08/03/2008
07/06/2008
09/15/2007
Alcatraz
We were very glad we'd toted our jackets across San Francisco when the
official Alcatraz Tour ferry sailled away from the pier. The chilling wind and the waves form a
formidable barrier as they did for the prisoners from 1861 to 1963 when the prison closed,
shortly after a successful prison break.
The tour guide gave us its history as we climbed up the long driveway to the top of the hill until we entered the main blockhouse where the prisoners were processed and housed. All the cells looked alike, cramped and barely accomodating a person's biological needs.
George had an interesting insight when he compared Alcatraz with how the monks live on Mt. Athos in Greece. The monks even call their spare quarters, cells. The fact that one place is imposed and the other is voluntary makes all the difference, but the attitude of living a life of repentance, forced or not, is the same. Maybe some found their salvation there. The audio tour pointed out that the prisoners, sometimes not very educated ones, read a lot about philosophy I guess to try to figure themselves out. Monks also read and think a lot about the human, and their own, condition. I wish the Eastern cure were more known about rather than such a focus on punishing the sins of a few. These desperate people can only be helped by someone who has conquered their own demons. This is more rare than is commonly thought.
The tour guide gave us its history as we climbed up the long driveway to the top of the hill until we entered the main blockhouse where the prisoners were processed and housed. All the cells looked alike, cramped and barely accomodating a person's biological needs.
George had an interesting insight when he compared Alcatraz with how the monks live on Mt. Athos in Greece. The monks even call their spare quarters, cells. The fact that one place is imposed and the other is voluntary makes all the difference, but the attitude of living a life of repentance, forced or not, is the same. Maybe some found their salvation there. The audio tour pointed out that the prisoners, sometimes not very educated ones, read a lot about philosophy I guess to try to figure themselves out. Monks also read and think a lot about the human, and their own, condition. I wish the Eastern cure were more known about rather than such a focus on punishing the sins of a few. These desperate people can only be helped by someone who has conquered their own demons. This is more rare than is commonly thought.
09/14/2007
San Francisco cont.
We took the Ferry back across to San Francisco to the Ferry Building under the Oakland Bay Bridge, sans luggage this time, so that we could ride a historic (ca. 1930's) streetcar, as opposed to the more expensive cable car (1873), down Marketstreet. At the southern end we saw where the people of a particular lifestyle hang out. Then on our way back up to Embarcadero by the piers I and the older 5 kids got out by the Levi complex with beautiful grounds to make our ascent up to Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill. George, Rebecca and the camera hung out at Pier 39 with the Sea Lions while we ascended the 530ish (there are conflicting, and I mean confrontationally conflicting, counts among my eldests, well it's 4 against 1, Jared, who's supposed to be the math genius, but in this case he's just plain wrong) stairs up the steep, tropically be-gardened and wild parrot-ed hill up to the tower, where the view of the city and the Bay is absolutely magnificent. We got videos instead.
Then we walked down the famous Lombard street, met up with George, had hot dogs and garlic pizza on Fisherman's Wharf and finally got in line for our excursion to Alcatraz Island that needs to be, and thankfully was, reserved a month in advance.
09/13/2007
Last Day in San Francisco, Friday, Aug. 10, Day 17
While waiting for the morning Ferry to take us back across the Bay, we came across The Relief, a lighthouse boat operated by the Coast Guard, that used to be used until automated buoys took over. As we were reading the sign a man came out and offered us a free tour. Turns out he used to be a lighthouse boat crewman and now he maintains the boat as a museum. These boats would anchor at the entrance to the bay and emit a radio, as well as a light beacon. It was a pretty dangerous job as they had to remain tethered during storms and hurricanes. The safest thing to do was to give the anchor some slack and let the wind and waves have their way. The worst job, which is why the rookies had to do it, was to coil the giant anchor chain that had become sludgy from seaweed and mud, in the hold of the boat. I love the mechanical age as the machines were so honest and forthright and oftentimes elegant. All the hidden workings of electricity, computer chips, and impersonal robots take all the relationship out of our tools. Some would probably disagree. It took 14 people at a time to man this boat in shifts. Someone may want to correct or fill in more details.
09/12/2007
San Francisco - Day 16, Thursday, Aug 9
The two days we spent in San Francisco after dis-embarking the ship were the twilight, the denouement, of our trip. In one sense I was tired of all the "catch a ride here by this time" logistics of the previous 2 2/7 weeks, but being away amidst beautifully dramatic landscapes was so nice at the same time. I had just enough energy for one last hurrah.
Back on the ship. After waiting for a couple of hours in a beautiful stairwell, our color was called and we went down to the 4th deck to exit down the gangway. Then it was into the warehouse dock to find our luggage. We hadn't had to tote the 18 pieces for 10 days, but maybe we could muster ourselves a few more times. We'd reserved a less expensive hotel in Jack London Square in Oakland, across the bay from San Francisco which was right by a ferry stop. Luckily the ferry also stopped at pier 41, just a couple of blocks from Princess pier 35. We'd figured it would be too difficult to try to cram all those suitcases on a crowded bus. On the way we stopped at the touristy Pier 39 with their famous sea lions to pass the hour until the Oakland/Alameda Ferry.
After we got to our hotel, we were ready to just chill for a while, so the kids went swimming while other people took naps. Then we walked to Sui Sui Japanese restaurant and had the best sushi ever! They also had delicious stir fry and ramen dishes for the less adventurous kids. On the way to and from we walked by the
Oakland Police Department building which was really cool. I can't find a picture but here's their seal. The building looks a lot like it. Jordan loved it and noticed a hiring sign offering $70,000 base. It's neat to see him so motivated.
09/11/2007
In Memorium
For all those who fell on 9-11-01, if I may presume on another Memorial Service.
Last Day on the Ship
Rebecca thought the traditional celebratory Chef Parade with responding napkin wave was absolutely hilarious. The chefs and the Maitre D' very much deserved it for their delicious and beautiful culinary presentations.
09/10/2007
Tea For Two
I wanted to add this photo in addition to the Flickr pictures available in the sidebar. They only let me post 31.
Victoria, British Columbia, our last stop on our Cruise - Tuesday, Cruise Day 9
After a relaxing day at sea, during which the kids finally got to swim in the heated pool, as wind and weather permitted, we sailed into the Harbor of Victoria, British Columbia. George had reserved an extravagant excursion for just the two of us to Butchart Gardens, where we had tea. The tour guide showed us the main attractions of the city as we journeyed to the other side of the island to the Gardens. Mrs. Butchart felt bad that her and her husband's quarry had so disfigured the land, so she made a world-class garden out of it.
Our trip to Victoria said loud and clear, "You're not in the wilderness anymore!" I still have very mixed feelings about that. I have a new Flickr widget at the bottom of the sidebar to the left where I put some of the flowers.
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