Birds of a Feather Flock to Alcatraz

Once we got all the way up to the top of the island, we received our audio tour head phones.  This allowed us to go all over the prison and listen to the voices of former Alcatraz prison guards who told us stories about the institution and some of the more notorious inmates.  It was very creepy standing underneath the catwalks.  We heard all the stories about the several jail breaks and what happened to the inmates who broke out.  We got to see the cells that held the prisoners who tunneled out through the utility corridor and climbed the drain pipe to the roof.  The stories about Robert Stroud, the bird man, were very interesting.  He did not get to keep his birds on the rock which must have been a huge disappointment.  The guards described Stroud as a mathematical genius who spent alot of time on the rock agitating the guards and other inmates. Peggy spent lots of time looking at the restored Alcatraz gardens which were absolutely beautiful.  The views from top of the rock were breath taking.  I was hoping the tour wouldn't be too boring for her, but she told me that she really enjoyed it.  Alcatraz is a fascinating place with a very interesting history.