Boat left docks about 6.40p.m. and only took about 10mins to get over.  Had done this before last time I was here but they had some different areas open to the public this time.  Did the audio walk which was good as it was narrated by inmates and guards, so very authentic!

Boat left to come back about 9.30 so you had nearly three hours looking about.  Saw the cells (including the ones where the prisoners escaped from and have never been found), dining room, hospital area (that was not open last time), offices and wardens office.  Didn't have the walk which went into the boiler or machine room (place filmed in 'The Rock') and over the exercise yard which I went on last time, which was just fantastic but I remember it was the first time they'd done it when I went and maybe for safety reasons they had to stop it.  Well, you were wondering about in the dark with just a couple of flashlights and going near the cliff edges and stuff!  Pity though that was really, really good.

Also one of the wardens said that the only reason prisoners wouldn't have made it swimming across (only about 1 mile) is that the water is cold (not icy cold though) and that there are some pretty strong currents (but no sharks only bottom feeding ones) and in fact that there are some of these swimming things which regularly swim across and that about 4000 people swim across from Alcatraz each year - madness!!!!!

Spend Saturday (today) up on Union Street (not Union Square) which was nice, some very expensive little shops but loads of bars and little cafes etc and sat and had brunch!  Tried to get into some to see some acts at the Comedy Club and the San Francisco Fringe (bit like Edinburgh Fringe obviously) and so far the online saying no so will have to see if I wait in line I can get a ticket - pants!

Came back to hostel late afternoon and zonked out?  Were did that come from?  Must be the hills, the sea air or the huge amount of calories I'm taking - soooo tired it's untrue....zzzzzzzzzz