The trip was SO fantastic that I had no time to keep up with this blog so I will be doing a retrospective blog.
I'm trying to upload some of my video stuff on YouTube. I'm new to doing this but I think you can search on my login: slehan2 to find all of them.
Check out the sidebar here for some of them.
Great video of Mendenhal raft trip by Alaska.org (better overview than mine)
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
View from the Slug
Greetings, all. I am the second party in "we" on this trip. I decided a blog name was in order and decided one reflecting my energy and character was called for, hence "Slug"...I have just added this post under Sarah's name because I don't have IM of my own.
Sarah's covered Seattle and Glacier Bay pretty thoroughly. If no one's posted since then it's due to the whirlwind nature of the cruise, three ports in three days: Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan. Lots of time to post today because we're not getting into Victoria BC until 6 p.m.
Day 3 of Cruise: We had 13 hours in Juneau, and though it's not a big place, I still missed most of it. Bought a ticket on the Roberts tramway, which heads up the side of (what else?) Mt. Roberts. On a clear day, the view is fabulous, I hear. It was cloudy and overcast, but still a good trip. Nice Museum and nature center at the top of the tram, with a lovely movie about the Tlingit people's history in the area.
I went and down the tram twice, around a nature walk at one of Juneau's City parks on Douglas Island. Birders: saw marbled Murrelets and Surf scoters (all alliteration free to good home...) The walk took us through the rain forest and along the beach, and I met lots of plants I'd never seen before. I took a lot of photos that will probably give no idea of how green and nifty it all was.
Bus tour of Juneau, with a look at the state capitol building, one of only two state capitols without a dome. (Sorry, the guide didn't tell us the other and I forgot to ask.) Saw the Governor's Mansion, which is a handsome white Victorian with an elegant Greek-columned portico and no yard. Land is at a premium in Juneau. Most of the city is built on fill from the gold mine that used to be on Mt Roberts. (Sarah Palin must have been in Wasilla when she saw Russia from her porch: the mansion looks out onto the roadway.)
Back to the boat after a busy day: lovely dinner and then a happy howl at the piano bar which was having Country Western Night.
Day 4 of Cruise: Sitka, the old Russian capital, the place where the US took title of the real estate in 1867. Only 5 hours in Sitka, most of which S and I spent on a boat, looking for birds and wildlife. Serendipitously, we ran into a woman who wnated to go to Saint Lazaria Island which is a bird reserve and hatchery. On our way out we saw sea otters, who seemed to be as interested in us as we were in them. It was odd to see all those round whiskered faces turned to us as we chugged past. Birders: The island has puffins, guillemots and murres ("Sitka penguins.") Puffins and guillemots are about the same size, but the puffins have the characteristic clown face with big beak and the guillemots have bright red feet. The murres nest on the steep sides of a sea cave. On the way back we saw humpback whales feeding, not once but three times--bubble-feeding, which involves the pod herding the fish into one spot and releasing air to force them to the surface so everyone can feed at leisure.
Okay, here goes: my first whales! My first puffins! My first WILD sea otters! Yippee!
Back to the boat for formal dinner--not that the other ones were exactly low key--and then onto the night's show and more time at the piano bar--Broadway theme for both of them.
Day 5 of Cruise: I expect S will wnat to talk about the wonder of Misty Fjords. Must go anyway.
Toodles, Slug
Sarah's covered Seattle and Glacier Bay pretty thoroughly. If no one's posted since then it's due to the whirlwind nature of the cruise, three ports in three days: Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan. Lots of time to post today because we're not getting into Victoria BC until 6 p.m.
Day 3 of Cruise: We had 13 hours in Juneau, and though it's not a big place, I still missed most of it. Bought a ticket on the Roberts tramway, which heads up the side of (what else?) Mt. Roberts. On a clear day, the view is fabulous, I hear. It was cloudy and overcast, but still a good trip. Nice Museum and nature center at the top of the tram, with a lovely movie about the Tlingit people's history in the area.
I went and down the tram twice, around a nature walk at one of Juneau's City parks on Douglas Island. Birders: saw marbled Murrelets and Surf scoters (all alliteration free to good home...) The walk took us through the rain forest and along the beach, and I met lots of plants I'd never seen before. I took a lot of photos that will probably give no idea of how green and nifty it all was.
