Break the rules and you go to prison, break the prison rules and you go to Alcatraz

Last weekend, which was Jo's last day in San Francisco, I thought it was finally time to visit Alcatraz Island. Jo, Dave and myself all went across to the penitentiary prison and of what fun we had. First off, for those who've never heard of Alcatraz is an island, located 1.4 miles from San Francisco. We took a ferry across to the prison. It was cool, you could just walk around the grounds and see things like what the prisoners did when they where bored etc. It was also great to see what you saw in the movies, got you geared up to watch 'em too like 'The Rock' and 'Escape from Alcatraz'. There was an audio tour which guided you through the cell blocks but wow was it intense it was realistic with sound effects and you walked around the cell blocks hearing a range of different stories that went on in that very room ranging from crazy escape attempts to mad prisoners rioting ... it was an unreal tour and I could probably do it again! Anyway enough blabbing on ... here's some pictures ... check out the view of the bay ... and the solitary confinement.

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes - How do you measure, measure a year?

Wow...well its been a year at Extranomical...what a year! Where'd the time go? It flew in... It feels like I just arrived here yesterday :( I've grown so much as a person, I wouldn't know where to begin describing. This has been a great experience for me and it's sad that it has come to an end. Anyway my last day of work was on Friday ( July 31st)... And its now VACATION! woohooo! I got a week in San Francisco hanging with the homies that haven't left yet, then a East Coast to Philadelphia ... then I hit the heat in Arizona for Chelsea's Birthday(its gonna be HOT) in Phoenix, then Tucson with some friends from camp (hopefully) then to Las Vegas once more (with Chelsea) then last stop is Miami were the beaches are at :) I'll keep you posted if I manage to have some free time at the airports :)

There is a few things I would like to say before I take off gallivanting around San Francisco. I've left the Vantaggio ... I'm not the only one to be checking out this weekend... all of my Family there have left... and the 'next generation' of students have arrived. We had a party on Friday ... super fun drunk times ... like always ... the party at Vantaggio was off the hook ... great food and great drink and great times. The party started great ... Roly made some GREAT pasta... and then Jo had made her famous Sangria ... the Irish in the Vantaggio ... now 4 of us, decided to start singing (like the Irish do after they've had a few) ... then we're greeted with two guys ... in Uniform ... haha yep the cops. There's a saying somewhere that goes something like 'you know the party is good if the cops show up' so yeah... we were too loud apparently ... anyway they left... and it was all good, the party still continued... everyone got happy VERY happy... some even fell asleep because they were so happy! Those who where still awake decided to go to the Temple Bar (which was only a block away) for a karaoke sing song. I hadn't sang at Karaoke since I've been in San Francisco... I love it :) anyway after that it was time to call it a night ... I had to check out of the Vantaggio and go to Alcatraz (that's a post to follow) the next day...

Just a few words now... sob...

Extranomical Adventures - Thanks guys, I had a great year and met a lot of really great people. It was a pleasure working with everyone there and I will miss you all... I hope that my job in the future involves as many cool people as you guys. Your support throughout the year has been great and the opportunities provided I feel are once in a life time. Thanks a lot to everyone at Extranomical.

Vantaggio Suites - My main home throughout my stay... I made lots of friends there to whom are friends for life... I've already mentioned my goodbyes as all my really close friends have already returned to there home countries... First of all, Jo, thank you so much for being a great friend, you're a great person, I will miss you but I will see you you are a friend for life and I'm coming to Venice to see you soon! (you're coming to Belfast too). I love you Jo! Then the staff at the front desk, Megan, one of my chums... a learned a lot from her and times did get tough through the year ... we helped each other out... thanks Megan! Sen, (works the grave yard at Vantaggio) I would come home from a night out on the piss and have serious drunken conversations(he'd be sober of course) with sen... Funny times!

Dave - My roommate for the year. Being totally honest when I say this, I don't think I would've asked for a better roommate. You where extremely understanding and it was great hanging out and talking with you. We'll hang out one last time before I leave San Francisco. Thanks Dave!

So I've checked out of the Vantaggio. My closest friend, Tony, has provided me with a room for a week. So I got somewhere comfortable to sleep for a week. :)

Like I said the next post will be Alcatraz... but below are the pictures from the parteee!

You've been here 11 and a half months and you haven't been on the cable car?

Yep the title says it all... I'd been here so long... and I hadn't been on the cable car yet...whats the big deal ... I was here for a year... living ... i wasn't a tourist... the end is approaching so now its time to cram all the touristy stuffs in :) So I took a ride on the cable car! I went with Justine and oooooooooh what a fun day we had. There are two cable cars in San Francisco... the one were all the tourists get on and there's a huge ass line which goes up Powell St. Then there's the one that goes along California... where there is no line for waiting. PERFECT! So our little day started there... we hopped on the cable car and headed along California and I stood of the side too of course... and it landed us at market st. We head towards the Ferry Building and we find a Ben and Jerry's stand - giving away ice cream - HA I don't hate it... We eat our 'Flipped out' ice cream then head to the ferry building where there's like a little market stores pretty neat... then we decide to walk towards a little park called Levi plaza where we hung out had a little chat about life and what not...then Justine tells me that there is a Levi's office (Yes, the jeans) and says that its got an exhibition... I'm like LETS DO IT so we did...and it was cool lots of Levi's history kinda like a little Levi's museum ... (yes about the jeans) After that we went to china town had a walk around before heading home for nap nap. Check out the photos!

You can never step into the same river, new waters always flow on to you

Today I grew a set and went White Water Rafting... Basically it's the dogs balls. I'd never done this before. Banana Boating, yes. Canoeing, yes. White water rafting was something else. I was excited, then you sign the liability release forms where the first line reads 'You are aware that you may die' ... Luckily I brought spare undies...

I took the tour with Extranomical Adventures, with Curt as the tour guide ... we headed to a place just outside Sacramento called, Camola? I forget the spelling ... but anyway the rafting was on the South Fork of the American River and this was lead by American White Water, which was OFF THEE HOOK! Our raft guide was called Patrick, he got us down those rapids easily... he knew what he was talkin about and told pretty cool stories from the Gold Rush period - (I'm not gonna go on but it's the times of Cowboy's and Indian's and they used to look for gold along the river)... Anyway some of the rapids names where a little bit 'intense' for a better word for example one was called 'Meat Grinder'. The last rapid was the best... 'Trouble Maker' where some pretty cool photos where taken. They're below... see if ya can find me! This was probably a one of the highlights of my year... I got lucky that Extranomical was running this tour!! Thanks Extranomical!!

P...P...P...P...Pokerface

I never new how to play poker... I 'played' once before... when I say 'played' I had a few too many drinks, and was relying on my 'team-mates' to help me out... I was put out first round...so, I took it upon myself to play some poker.

There was about six of us here (Vantaggio Family) playing in the kitchen (about 3 of which knew how to play) with my new choice of drink (Bacardi) in one hand and my cards in the other I was ready to hold em, Texas style... I didn't win but I held up pretty good and was feeling a little buzz from the drinking at the end. Check out some of the pictures.