Alaska - Day 5 - Icy Straight Point, Hoonah

During breakfast, a humpback wale performs for us. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera =(. We see more humpbacks during the day, but all of them are a bit further away.


The weather today is gorgeous, a complete opposite of what it was in Ketchikan.


We make our way up to the top of the mountain where we will travel down the longest zip line in the world (over 1 mile long).

The higher up the mountain we go, the more nervous we get.


Down we go!


That was rather relaxing.

At the bottom of the zip line we try Alaskan Amber and Alaskan Pale. Both are yum, but I think the Pale wins out.

We walk around near the dock for a bit.








After walking around by the point, we head up to Hoonah for one of the top 5 friendliest bars in the U.S.--The Office, where they serve us complimentary salmon and crackers.


They didn't carry the Alaskan Pale here, but I got to try the Summer brew.


Though we took a bus into town from the point, it isn't far, and we decide to walk back.




On the way we pass a local cemetery.


One grave is marked with a Tlingit Bear.



We also find an eagle.


And lots of mussels!




We are about to head back to the boat, but on the walk way, something catches our eye.

There are starfish everywhere!




Three here (maybe a bit hard to see):



After looking around at the starfish, we do head back to the boat.



And to our room, where we find....

a pig!

Thanks, Dennis!

A last glimpse of the shore before we leave:




Bye-bye, Hoonah.
We await departure at the bow of the boat.



Anchors aweigh!


It's another night at sea.

Alaska - Day 4 - At sea again

Alaska - Day 4 - Ketchikan

After returning from breakfast, we find that Dennis (he keeps our room nice and clean) has left us a present.



We herd off the boat and into Ketchikan. The dock is a rainy tourist trap. There are stores everywhere trying to cater to tourists.


We walk past (and through some) these to get to the lumberjack show. YO HOHHHHH!!! (That is what lumberjacks say.)












After this we head to Saxon village. On the way, we take a hike (though it can really not be called a hike--it is so short) through a part of the temperate rain forest here.






Wasa i' iti?
This means "How are you?" in the Tlingit (sounds like Klinkit) language.
The proper response is, "Klake Wasa."

Here we learn about the Tlingit people and their totems.




Totems still being made


One of the oldest totems in the village (beaver)


A totem outside a villager's house (raven)


Each totem tells a story.



Apparently Ketchikan was well known for its Creek Street redlight district (not shown). Today, it's simply another tourist attraction.

Anyways, back to the boat for us. Bye-bye, Ketchikan.

Alaska - Day 3 - @Sea

Today is just a day of traveling--no stops, so there isn't a whole lot going on today, but we do a few things on the ship.





We catch a demo of how to make food art. (I need to practice my apple swan!)



And we attempt to learn the fox trot. I'm pretty sure I can't remember how it goes now.


We also ate a lot.

Alaska - Day 2 - Vancouver and Departure

Apparently Tim Hortons is the unofficial Canadian national religion, so we would be doing the country a disservice by not visiting. A man who had set up shop on the street (read: he probably lived there) wanted to know why we were taking a picture of the establishment. At some point in our conversation he began to enlighten us about the fact that angels do not, in fact, use spaceships to travel to Earth. Thanks, guy on the street!

We board the Radiance of the Seas at Canada Place. Ahoy! Ready to set sail at 17:00.
And what is a cruise ship without a buffet?


Views around the ship:




The Atrium:

And of course, we can't celebrate our departure without drinks! Bye-bye Canada!

Alaska - Day 1 - Evening in Vancouver

Before we leave Atlanta, we find a Goon Squad tag. I know this won't mean much to a lot of people, but the few who get it will appreciate it.



In Vancouver, we eat at some Banana Leaf Malaysian joint, which was pretty yummy, though they were all out of Dungeness =\. (The restaurant is not in this picture.)