This post follows on from the previous one about our San Francisco 
tour here -Â https://www.jonandjendoamerica.com/index.php/2011/08/06/san-francisco-tour/
After our Urban Safari we were given our tickets for the Alcatraz 
cruise which were hard to come by as they sell out weeks in advance. It takes about 15 minutes on the ferry and they give you a quick introduction (and a movie) before letting you explore the island. The island has lots of buildings including workers living quarters, a lighthouse, power plant, warehouses etc. but the main attraction is the cellhouse where the prisoners were kept.
Rather than just let you walk around the empty cells, recreational area, dining hall and other areas unaided (which would have been great), you’re each given a set of headphones and a control unit you can pause, play, rewind etc. as you walk around. The audio commentary turned the tour from an interesting one into an absolutely fascinating one, because it was narrated by ex prisoners and ex guards.
Walking around the cells and hallways while listening to the sounds and voices of previous occupants was a little spooky but it really bought the experience to life  and we both came away thinking it was one of the best things we’ve done since we came here. Having been in Chicago a few weeks ago seeing the places with Al Capone used to live the high life, it was really interesting to see the 9’x5′ cell where he ended up and Jen had a go at being shut in a pitch black solitary confinement cell for a couple of minutes (I’m a bit too claustrophobic for that one).
Anyway, when we got back we were straight onto the last leg of our tour, a sunset catamaran sailing tour of San Francisco Bay. We got to sail round Alcatraz again and over to Sausalito , before sailing underneath the Golden Gate Bridge as the sun set. A perfect way to finish an amazing day.