Sometimes, when sifting through old pictures, one comes to realize that quite some time has gone by. Not just the past four years in Washington, but the last twenty years in life. Almost twentyone years ago I made a five week road trip through the Southwest of the US. That trip started and ended in the beautiful town of San Francisco. Like every good tourist I took the opportunity to visit Alcatraz, that infamous institution, the sound of which reverberated halfway across the globe, channeling through the TV set that I sat in front of, watching movies and myths. The unforgettable Burt Lancaster in the "Birdman of Alcatraz" and of course Don Siegel´s "Escape from Alcatraz" starring Clint Eastwood. Fascinating stories about human endeavor and commitment. The blunt reality of the jail and surroundings is even more abrasive than on screen. Some parts of the island are very pretty and the setting is quite spectacular, but of course for a prisoner the emphasis lies on other things.

The jail courtyard. The federal prison was operated from 1934 until 1963.

A classic jail cell as in the imagination of those who haven´t had the experience yet.

Views are pretty and nature has reclaimed some parts of the island.

One of the older buildings. From 1861 until 1933 the island was a

military prison. The first inmates were civil war prisoners.

Some of the older buildings were destroyed during the Indian occupation (1969 - 1971) of the island.

Native Americans protested against federal policies toward them.