Bus tour of Juneau, with a look at the state capitol building, one of only two state capitols without a dome. (Sorry, the guide didn't tell us the other and I forgot to ask.) Saw the Governor's Mansion, which is a handsome white Victorian with an elegant Greek-columned portico and no yard. Land is at a premium in Juneau. Most of the city is built on fill from the gold mine that used to be on Mt Roberts. (Sarah Palin must have been in Wasilla when she saw Russia from her porch: the mansion looks out onto the roadway.)
Back to the boat after a busy day: lovely dinner and then a happy howl at the piano bar which was having Country Western Night.
Day 4 of Cruise: Sitka, the old Russian capital, the place where the US took title of the real estate in 1867. Only 5 hours in Sitka, most of which S and I spent on a boat, looking for birds and wildlife. Serendipitously, we ran into a woman who wnated to go to Saint Lazaria Island which is a bird reserve and hatchery. On our way out we saw sea otters, who seemed to be as interested in us as we were in them. It was odd to see all those round whiskered faces turned to us as we chugged past. Birders: The island has puffins, guillemots and murres ("Sitka penguins.") Puffins and guillemots are about the same size, but the puffins have the characteristic clown face with big beak and the guillemots have bright red feet. The murres nest on the steep sides of a sea cave. On the way back we saw humpback whales feeding, not once but three times--bubble-feeding, which involves the pod herding the fish into one spot and releasing air to force them to the surface so everyone can feed at leisure.
Okay, here goes: my first whales! My first puffins! My first WILD sea otters! Yippee!
Back to the boat for formal dinner--not that the other ones were exactly low key--and then onto the night's show and more time at the piano bar--Broadway theme for both of them.
Day 5 of Cruise: I expect S will wnat to talk about the wonder of Misty Fjords. Must go anyway.
Toodles, Slug
Ketchikan and Misty Fiords
Friday July 3rd, 2009. Today was sunny and warm. The best weather of the trip for the best excursion: Float plane to Misty Fiords National Monument. Island Wings is owned and piloted by Michelle Madsen.
I did not take this video. It was done by Tucker2033 on YouTube and is from another flight by Island Wings to Misty Fiords and it gives you a beautiful look at the trip. He had the same lovely weather that we did for our trip.
Just east of Ketchikan, Misty Fiords National Monument is a wilderness of cliff-faced fjords (or fiords, if you follow the monument's spelling), mountains, and islands with spectacular coastal scenery, wildlife, and recreation
I did not take this video. It was done by Tucker2033 on YouTube and is from another flight by Island Wings to Misty Fiords and it gives you a beautiful look at the trip. He had the same lovely weather that we did for our trip.
Just east of Ketchikan, Misty Fiords National Monument is a wilderness of cliff-faced fjords (or fiords, if you follow the monument's spelling), mountains, and islands with spectacular coastal scenery, wildlife, and recreation
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Glacier Bay Day
Just a short note today. Absolutly spectacular scenery today. Woke up to overcast skies with light rain but the clouds went away and we had sunshine and glaciers and tall white-capped mountains. A bald eagle was perched on the top of the glacier and I saw a brown (or grizzly) bear on the shore as well as a couple of seals. Lunch on the Lido deck was bar-b-qued fresh salmon and mussels and clams in a white wine broth. YUM! I have managed to have salmon at every meal so far. I think I'll have to buy some in Juneau tomorrow and ship it home. Tomorrow we have 13 hours in Juneau and I'll be taking the raft trip from Mendenhal Glacier down to the sea. Saw the big production number last night and the singers & dancers were very good. Then we went to the piano bar to hear Nathan do his Broadway program. He has written a musical that is currently running off-off Broadway and the song he sang from it is one I'd like to see some GALA choruses do. He'll have it up on his website in a month. It's called "Unconditional Love" and has great lyrics. I am currently sitting in the Crows Nest on the very top of the ship in the library and looking out as we pass high mountains. This trip has been everything I'd hoped it would be and we still have most of it to go.
Check out some pictures of Margerie Glacier at Glacier Bay.
And some other photos of sailing in Alaska.
Check out some pictures of Margerie Glacier at Glacier Bay.
And some other photos of sailing in Alaska.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Pride Parade and Sailing
On the street outside Hotel Monaco was the staging area for the Pride Parade. We ate breakfast outside and watched the festivities. It was very entertaining. Then we took a Town Car to the Pier. When we checked in the lady informed us that our cabin had been upgraded (don't you just love wonderful suprizes) to deck 6 where we now have our own private veranda!!!!! Had a wonderful meal of Herb infused Salmon and French Onion soup. Now I'm up in the Crow's nest where the Internet Cafe is located. Beautiful scenery going by outside the wrap-around windows. This is SO GREAT! Having a wonderful time - wish you were here.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Seattle at last!
