We woke early this morning to catch one of San Francisco’s historic rail cars to Pier 33 at Fisherman’s Wharf, where our boat would leave for the historic and legendary Alcatraz Island. Since I was a little kid, I’ve always been fascinated with Alcatraz; part of that fascination was influenced by the documentaries and movies about the many mobsters that were imprisoned there and the infamous prison break. Now at age 33, I’ve finally been able to see “The Rock” in person. The visit did not disappoint; Alcatraz offers an audio tour that really makes the visit come to life. If you are ever in the San Francisco Bay area, be sure to visit the island. After a day on Alcatraz Island, Amanda and I picked up a rental car and drove to Monterey. Tomorrow we will wake early to drive down the coast on California’s popular Big Sur highway.