Perhaps second only to the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz is a very popular destination for tourists visiting San Francisco. In knowing that I planned my visit there very carefully. I made sure that my ticket was for the first trip to the island and that it was a weekday. I made sure I was at the pier an hour before departure time but still there were heaps of people already when I got there.

Thank goodness the weather was good. Even the seagulls got into the scene as they flew alongside the boat on our way to the island. When we finally set foot my first impression was that it was a very spooky place. Even on a sunny day the whole place still looked very eerie.

It gets worse once you enter the actual prison ward. As expected the cells were very cramped and quite damp. It must get awfully cold in the evening and being so old I don't think the building is properly insulated as well.

And if anyone did manage to escape from the enclosure and reach the water then it's a very long swim to the mainland... that is, if they don't die of exposure. Regardless of which part of the island you stand upon you will quickly feel that there is simply no escape. Scary!