Got to DIA yesterday at 10am. Flight was as 12:05pm. Had tried to confirm online on Thursday, but because I had requested a cart, I was told to register at the check-in counter. When we got there the lady informed us that the flight was over-booked and that we were not guarenteed seats, but to check in at the gate. We did not get on that flight, altho we were given confirmed seats on the 5:50pm flight and $400 voucher good for a year. So we putzed around playing tag-team suitcase watching near gate A52 where the flight was supposed to leave from. We were told that the gate had changed to A24 which was at the complete opposite end of the terminal.
The plane finally left at 7pm and we got to Seattle, caught the Grayline bus to the Fairmont Hotel just 1/2 block from the Hotel Monaco. Got checked in quickly and since we missed the free wine hour the lady at the front desk gave us each a voucher for a free glass of wine. We went upstairs, quickly unpacked and grabbed a quick glass of wine before they closed at 11pm.
Today we got up early, had coffee in the lobby and walked down to the Waterfront. We took the ferry over to Bainbridge island. The weather is beautiful - Sunny and 58 degrees heading toward 70. It's a bit hazy so Mt. Rainier is visable but fuzzy.
There's a really big cruise ship about where ours will be taking off from, but we were not close enough to tell if it's the Westerdam.
We wandered down the Waterfront and then climbed up to Pike Place Market where we saw the flying fish and sampled some fresh Ranier cherries. We ate brunch at the Pike Place Bar & Grill on the 2nd floor overlooking the flying fish place. Very good food. We toured the Seattle Aquarium and saw them feeding the fish and the sea otters. Then we CLIMBED up the HILL (boy, is it steep) to the Seattle Library where we are now. (check out the I love the Library blog)
At 5pm we'll walk half a block to the hotel and enjoy their wine and decide where to go for dinner.
Tomorrow the Pride Parade goes right past the hotel, then we're off to the Pier to get on board the Westerdam.
The plane finally left at 7pm and we got to Seattle, caught the Grayline bus to the Fairmont Hotel just 1/2 block from the Hotel Monaco. Got checked in quickly and since we missed the free wine hour the lady at the front desk gave us each a voucher for a free glass of wine. We went upstairs, quickly unpacked and grabbed a quick glass of wine before they closed at 11pm.
Today we got up early, had coffee in the lobby and walked down to the Waterfront. We took the ferry over to Bainbridge island. The weather is beautiful - Sunny and 58 degrees heading toward 70. It's a bit hazy so Mt. Rainier is visable but fuzzy.
There's a really big cruise ship about where ours will be taking off from, but we were not close enough to tell if it's the Westerdam.
We wandered down the Waterfront and then climbed up to Pike Place Market where we saw the flying fish and sampled some fresh Ranier cherries. We ate brunch at the Pike Place Bar & Grill on the 2nd floor overlooking the flying fish place. Very good food. We toured the Seattle Aquarium and saw them feeding the fish and the sea otters. Then we CLIMBED up the HILL (boy, is it steep) to the Seattle Library where we are now. (check out the I love the Library blog)
At 5pm we'll walk half a block to the hotel and enjoy their wine and decide where to go for dinner.
Tomorrow the Pride Parade goes right past the hotel, then we're off to the Pier to get on board the Westerdam.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Getting Ready to go
I'm about 3/4 packed. Will take my cat, GiGi, to the Cattery today at 5pm. This is a bit of a test because I'm using the Goggle gadget on my home page and want to see how it works.
Right now: 24 hours and 23 minutes til we leave!
Right now: 24 hours and 23 minutes til we leave!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Once Upon a Time....
Once upon a time (July 2008) there was a big choral festival in the hot city of Miami, Florida.
During the Festival there was a lot of singing and music and fun. There was also a raffle with the prize of a 7-day Cruise to Alaska. The donor of the raffle was GALA Choruses. And the sponsors were American Airlines, Holland America and Kimpton Hotels.
This is what I looked like when I won it! A glee-ful me....
How soon do I go? As of today: 4 days. This will tell you exactly.
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My ports of call:
Juneau -
I plan to take a float trip.
And ride on the Mt. Roberts Tramway
I plan to take a Flight-seeing tour.
Victoria -
I plan to take an evening tour to Butchart Gardens
Pike Place Market
Seattle Aquarium
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