Welcome to The Rock.

Our self-guided tour of Alcatraz Island was one of the most interesting things I've had the chance to do. I was SO glad that Mark & Kaylinn arranged it for us...and to think - we almost didn't make it.

We'd been to the four aforementioned sights earlier in the day and it turns out that the Kaylinn, the Budgeting Queen also budgets time really effectively. We squeezed in everything they had planned for us and even factoring in a quick stop to enjoy a stroll around Pier 39, we made it to the ferry heading for Alcatraz...with 2 minutes to spare.

We snagged great seats on the ferry, despite practically having to jump the crack between the boat and the dock - okay, we didn't cut it THAT close. The gentle ebb and flow rocked Teagan off to sleep and we took turns hanging out on the deck, taking photos of the island...when huge tankers weren't in the way.

Some of us were more excited than others when we arrived.

Pushing one baby and wearing another (can't figure out why people were looking at us funny), we ventured up to the jailhouse for a self-guided audio tour. Former inmates and guards narrated the tour, which made the experience that much more fascinating. You could hear the emotion in their voices as they recalled their time at The Rock. The only thing missing was Sean Connery's "Welcome to the Rock." I should have left a comment card.

We spent a lot of time hopping in and out of jail cells - it was nice to have the luxury of actually getting out. Hopefully that's as much time as we ever spend behind bars!

Ordinarily, two of my favourite places in any given building are the cafeteria and the library, but even those places left me with an ominous, uneasy feeling. They said the cafeteria was the most dangerous room in the place, as all the prisoners were gathered together in the same place 3 times a day, complete with utensils. It's make me a little nervous. But I'm thinking about adopting the prison's "Take all that you wish -- eat all that you take" rule. Unless that makes me more of a warden than a mother? Teagan and I brushed up on "T" with Sesame Street and animal noises with Sandra Boynton at the library...fairly confident neither of those were stocked on the shelves.

Baby Cameron (and his parents) were fantastic sports and handled the outing beautifully. I'd love to tell you that Teagan was on her best behaviour, allowing us to enjoy an unencumbered tour of the facilities. Apparently the fact that it was home to some of the nation's most infamous criminals isn't a selling point for a toddler. Although I think she'd be the first to tell you that time outs are infinitely more intense on The Rock. (I wish I could say that these photos had been staged.)

The stories of the attempted escapes were fascinating. Some of these guys were really creative. Homemade bar stretchers, masks made from soap, cement and paint, spoon shovels and raincoat rafts - you have to admire their resourcefulness. I couldn't imagine what life would be like without the basic freedoms I don't even think about having on a daily basis. I remember one of the inmates on the recording said that it was emotional torture. From one row you could see San Francisco and feel the ocean breeze through the windows. He said it was torture to be able to see everything you gave up, everything you want just a mile away but completely unattainable. The beautiful San Francisco skyline a daily reminder of all the things you can't have. A sobering thought indeed.

All in all, an Alcatraz-tic day. Too punny?