From ChurchDiva: Welcome to Juneau, Alaska

Welcome to Juneau, Alaska –

If today is Wednesday, August 5th, this must be Juneau.

BTW, Alaska celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. We entered the Gastineau Channel, past Douglas Island, and docked in Juneau. Juneau is a little bit larger than Rhode Island, has one main road going nowhere with some side streets (ya don’t go anywhere from Juneau by road). Getting into/out of Juneau is by air or sea only (trivia fact). 1 in 10 people in Alaska have a pilot license. Most people have a boat of some sort (No, no Miami Vice speedboats) which I’ll say range from kayaks, large fishing boats, tour boats, etc.

Busy day for me. Shore excursions with Travel with Alan include touring the capitol city, Mendenhall Glacier, Chapel by the Lake, Macaulay Salmon Hatchery (that I could have skipped…ya see one hatchery ya seen them all) and finally an evening whale watching tour. Jo is going to do the On Deck for the Cure breast cancer walk this afternoon.

As we disembark the Statendam, what do my wondering eyes see but a vision of jewelry stores right by the pier!!!! On Jo, on Brenda, on Jay and Rick, let’s pick up our latest trinkets! Anyway, they (I’m just an onlooker) ploughed their way thru the stores while waiting for the bus tour to begin. Aside from the usual Alaska native arts/crafts/jewelry, I noticed Russian icons, samovars, lacquered boxes and nesting dolls and remembered the tour guide’s Alaskan Russian heritage history lesson.
(no Palin jokes, please; did Gore really invent the internet?)

If you’re into reading (now that’s a joke today…if it’s not on twit or FB seems no one has heard about it), a good book to read is James Michener’s “Alaska” for a good story interwoven with historical facts.

We headed back to the pier for our tour through Juneau…the Alaska State Capitol Buildings between Main and Seward Streets, the historic buildings on Front Street built on the former high-tide line, the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church built in 1894 (The Russian Orthodox Church followed the fur companies into Russian America and was influential long after the fur trade left. Many of the Aleut, Haida and Tlingit natives are still Russian Orthodox) , the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, and the Alaska State Museum. Seems Palin didn’t like living in the gov’s mansion but spent most of her time at her place in Wasilla.

But, no tour of Juneau would be complete without stopping by the Red Dog Saloon. This saloon started in the gold mining era providing “hospitality” to those looking to strike it rich. Seems that Earl and Thelma provided dancing & “entertainment” for the miners and “Ragtime Hattie” played the piano in her white gloves and silver dollar halter top (see, there is nothing new under the sun). Later when Alaska became a territory, Gordie would meet the tour boats with his mule and wore a sign saying “follow my ass to the Red Dog Saloon.” Now, it is a very touristy place, lots of memorabilia, piano music, sawdust on the floor, and lines out the door. So, here’s some touristy photos to pass the time away while you wait for the next installment on Juneau.

From ChurchDiva: Ketchikan - Part 2

Now I can imagine what brawling, loud, raucous town Ketchikan must have been to Alaskan newcomers in the past. A first port of call to miners, trappers, adventurers, etc. Because the mountain range nearly reaches the shore, the early pioneers built “land” by sinking pilings and building piers on top of them. Many of the houses and restaurants are actually on stilts in the harbor. Some are restored, others built in replication of the old stores. However, like most cruise ports, Ketchikan boasts of at least 15 jewelry stores (including Bernard Passman, also in every Caribbean port).

Mind you, I’m not against jewelry stores, but when you've seen one you've seen them all, each having the same jewelry, each pitching they have a better price than the previous one. Of course, cruise ships get a cut of the profits so they conveniently put coupons for free merchandise in your stateroom to lure you into those stores the nite before port call.

Jo and Brenda (armed with a jewelry assault plan; Jay found the nearest bench to sit down) started hunting for their free charms, and gem giveaways. As a ‘seasoned’ traveler, these touristy traps I tend to shy away from. But not to spoil anyone’s ‘first cruise’ spirit, I marched along in joyful cruise attitude.

Fortunately, there was more to Ketchikan than the jewelry stores! Our tour guide (Jason….mighty fine) took us to Potlatch Park where we viewed the totem park, onto the carving shed, and to the Clan House.

Alaska.org - Potlatch Park - Ketchikan Alaska - Official Video - Watch the top videos of the week here

Next stop was the Deer Mountain Salmon Hatchery and Eagle Center where we got more than I needed to know about salmon. We saw the fish ladder were live salmon swam upstream, heard about raising Alaskan Salmon etc. Now I am not a big salmon eater, and it was the time of year when salmon go upstream to their birth streams, spawn and die. I think I became a lesser salmon eater.

