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Published: September 30th 2018
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Ketchikan, AK
Saturday, September 29
It was indeed a difficult night. The ship rocked us off to sleep, but our bellies retaliated. Neither got sick, but the acid reflux. YIKES! A two tums morning.
We didn't feel the ship dock at all. We woke up in Ketchikan. All I can say is beautiful. Mother Nature did not disappoint!
We approached breakfast with some hesitation, but gathered our courage and decided to go for it. Ran into Stephen who congratulated us on our courage to eat again. We had our usual as well as a double espresso each. Went back to the room and decided to take on this GORGEOUS day in Ketchikan, Alaska's first city! Not a cloud in the sky, breezes slight and the fall sun casting long and slow shadows. Has to be in the 60's. Just beautiful.
We thought about taking a boat tour, but the ship departs today at 3:30. Don't want to risk missing it!! So, we decide to walk. We had no idea what to expect, had no idea how small and quaint this town is. We walked up to the "salmon ladder" along the spawning grounds over to the
Creek
Salmon swim up this creek. hatchery along salmon row (get it?) and back down the hill to the main street. At the top of the smaller hill near the hatchery, is a small park. This particular park is lined with trees, shedding their leaves as they transition to fall and prepare for snow. HA....no more snow for us!
From Front Street we walked over to Creek Street, the old "red light" district. The creek below was full of failing salmon and a few seals picking on the spoils. The seals put on quite a show for us. Slapping the surface of the water with their fins and floating on their backs as they munched on salmon. Not a bad day for these frisky seals, I'm guessing. We were fascinated by the process the salmon endure. We saw literally thousands of fish in various pools some still clinging to life, others quite dead and others slowly passing out of this existence. Quite a process to return to their river of birth only to spawn and die. We noticed the colors of the fish from a lively greenish skin tone to fading to black and white. We saw some sink to the bottom while others were
Seal
Back stroke carried downstream; still struggling to climb higher to fulfill their destiny. Along the shore and scattered among the rocks seagulls and other birds awaiting their next meal. Nature at work.
I find Ketchikan to be quite quaint as towns go - at first I was surprised by the number of closed storefronts and empty retail spaces. I then realised that this is the end of the season, and many stores are done. We heard that rents have soared in Ketchikan - let's hope the owners come to their senses - not going overboard on their rents so small business owners can make a living too.
The skyline around Ketchikan is dramatic. Mountains of various heights rise from the sea. Some sheared clean (avalanche or glacial cleave in the past perhaps?). While others rise to the heavens covered in regal evergreens. The natives seemed quite restrained, almost sullen - perhaps they are readying themselves for the onslaught of winter. Dark days, snow, long nights - it is a process.
Back on board the ship I finally catch up (a little) with the blog and Christopher catches up on lost sleep. We settled onto a chaise on the Port
New Town
Fishing village side of deck 9 and got to it. After a while Christopher, tired of napping decided it was now or never so he went off to the gym for a solid workout. I wrote, a little. Read a little. Drank a little (Mai Tai) and visited with BE, Jeremy, Paula & Stephen. Not a bad day in my book. The sun, sinking into the water on the port side, shone directly in my face - so time to move. Went closer to the pool deck. OK....why is it that people who should NOT wear speedos almost invariable are the ones who do? I can NEVER unsee that! NEVER!
I went back to the room and sat on our veranda and read some more - took a break from the blog - and just relaxed. Christopher came "home" we planned out our evening...Martini's for Happy Hour, dinner at Polo, back to the room (where I am now) and then perhaps joining the gang at the comedy show. As I may have mentioned in previous trips/blogs...one does NOT go on an Oceania ship for the entertainment. The food, on the other hand is another story!
So, if we can remain upright and awake we will see a comedy show tonight.
Happy hour we were on our own. We each had Manhattans - two for one - we ordered "doubles" thinking that would cover our 2 for 1...NO! We had to order 2 additional drinks...HOLY MOLY. Needless to say - we didn't finish the last drink. We sat across from a gentleman from Albuquerque, NM. We chatted for a while, then his wife joined him; we got on with our own conversation- which included plans for our trip to Italy in January 2019....YES! His wife went back to their cabin - so we got to chatting again. Lovely gentleman, former Air force (23 years) and a Pharmacist.
Our dinner at Polo was wonderful. I started with Pork Belly - won't get that again, not bed - but meh...Christopher had the foie gras - so good. I've had it before and thought I'd try something different. Lesson learned. We ordered a bottle of Antinori Brunello (their LAST Bottle!!). YES! So Good. Didn't finish,so we'll have it for later in another restaurant. The wine was spectacular a 2013.Our main course was a rack of lamb which we decided to split between us - two bones each - more than enough. Our sides - lobster mac & cheese and sauteed green beans. We were both quite happy and didn't over order nor over eat. The servers looked at us as if we were nuts. HA....not these two! Dessert was a Key Lime pie - we could have split a slice - but we each had our own and didn't finish. We are trying, TRYING to be good!
So...they just came by to turn down the bed - this crew works SO HARD! Our steward and butler are On IT!
So that's all for tonight - I'll fill in any "blanks" tomorrow!
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