorite window at Alcatraz.

Play time. This is the yard behind me where inmates would play and gamble and devise their plans to hide spoons in cans of cement paint.

The junk had a large seal swimming about behind it, not visible in this picture.

A picture is worth 1,000 words.

I am a proud Charter Member of the National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian). It was wonderful to visit this important spot and you could feel the energy of the Oakes and Banks families much more than the energy of the Al Capones, who also "lived" here for a period.

Is there a city with more breathtaking skylines and bridges? No, New York, you hold no candle.