Blogs from Alaska, United States, North America - page 276

What a rude awakening! We had to be at our disembarkation point by 7:15. We ate a quick picnic breakfast, packed the last few things, and joined the crowds on the elevator and in the hallway near our exit. Actually, the disembarkation was a marvel of efficiency. Heavy luggage collected the night before had colour-coded tags. Passengers and their departure times were organized by transportation mode and times. When we descended the ramp (into a very strong wind), we walked along a structured route into a hangar-type building, where we found our luggage and lined up for airport check-in. Whittier was hardly a town – residents lived in one high-rise, built for the military installation that used to be here. Now decommissioned, the port facilities had been upgraded by the Alaska government to attract cruise ships. ... read more

Our practice of walking around the Promenade deck was ideally suited to our day in Glacier Bay. All day we sailed slowly up the long, relatively narrow bay, and back out again. Periodically, the Park Rangers, who boarded for the purpose, pointed out significant sights and explained the geology or zoology displayed on all sides. The Lampblugh Glacier was my first experience with a blue glacier. In pictures, the turquoise looks like a photographic trick, but it is truly that beautiful, garish colour. Black dirt and rocks slash through the blue like a crazy, natural penchant for fashion. Further on, the Margerie Glacier favours pure white, with a few fine grey stripes. Deep inside, behind the gently curved ice towers at the ed... read more

This morning when we parted our curtains, the calm expanse of Juneau harbor greeted our eyes. The water was as still as a mirror. A few quiet boats parted the serene surface. We soaked-in the blue scenery as we relaxed through breakfast. What a contrast off the ship! From dock to town, tourist traps pressed against the crowded sidewalks. At least four cruise ships dominated the waterfront, all with passengers eager to buy. We jostled our way through the crowds, only stopping to buy a lanyard for Ruth (more on this later). A few blocks back from the harbor, a quietly charming town revealed itself. With the mild climate and long light into the nights, flowers bloomed profusely. Climbing one of the steep streets, we saw a house with virtually no land, but adorned with flower ... read more

All great things must come to an end, right? Well, I had to give myself a couple days at home, to pack for Switzerland.... read more

Salamanca and I visited Denali National Park, on a spur of the moment vacation for a couple days off. We rented a car the day before and that was the extent of our preplanning. I guess thats how we ended up sleeping on a hill, in a bog, under the, well, not quite stars, more like one star, the sun. Thats what one gets when the sun never sets.... read more