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Ruth Rosenthal | profile | all galleries >> Take Me on a Trip Upon Your Magic Swirling Ship >> Alaska - August 29 - Sept. 5, 2007 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Alaska - August 29 - Sept. 5, 2007

On August 28, we flew to Vancouver. We spent the night in a wonderful hotel, Blue Horizon, and ate a great noodle dinner down the street at Hon's. The next day, after Ruth's exploration of Stanley Park and Howard's shopping foray along Robson Street, we boarded the Pacific Princess for a 7 day journey through Alaskan and British Columbian waters. The scenery was awesome and the adventures many. On Sept. 5, we got off the ship and started to make our way back to Maryland. If you have not visited our 49th state, we highly recommend doing so. However, you'll now have to wait until "the season" rolls around again, since the ships are making their last runs....Which reminds me of a popular bumper sticker in Alaska: "If it's tourist season, why can't we shoot them?"
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Aug 28: In Vancouver, we splurged on a wonderful hotel, Blue Horizon - what a view!
Aug 28: In Vancouver, we splurged on a wonderful hotel, Blue Horizon - what a view!		 Brockton Point Lighthouse, Stanley Park, Vancouver
Brockton Point Lighthouse, Stanley Park, Vancouver		 Aug 29: We boarded the ship at Canada Place, Vancouver - those sails reminded me of the Denver airport!
Aug 29: We boarded the ship at Canada Place, Vancouver - those sails reminded me of the Denver airport!		 Leaving Vancouver provided us a great view of the city, with Mount Baker (Washington) as a backdrop!
Leaving Vancouver provided us a great view of the city, with Mount Baker (Washington) as a backdrop!
We had wonderful tablemates at table 26, late seating. Here are 2 of the 6 of us, twirling napkins at the baked AK parade.
We had wonderful tablemates at table 26, late seating. Here are 2 of the 6 of us, twirling napkins at the baked AK parade.		 Our only full at-sea day (Aug. 30) yielded one of my absolute favorite photos to date.....
Our only full at-sea day (Aug. 30) yielded one of my absolute favorite photos to date.....		 Aug 31: First port day was Ketchikan, where Dolly lived. Sign on house read, If you can't find your husband, he's in here!
Aug 31: First port day was Ketchikan, where "Dolly" lived. Sign on house read, "If you can't find your husband, he's in here!"		 A totem in the mist, near where I caught a bus. Ketchikan gets a LOT of rain!
A totem in the mist, near where I caught a bus. Ketchikan gets a LOT of rain!
Creek Street. Ketchikan is called Alaska's First City because it's usually the 1st one visited on a cruise.
Creek Street. Ketchikan is called Alaska's "First City" because it's usually the 1st one visited on a cruise.		 I took a public bus to Totem Bight, where I photographed totem poles. Totem poles tell a story if you know how to read them.....
I took a public bus to Totem Bight, where I photographed totem poles. Totem poles tell a story if you know how to read them.....		 With 4 others, we took a floatplane ride through Misty Fiords. Here's the plane, with pilot Chuck.
With 4 others, we took a floatplane ride through Misty Fiords. Here's the plane, with pilot Chuck.		 Edystone Rock is a huge volcanic plug in Misty Fiords.
Edystone Rock is a huge volcanic plug in Misty Fiords.
Howard on the floats of the floatplane.
Howard on the floats of the floatplane.		 Ketchikan at sailaway, 2 pm on our 3rd day.
Ketchikan at sailaway, 2 pm on our 3rd day.		 Celebrating Howard's birthday (a day early) at Sabatini's (specialty Italian restaurant) on the Pacific Princess.
Celebrating Howard's birthday (a day early) at Sabatini's (specialty Italian restaurant) on the Pacific Princess.		 Howard loved the makeshift band put together to sing happy birthday to him!
Howard loved the makeshift band put together to sing happy birthday to him!
These guys made better music than the waiters in the main dining room!
These guys made better music than the waiters in the main dining room!		 While cruising through Tracy Arm Saturday morning, we were served blue popsicles on a bed of green chiffon sauce...
