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    • ALCATRAZ

    By | December 13, 2007

    Have you seen the movie “The Rock”? The one that starred Sean Connery and Nicholas Cage among others. It featured the prison Alcatraz where they escaped. The legendary prison facility off the mainland that is home to the most feared convicts known to America’s justice system has been featured in scores of movies and television series.

    Alcatraz is a high security prison in the middle of the San Fransisco Bay in California. This legendary structure was first a lighthouse, then it became a military fortification and then a military prison until it became a federal prison in 1963. Today it is open to visitors who can reach it by taking a ferry from Pier 33 which is next to Fisherman’s Wharf.

    After the Great Depression and Prohibition in the 1920s and 1930s due to the sudden rise of organized crime and the inability of the federal government to tackle the rising crime rate, it was decided to send these gangsters to Alcatraz where escaping would pose a problem for them.

    None of the prisoners in the prison have any special privileges and a small number of prisoners are transported by van to the top of the hill. The basic necessities are given to the prisoners and they also have work schedules laid out for them, which becomes the most valuable thing to each prisoner.

    The most startling thing about this prison is that no prisoners have ever successfully escaped although there have been 14 foiled attempts involving 34 prisoners. Alcatraz has housed several deadly prisoners including the much feared underworld don Al Capone. 

    The prison was shut down in between on the orders of Robert Kennedy as it was much more expensive than any other prison. Maintaining a prisoner here cost $ 10 as compared to $ 3 in any other prison nationwide.

    It is because of its inaccessibility and tough conditions that Alcatraz still retains that aura of mystery.

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    The Foodie’s guide to San Francisco

    By | December 5, 2007

    San Francisco is second only to New York City with regard to the number of dining options one has.  Restaurants and eateries in Frisco serve everything from burgers and pizzas to Lebanese and Afghan food, Indian and Indonesian food and delicacies from nearly every part of the world. So if nothing makes you tick like food does or if you believe in “when in Rome, do as the Romans do”, this food guide to San Francisco will let you know what’s in store for you.

    SEA FOOD

    If you like sea food then there are loads of food places for you. The Fisherman’s wharf, Ghiradelli Square and the Aqua Park will make sure that you’ve tasted almost every variety of edible aquatic life known to man. And while you’re in San Francisco don’t forget to pay a visit to the Bubba Gump Shrimp Corporation started after the store of the same name in Forrest Gump. There is also Perry’s Downtown and Tadich Grill, the city’s oldest restaurant to be considered

    INDIAN

    If you’re Indian or India intrigues you, Maharani’s is the best place in San Francisco to broaden your horizon s about Indian cuisine. The restaurant found mention in Sidney Sheldon’s book “Nothing Lasts forever”, this restaurant is famed for its intimate setting and was voted one of the Ten Most Romantic Places in San Francisco. Your night here will last forever.

    CHICKEN & STEAK

    If you’re a chicken and steak person then there are more places here for you then you can visit.  Alfred’s Steak House which is classy and sophisticated and serves some of the best steaks and there is also Ruth’s Chris Steak House and the House of Prime Ribs, which will give you just that.

    If you’re a beer kind of person then you could drop in at Plumpjack Café on Cow Union. For Chinese lovers, there is the fabled Chinatown, Hayes Valley for some fine dining and Castro Street for inexpensive hangouts. Also Calzone’s and other restaurants serve absolutely delectable Italian dishes so those are not to be missed either.

    So there, you now know where to head. Let your taste buds take you ahead on an adventure.

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    San Francisco

    By | November 28, 2007

    The City and County of San Francisco is the 4th most populous city in California and the 14th most populous city in the United States, with a 2006 estimated population of 744,041. One of the most densely populated major cities in the U.S. San Francisco is part of the much larger San Francisco Bay Area, which is home to approximately 7.2 million people.

    The city is located on the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, with the Pacific Ocean to the west, the San Francisco Bay to the east, and the Golden Gate to the north. San Francisco is a popular international tourist destination renowned for its steep rolling hills, an eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture, and a cosmopolitan population that is highly diverse both ethnically and in sexual orientation. While the climate includes chilly summer fog, the winters are mild. Famous landmarks include the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, the cable cars, Coit Tower, and Chinatown. San Francisco is famous for its hills.

    There are more than 50 hills within city limits. A quotation incorrectly attributed to Mark Twain says, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” San Francisco’s climate is characteristic of California’s Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and dry summers. In addition, since it is surrounded on three sides by water, San Francisco’s climate is strongly influenced by the cool currents of the Pacific Ocean which tends to moderate temperature swings and produce a remarkably mild climate with little seasonal temperature variation. San Francisco is characterized by a high standard of living.

    Tourism is the backbone of the San Francisco economy. The great wealth and opportunity generated by the Internet revolution drew many highly educated and high income workers and residents to San Francisco. San Francisco’s War Memorial and Performing Arts Center features some of the longest operating performing arts companies in the United States. San Francisco State University is part of the California State University system and is located near Lake Merced. The school has close to 30,000 students and awards undergraduate and master’s degrees in more than 100 disciplines. San Francisco is a great holiday cum business destination and it attracts close to 30,000 people every year.

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