Disembarkation

Not so bad to be NOT rushing off the ship for a shuttle to an airport for a long journey home. I'm watching from my balcony as thousands of suitcases are loaded onto little moving vehicles to take them into the terminal for claiming. I'll head to breakfast shortly and then onward...as they say.

So many first time cruisers, a couple thousand are now 'seasoned' cruisers and are on their way to elite, the lovely black card I have that gets me discounts around the ship. I enjoyed being spoiled, little perks along the way, soft drinks and water, and liquor if I'd wanted it. Canapes on the formal nights too. This was a great decision and a wonderful way to spend a week. Great time to see Alaska and today the sun is shining in Seattle too.

Only one new friend this time, a delightful young man from Serbia and I believe we will keep in touch. Such interesting things ive learned from him. We all have things to teach, things to learn, and things to share, and this time Marco was my teacher, maybe he will start his own orphanage and international school as he dreams, maybe not, but to have those dreams is important!

Once again, it is time to head onward, wherever my journey takes me!

Sailing Home

And so the repacking is done and in just a couple short hours we will be arriving in Victoria, BC. This is a different kind of itinerary, we left Ketchikan at noon yesterday and arrive in Canada tonight for the evening. There are several tours but I have chosen the Butchart Gardens, they should be lovely this time of year and as the sun sets, little lights go on all around to light up the night. I've seen this before, about 5 years ago in July, so now I will see the spring flowers and if it is anything like Monet's Garden, it is beautiful this time of year too. And then that will be the end of this Alaska adventure.

No more delicious food at any time you would like, no more made beds and clean towels awaiting you when you return to your room. I think this is a great way to travel, ones only job is to relax, read and eat. I've enjoyed talking to different people from around America and some of the crew from other countries, but mostly it has been a reflective time, much needed. The lobster dinner was delicious last night, the show in the Princess Theatre quite enjoyable and for breakfast, I was able to stay in my room and room service did the nicest thing for me. I usually wake in the night and order a club sandwich, this time I slept through every night so they made me my sandwich for breakfast today. Nice to lounge around and start organizing to pack and not have to rush out for a tour. Most of the time now I like days in port, but this has been the perfect combination of port and sea days, time for everything!

After a couple of days in Seattle I head home to start my 'new' job...happy summer!

Yukon Mitzi

Well, I'm not sure I earned the name just by traveling to the Yukon, but what a spectacular trip it was! Left Skagway in the chilly morning and by the time we reached the Yukon, after crossing part of British Columbia, it had to be in the 80's, so miserably hot! We were all complaining, not what one would expect following the Yukon trail! What a story it is, those 100,000 people who headed to the Klondike Gold Rush...30,000 made it and only a handful got wealthy. The hardships were unbelievable to hear about, what brave people headed out to make life better. My heart broke to hear about all the horses that were taken on the trail, only to fall to their deaths along the narrow ridges as they couldn't carry the loads. Each stampeeder had to have 1000 lbs of supplies to be admitted to the Yukon. Klondike means 'great land' and Yukon means 'great river'. To be in the area of this famous time in history was really moving. I can't say the same about the little village we stopped at for lunch, Caribou Crossing, a series of storefronts made to look like the old mining days. The beauty of the trip made the long day and the intense heat bearable.

And there was a new experience for me on that tour, we saw a young black bear right by the side of the road searching through the weeds for dandelions, they eat them and then become 'drunk' and nap. He was so adorable and it was the very first time I've seen a bear in the wild. Felt safe watching from the bus, but I have to tell you they are so cuddly, it would have been tempting to hug him! The cutest sight ever, totally unconcerned about a busload of people watching him search for his flowers. Nature, so inspiring! He was in BC so I saw a Canadian bear...

Today we sailed into Glacier Bay. Another fabulous experience! Rangers boarded our ship in the early morning hours by a rope ladder and gave commentary as we sailed back into the fjord created by the retreating glacier. I didn't get to see it calving but that is okay, the first cruise I took here I did and that was so special it is okay that it is the only time I've seen that. HOWEVER, this time I saw whales!! My balcony was on the wrong side of the ship, but I did see some spouting and one faraway humpback who was having a grand time breaching and all the other antics of the whales! He/she was on her way from Hawaii, they swim over 100 miles a day from wintering there to feed in the rich waters of the north. Just to see a creature that magnificent playing in the ocean was again, a touching sight! To be that free and joyful, that whale seemed to appreciate it all! So the 3rd time really is the charm and seeing whales from the ship was exciting!

Internet has been out for 2 days so I'm quickly writing this as my minutes dwindle down. We are headed south now that we have left Glacier Bay and our sunset will probably be before 11PM tonight. We arrive at Ketchican early in the morning for just 1/2 a day. I am going to wander, the thrills are over for me now. Friday evening is in Victoria so I will be spending the sunset in Buchart Gardens again. Will be fun to see how my new camera does there. Hope I have gotten some wonderful pictures here, there is no shortage of beauty!

I've slept and feel totally rested and ready for reality...I think! Au revoir from Alaskan waters!