Lockdown

Isn't it every readers dream to be locked up and have endless days to just read, eat & sleep? Well dream on because I'm sure the people who lived at Alcatraz during its days as a federal penitentiary found this less than ideal. The Rock has served many purposes, but is most famous for being the toughest prison in America from 1934 to 1963. But hey, even this place had a library. The only evidence of such is a dusty bookcase and the photo I'm standing in front of, but it was enough to get me thinking about some of those mean guys finding redemption in a good book. This is a fascinating place to visit - not only because of the military and prison history but because Alcatraz was the site of an American Indian occupation from November 1969 to June 1970. The occupation played a big part in the United States changing its policy on the termination of Indian tribes. And then there is always that view of the Golden Gate...