Our easy-on-the-eyes tour guide Jason dropped us off on the pier just in time as the gangway would shortly be raised.

In the afternoon, the Statendam set sail for Juneau. Off to the Lido restaurant and bar for a lite snack and adult beverage (I ordered a Sidecar or two, I don’t remember. Did you know the original recipe for a Sidecar comes from Harry’s in Paris??????? Been there!!!!)

Did you know they have a Friends of Bill (AA) meeting on board??? Missed that!

Headed for an Advanced Editing Digital Workshop. Leaned a few things about “stitching” photos together to make a great panorama photo.

With Jo, Brenda and husbands having plans for the evening, I head off to experience the Pinnacle Grill, a reservation only dining experience. Smart casual was the dress for the evening but I’m glad I gussied up a little more since the restaurant had Bvlgari china, Frette linens and Riedel stemware (yes, I peaked when no one was looking). A panoply of servers began hovering around me; first, the napkin placer on my lap person, then the champagne server (I didn’t order that…oh, compliments of the house); then the server with the menu, then the server displaying the cuts of meat on a wheel glass-domed cart. I opted for the filet mignon with green peppercorn sauce with a side of asparagus and baked potato.

Not to be outed by the other servers, the sommelier hands me the wine list (S*#*#, where is TravelDiva when you need her). I selected a Chatea Ste. Michelle Merlot, which I was well pleased with (I’m not the red wine drinker in the family).

I started with an appetizer called the Pinnacle Ocean Platter — carpaccio of lightly smoked salmon, hot smoked salmon, sea scallops and wasabi cream. This was served on those nice white art deco plates… ya know plating is half the battle!!!! I followed that up with a lobster bisque soup which I would have put a tad bit more liquor in. After finishing the main course, Master Chef Sodamin, Indonesian who likes to cook Italian (go figure), came to my table for the usual “how’s the food” routine.

Actually, we ended up having a half hour conversation on cooking (thank God for Top Chef, Iron Chef, and all my cookbooks, etc.)

Not wanting to loose the evening ambience, I ordered a chocolate and vanilla creme brulee with a glass of brandy. Now only if I had a cigar, it would have been a perfect evening!!!

Stay tuned for the next episode.

ChurchDiva (aka AWW): Welcome to Ketchican, Alaska

Let’s begin with a little travelin history on Ketchikan, our first port of call.

Ketchikan has many names:
1. "The First City of Alaska", because it was the first town travelers reached when ferrying north
2. "The Rain Capital of the U.S.",because it averages 162 inches of rain, including 32 inches of snow
3. "The Salmon Capital of the World", American settlers opened a salmon cannery in 1886, and by 1936, Ketchikan was one of the largest exporters of salmon in the world, producing 1.5 million cases per year. You will see many bald eagles (although some have their hair combed over the top) hanging around one of the local canneries, looking for leftovers.
4. "Totem Town". Ketchikan has at least 113 totems .The Totem Heritage Center houses one of the world's largest collection of 19th century totem poles, some up to 140 years old. Totems are generally raised during a potlatch (google that) to depict legends; to honor a deceased family member or to pay homage to some other momentous event.

Our tour guide took us through the city of Ketchikan out to Potlatch Park. We walked through the totem park, and to a carving shed where native craftsmen were creating totems that were commissioned for various potlatches, then to a Clan House where a native guide taught on the building of a clan house. We headed to Deer Mountain Salmon Hatchery and Eagle Center and heard the explanation of the life cycle of the Alaskan salmon. The Eagle Center housed a pair of injured bald eagle rescued by the center.
On the must see list is the Creek Street Historic District. This infamous, former red-light district, "where fishermen and salmon went up stream to spawn", contains about 20 houses built on wood pilings over Ketchikan Creek. In its heyday in the 1920's and 1930's, loggers and fishermen came to visit the Creek Street bordellos (of which there were more than 30) and kept the "sporting women" (as they preferred to call themselves) in business. The most famous of these proprietors was Big Dolly Arthur, AKA Thelma Copeland. Dolly's former place of business is now a museum, and open for tours. OK, this is all very dry so I’m gonna sweeten the pot. Takes notes, print off the travel notes, whatever…’cause there’s a prize at the end.

For more details visit The ChurchDiva...