While cruising through Tracy Arm Saturday morning, we were served blue popsicles on a bed of green chiffon sauce...		 A typical waterfall in the fjords (believe this was in Tracy Arm)
A typical waterfall in the fjords (believe this was in Tracy Arm)		 When the ship docked in Juneau at 2, we raced down Franklin St. to get to the PO before it closed to mail a package home.
When the ship docked in Juneau at 2, we raced down Franklin St. to get to the PO before it closed to mail a package home.
Juneau cable car - wanted to go, but a bit pricey, so we went out exploring Juneau at sea level instead.
Juneau cable car - wanted to go, but a bit pricey, so we went out exploring Juneau at sea level instead.		 Ruth took a bus to Mendenhall Glacier.The glacier was ok, but the bergs were better!
Ruth took a bus to Mendenhall Glacier.The glacier was ok, but the bergs were better!		 Howard found a Big Al's kind of shop, complete with an owner who used to live in Takoma Park 17 years ago!
Howard found a "Big Al's" kind of shop, complete with an owner who used to live in Takoma Park 17 years ago!		 St. Nicholas Orthodox Church. Despite being the capital and consisting of 3246 sq. miles, Juneau has no roads outside the city!
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church. Despite being the capital and consisting of 3246 sq. miles, Juneau has no roads outside the city!
In winter, some AK places get 15 hrs. of daylight in July and 2 in December. Ours were normal..although sometimes gray and wet!
In winter, some AK places get 15 hrs. of daylight in July and 2 in December. Ours were normal..although sometimes gray and wet!		 On different days, Princess put balloons on our door for Howard's birthday, our anniversary, and my upcoming retirement!
On different days, Princess put balloons on our door for Howard's birthday, our anniversary, and my upcoming retirement!		 Sept 2: Pacific Princess docked in Skagway, our 3rd port. Skagway was once home to 20K people during the gold rush.
Sept 2: Pacific Princess docked in Skagway, our 3rd port. Skagway was once home to 20K people during the gold rush.		 The kind of town where you might see a store sign which reads We sell fishing equipment by the glass, bottle, keg or case.
The kind of town where you might see a store sign which reads "We sell fishing equipment by the glass, bottle, keg or case."
In Skagway, we took a helicopter ride to a glacier. Awesome!
In Skagway, we took a helicopter ride to a glacier. Awesome!		 Blue crevice on the glacier. (The bluer the ice, the newer the ice!)
Blue crevice on the glacier. (The bluer the ice, the newer the ice!)		 Our helicopter on the glacier. The mountains and glaciers were beautiful close up!
Our helicopter on the glacier. The mountains and glaciers were beautiful close up!		 The helicopters flew in pairs.
The helicopters flew in pairs.
They gave us glacier boots to wear, since it was a bit slippery out there.
They gave us glacier boots to wear, since it was a bit slippery out there.		 From Skagway, Canada is only 20 miles away. We drove to Emerald Lake in the Yukon. Beautiful!
From Skagway, Canada is only 20 miles away. We drove to Emerald Lake in the Yukon. Beautiful!		 We were never alone in a port - in Skagway, we berthed with huge Carnival, medium Celebrity, and tiny Cruise West ships.
We were never alone in a port - in Skagway, we berthed with huge Carnival, medium Celebrity, and tiny Cruise West ships.		 Lynn Canal (Skagway back towards Juneau) - waiting for Eldred Rock. So beautiful (and no, I don't enhance colors in Photoshop!)
Lynn Canal (Skagway back towards Juneau) - waiting for Eldred Rock. So beautiful (and no, I don't enhance colors in Photoshop!)
I wrote the ship's navigator to find out when we might pass Eldred Rock lighthouse. Poor light but wonderful backdrop!
I wrote the ship's navigator to find out when we might pass Eldred Rock lighthouse. Poor light but wonderful backdrop!		 Sept 3: Hubbard Glacier viewing - amazing!!! Highlight of the trip, at least for Ruth!
Sept 3: Hubbard Glacier viewing - amazing!!! Highlight of the trip, at least for Ruth!		 We were surrounded by ice, and we kept going further and further into it as we approched Hubbard Glacier.
