San Francisco

First, we got rid of the rental car the next morning and checked into a hotel in the downtown area. Then it was off to the hustle and bustle of San Francisco, a city that has changed significantly. Freddy's recurring visits over the past 15 years allowed him to observe the transformation of the city at regular intervals. And this time we were pleasantly surprised. The new mayor seems to be making great efforts to make the city livable and more structured again. The downtown area seemed livelier and friendlier than during our last visits. We didn't have much time for sightseeing, but we had booked a 'Behind the Scenes Tour' at Alcatraz as a highlight, which included a few hours wandering through the city and enjoying good food in Chinatown. With strong winds and clear views, we took the boat to the island late in the afternoon. There, we entered areas that are not open to the general public and fortunately timed it so that our group had the prison almost to ourselves. You could almost feel the desolation of the prisoners. Exciting stories and many things that made one reflect. The entire correctional justice system of the USA can be summed up quite precisely at Alcatraz. It seems to revolve mainly around punishment and compensation for past deeds, in the form of deprivation of freedom under the most uncomfortable conditions. Resocialization and a perspective for life after prison play only a minor role. Grotesque and almost medieval. In the prison complex, there were also remnants of the occupation of Alcatraz by Native Americans in the late 1960s after the prison had already been abandoned. Their demand at the time was that the island should be returned to the indigenous peoples based on an old treaty (Treaty of Fort Laramie), as it was unused federal land (the prison had been abandoned). The occupation was violently terminated by the US government. Today, the island is considered native land based on the treaty, even though it was never formally transferred (although, who knows what is considered what in the USA...).

The next day we went to Freddy's former employer, Meyer Sound, for a 'Factory Visit' and to see old colleagues and friends. We were invited to dinner by a very esteemed colleague and friend, where we had a fantastic time together. A day later, we also met other friends - during the day in Pacifica, and in the evening for a delicious dinner in downtown. It was really nice, and we were very happy!

Unfortunately, one or two highlights in SF had to miss our visit, as the next day we left the American continent behind and headed to Asia. Mega excitement for a whole new world.

Thank you to Roger, Brandon and Brandon and their families, for their hosting and the fun we had together!