AWW Guest Blogger: On the Road to Vancouver

Day 2 –Sunday August 2 –

A 3 hour bus drive to Vancouver was uneventful but I did make a few observations of my travel companions (so what else do you do except fall asleep????)

The first notable group was the Georgians who obviously knew each other and/or related. The stories and laughter began.

[Sidebar: Why do southern women wear makeup you can chisel off and all have bleached blond hair?]

The other interesting couple I thought would never complete the trip. He was short, bent over, had some trouble walking, and wore a path to the bathroom, I lost count. I thought of the commercial of an overactive bladder! She came on the bus using a wheel chair. Both were in their 90’s. Well, after touring with them for almost 14 days, I learned that he was a retired colonel, and a retired SEATAC Boeing employee and this was their 57th cruise trip. After completing this cruise, they were heading for a Panama cruise. Lesson learned…don’t judge a book by its cover.

Next stop…the Canadian border and pass through without incident. Finally reaching our destination of the ms Statendam but not without the requisite embarking photos. {Isn't that a great photo of mom?}

After casting off, we headed out of the harbor, passing under the Lions Gate Bridge in a northwest direction. Then ships horn blasts away, followed by the droning voice of the ship’s captain, born in Indonesia, of heavy Dutch accent but sounded like Toshiro Mifune in Midway (that’s a WWII movie for those in LomaLinda Land) announcing the requisite lifeboat drill. So I donned the life vest and stood 6 wide by 4 deep. I thought I was in the military and I was going to be issued a rifle…I was getting excited!!!! Then we shout out “here” when our cabin number was called. Now why would you want to embarrass yourself by now showing up and having Toshiro call your name over the entire ship’s PA system? They finally showed up (afternoon delite?????) and we were dismissed.
I’m going to let you hanging until the next installment….writer’s prerogative!

AWW Guest Blogger: North to Alaska

Day 1 --- So I have an evening flight out of BWI to SEATAC (that’s Seattle Tacoma) There seems to be a long standing feud between the seaport and the airport. You can google SEATAC, “Scoop” Jackson for the feud scoop.

My gate area has two flights leaving…one to Atlanta, the other to Seattle. I survey the mass of humanity waiting to leave for Atlanta…I am sooooo glad they were going to Atlanta…soooooooooooooo much sprayed on clothing that could not hold one more hot wing. The plane was late, so I had a late arrival in Seattle. Mind you, I called in the morning to reconfirm my hotel reservation, that I would be arriving late, like midnight, and that the hotel airport shuttle would be running.

You gotta know where this is going.

I arrived after midnight….now SEATAC is like Atlanta airport….HUGE! I took my 4 mile hike to the baggage area, picked up bags, and made another hike across the upper walkway, down the elevator 1 flight, and commenced to call the hotel for the shuttle. Someone at the front desk must have been watching comedy hour and thought he was going to play stand up comedy with me (why be stupid w/me at that time of nite?????) He commences to tell me there is no shuttle running at that time of nite because the sign on his desk says so!!!!! Well, says I, “Imma in the airport, I don’t have a video phone, I can’t see your damn sign, and I called to confirm before I left about the shuttle. So, whadayou want me to do?” He says, “Take a cab.”

I broke the phone hanging up!

I haul my luggage across the walkway, again, to the cab stand. It seems all the taxis are driven by Punjab the cab driver, complete with turban, incense, and prayer beads. [AWW is SOOOOO wrong, but speaks the truth] So, I start my mantra, “you can do this, it’s only Punjab AKA Jack the Ripper.” As he’s driving away from the airport into some secluded industrial park area, I’m thinking to myself, why is this the one time I didn’t pack a gun??????? My CSI training clicks in, I look for my cell phone, start to speed dial TheTravelDiva, so if something goes down, she can hear what’s going on and catch the rat bastard!

Well, I had to shut the phone off ‘cause then he pulled into the hotel. Punjab tells me that it will be $20 plus $1. I say what’s the $1 for. He mumbled something I couldn’t understand and decided that at 1:30am I was not going to argue.

Now you know this is not going to get any better!

I walk into the hotel lobby, give my name….he says, “I don’t have a reservation for you and we don’t have any vacancies.” All HHHHELLLLLLLLLLL broke loose after that. Needless to say, he did find me a nice suite.

Oh, you think the adventure is over?????????

Git up for my whoopee continental breakfast…not only did they run out of coffee BUT the area commenced to have a power outage!!!!! Have you ever tried to lug luggage down three flights of steps?????

Stay tuned for the continuing saga of “North to Alaska.”