We were surrounded by ice, and we kept going further and further into it as we approched Hubbard Glacier.		 Hubbard Glacier in Yakutat Bay, north of Skagway and south of Anchorage. We were literally surrounded by ice.
Hubbard Glacier in Yakutat Bay, north of Skagway and south of Anchorage. We were literally surrounded by ice.
Never knew ice could be so fascinating. I paid $600 to look at ice for 7 days???? Yes, and I loved it!
Never knew ice could be so fascinating. I paid $600 to look at ice for 7 days???? Yes, and I loved it!		 Hubbard Glacier
Hubbard Glacier		 Denver has Big Mac mountains, but Alaska has WHOPPERS!
Denver has Big Mac mountains, but Alaska has WHOPPERS!		 Another shot of Hubbard Glacier in Yakutat Bay
Another shot of Hubbard Glacier in Yakutat Bay
Maitre D pouring champagne for the waterfall! The things they do on cruise ships....
Maitre D pouring champagne for the waterfall! The things they do on cruise ships....		 Sept 4: More ice! (Harvard Glacier, College Fjord). College Fjord has 16 glaciers!
Sept 4: More ice! (Harvard Glacier, College Fjord). College Fjord has 16 glaciers!		 Believe this is Smith Glacier in College Fjord. (Or is it Bryn Mawr? Wellsley?)
Believe this is Smith Glacier in College Fjord. (Or is it Bryn Mawr? Wellsley?)		 Paul. I saw him at the muster drill, on deck taking pics & later we started talking. Turns out he lives a mile from us!
Paul. I saw him at the muster drill, on deck taking pics & later we started talking. Turns out he lives a mile from us!
Paul's band, Sol Play. They will be performing on Princess for 4 months Alaska, Hawaii, Tahiti and South America.
Paul's band, Sol Play. They will be performing on Princess for 4 months Alaska, Hawaii, Tahiti and South America.		 The galley tour was fun! We found out that to feed 684 passengers plus crew, the ship took on 3600 eggs a day!!
The galley tour was fun! We found out that to feed 684 passengers plus crew, the ship took on 3600 eggs a day!!		 Cooking demo with cruise director Peter (UK), Exec Chef Cesare (Italy), Maitre d'Hotel Renzo (Italy) and pastry chef from France
Cooking demo with cruise director Peter (UK), Exec Chef Cesare (Italy), Maitre d'Hotel Renzo (Italy) and pastry chef from France		 We were served baked alaska in Alaska!
We were served baked alaska in Alaska!
Sure enjoyed that baked alaska in Alaska!
Sure enjoyed that baked alaska in Alaska!		 Cruise ended in Whittier, where most of its 300 residents live in this building, with a grocery store & a tunnel to the school.
Cruise ended in Whittier, where most of its 300 residents live in this building, with a grocery store & a tunnel to the school.		 You go through Anton Anderson Tunnel to get out of Whittier and Portage Glacier & lake are on the other side.
You go through Anton Anderson Tunnel to get out of Whittier and Portage Glacier & lake are on the other side.		 The tunnel is one-way and tracks are shared by trains. We rode with wacky Alaskan Leopard Tours to Anchorage.
The tunnel is one-way and tracks are shared by trains. We rode with wacky Alaskan Leopard Tours to Anchorage.
I finally saw wildlife in AK! This guy was at the Wildlife Conservation Ctr outside Whittier. Howard has awesome video of him!
I finally saw wildlife in AK! This guy was at the Wildlife Conservation Ctr outside Whittier. Howard has awesome video of him!		 Alaska means wildlife, but I saw little except the animals in the wildlife center....plus a few wild yahoos on the ship!
Alaska means wildlife, but I saw little except the animals in the wildlife center....plus a few wild yahoos on the ship!		 No time to see Anchorage. But at least Howard met a guy in the airport who was on the Constellation with him!
No time to see Anchorage. But at least Howard met a guy in the airport who was on the Constellation with him!		 We'll remember super cabin steward Nilo, lecturer Libby Riddles (1st female Iditarod champ), Doug Anderson, & wonderful crew.
We'll remember super cabin steward Nilo, lecturer Libby Riddles (1st female Iditarod champ), Doug Anderson, & wonderful crew.
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