Weekend Writing Prompt — Isle of Pelicans

Fandango
Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay

I Googled “alcazar.” It’s an Islamic castle or fortress in Spain’s Iberian Peninsula built during Muslim rule centuries ago. Alcatraz Island, the former federal prison in the San Francisco Bay, is a literal fortress, and the island was discovered by a Spanish explorer, who I figured named Alcatraz after the word “alcazar.”

But it was sctually derived from the archaic Spanish word “alcatraces,” which means pelican. So Alcatraz Island means “isle of pelicans,” not a fortress.

(Exactly 76 words)

Written for Sammi Cox’s Weekend Writing Prompt, where the word is “alcazar” in exactly 76 words.

13 thoughts on “Weekend Writing Prompt — Isle of Pelicans”

  4. Marleen August 20, 2022 / 6:12 pm

    Very interesting.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Nope, Not Pam August 20, 2022 / 6:31 pm

    Wow, so glad for the lesson

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Marilyn Armstrong August 20, 2022 / 8:35 pm

    While we were in Kennebunkport, I was sure I saw Pelicans on the rocks. I thought they were strictly southern birds, but as it turns out, nope. There are two types of pelicans in the northeast and probably a bunch of other out near you. Who’d have guessed it?

    Liked by 1 person

    • Fandango August 20, 2022 / 10:35 pm

      I have no idea if west coast pelicans are different from east coast pelicans.

      Like

  7. cognacproject August 20, 2022 / 10:11 pm

    This post caught my attention because I happened to wear a Property of Alcatraz Swim Team t-shirt today lol. Didn’t know it meant “isle of pelicans.” Thanks for teaching us something 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Bill August 21, 2022 / 4:13 pm

    And there you have it. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.