Alcatraz: the perfect getaway
While cruising through the cold waters of the bay of San Francisco, "The Rock" just peeking through the mist, as ashamed of his past shackles and solitary confinement.
It seems difficult a perfect scenery for a maximum security prison, probably the most famous of all time. The morning fog envelops the Rock from Alcatraz on a fruitless attempt to isolate it from prying eyes. The spring is now on view. Strange reach a place that everyone wanted to go. And almost always with our breath, at least in fiction, because in Western movies were going with the Cowboys, but in the prison that prisoners wanted to escape could, no matter what the crime that had led to a spell behind bars. The trip has something to flee (sometimes you have to go far to look closely) and maybe that's why we tend to be dutiful to fugitives from the movies.
The feared former military fort and prison, forced home Al Capone, stands on an island discovered by a Spanish, Juan Manuel de Ayala, in 1775. He was commissioned to baptize with the overwhelming presence of pelicans flying over water. That past Spanish for "the Rock" is recognized in one of the rooms of the Museum of Alcatraz, rojigualda where a flag with the old banner of Castile receives visitors, they are legion.
Alcatraz closed as maximum security prison in March 1963. They say that the last prisoner to leave the epitaph could only mumble that no one would want for your funeral: "He never did anyone any good"
The history of Alcatraz is written in the count of his escapes, fourteen, of which only the penultimate justify the preferential treatment that has lavished the big screen. You know: the three inmates who, with the infinite patience that has all the time ahead, spoons excavated a tunnel to freedom. Clint Eastwood brought to life in the cinema leader, Frank Lee Morris, who with the brothers Anglin got, at dawn 11 June 1962, full to 15 to which all inmates dreamed: show that they could escape from Alcatraz. Like Samson without hair, as the magician who finally discovered his signature trick, most feared prison in the United States languished after evasion. One year later, the then Attorney General Robert Kennedy was commissioned to administer the last rites. Alcatraz closed as maximum security prison in March 1963. They say that the last prisoner to leave the epitaph could only mumble that no one would want for your funeral: "He never did anyone any good".
Just put one foot on the island we fall down with a brick building, former military barracks, bomb shelter in World War II, later, housing for prison guards and their families. He even host a casino. I can think of few places to sing bingo seedier. A la derecha del muelle sobrevive todavía una de las seis torres de guardia desde las que centinelas armados permanecían ojo avizor para evitar cualquier fuga. How often have we wished that the barrel of light in the darkness peering from a tower like this does not turn illuminate the escapee!
To get to the prison you have to walk along a track that leaves behind the barracks of the guard (the oldest building on the island), electrical repair shop and chapel (his name should not mislead: are known to harbor several workshops and, a la postre, became the residence of the unmarried guards). Alcatraz's walls are now on view. Facing south façade, where prisoners entered, the first thing they saw was the imposing Renaissance-style house and the lighthouse director, the first in the Pacific coast and opened in the middle of gold rush. Both were devastated by the Great Fire of 1970.
The prisoners heard the same words of welcome: "You are entitled to receive food, clothing, shelter and medical care. Anything else you get is a privilege "
We are already inside, in the visiting room of Alcatraz, armed with a shelling audioguide history ranging from prison. Here, prisoners could only be visited once a month and without any physical contact, through a thick glass. It is agonizing to sit in one of those stools and, approaching the handset to the ear, try to imagine the resignation of the partners. Front, the main avenue of the prison, flanked on either side by two floors of cells, was known as Broadway. Bars and more bars. Modeled cockpits each other. So close to each other and so far at a time. The cells are like the last tenants left their, devoid of illusions and full of resignation. Because of the Gannet could escape. That was one of the first things I learned the inmates who came up here (from other prisons because of their particularly dangerous) and heard the same words of welcome, the ubiquitous Article 5 of prison regulations: "You are entitled to receive food, clothing, shelter and medical care. Anything else you get is a privilege ".
True to the American concept of the show, bunks in the cells occupied Anglin brothers and Morris are some sides of cardboard covered with blankets, similar to those built to fool the guards (through their work in the prison workshop). After leaving open the tunnel dug with spoons took to sea with a rudimentary floats made from raincoats. Nobody knows what happened to them. Although the strong currents, the icy waters and the sharks prowl the bay may be presumed that they failed, the truth is that that day the water temperature was "only" 12 current grades and was not ruffled. Their bodies would never be found, increase the legend
Si hay un lugar donde uno tiene la sensación de estar en Alcatraz es en el patio, donde Clint Eastwood agitaba la pernera del pantalón para vaciar de tierra los bolsillos
Other famous residents of Alcatraz cells also have marked. Robert Stroud, "The Bird Man of Alcatraz", had more of 300 in prison Leavenworth, but on the island was content to deepen their ornithological studies. As for Al Capone, sentenced for tax evasion, spent more time in nursing and, in fact, beset by mental illness, finally abandoned Alcatraz (after almost four and half years) and died at his home in Miami.
But if there is a place where one has the feeling of being in Alcatraz is in the yard, allí donde Clint Eastwood (Frank Morris) shook the trouser leg to empty the pockets of land. It was the land of the tunnel that would restore freedom. You have to sit on the steps of stairs and, with the old tank of water on one side and surrounded by the Pacific, recall a conversation with Eastwood newcomer honcho black inmates. This Morris berates him not to have wanted to sit by his side. "O is afraid of me or you hate blacks", came to tell. Eastwood, with that unmistakable grin who is accustomed to holding on, whispered: "I just hate black people".
En un extremo del patio parte un sendero por el que se puede descender la cara oeste de “La Roca”. El oleaje bate con fuerza contra las piedras y la bruma cala los huesos. For one of these terraces descend hastily Morris and Anglin brothers to plunge into the water, who knows if forever. Today would smile to see Alcatraz into demands for tourists.
Comments (4)
Pedro Manzano
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I always thought the story was not real spoons. Did you try to scratch on the wall?
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ricardo
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No really wanted, and also in these stories have to do an act of faith. Or you believe or you do not believe, without sticking your finger in the wound…
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Ali
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Go San Francisco go!!! Is it still so difficult to take the ferry to Alcatraz tickets? When I was in there had to buy tickets online well in advance.
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The travel magazine with History » Beyond the Golden Gate: ruta for San Francisco
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[…] (the prison island, another of the landmarks of the city, published an extensive report on VaP.: https://www.viajesalpasado.com/alcatraz-la-perfecta-escapada/). Finish walking along barefoot is almost a tribute of thanks to […]
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