Tag: Alaska 2024

Thank you from our travel Agent Dawn, Julio, Loryn and the crew at Expedia for this cupcake Saturday night to help us celebrate our 35th Wedding Anniversary. It’s our favorite combo of cake flavor and icing. We split it and said “cheers” and clinked our cupcake in a toast to each other. On the first day here the travel knots were very tight and confusing. Having them there to talk to calm our nerves meant the world.

How can it be that short and that long for our marriage? Three states, three beautiful girls, two grandkids, multiple animals we held so dear and blessed our family and WOW, so blessed to even be on this trip of a life time. Never thought we’d have this opportunity.

Another blunder.

Since it’s 35 years we decided to take a picture together. With us being only on the boat for 4 days it was tight. The agent at the desk where we settled our bill said they would deliver our canvas to our room door before we left. NOT! When we were on the bus in Skagway I was resting my eyes. All of a sudden I wake up and say s*#+ we forgot the canvas. Well they forgot to get it to us. No worries, the ship is still in port and I told our tour guide Shawn and he did his magic. Lo and behold, when we returned from touring Skagway it was nearly the same time that our canvas rolled neatly in a strong Uline tube appeared and saved the day…. lol and a whole lot of postage. Thanks Holland America. dmc

The railroads are extremely important to this region. They can go when the snow prevents passage any other way. This area is extreme. High winds and unpredictable snow and rain leave residents with little other options.

In the morning we travel by rail into White Pass.

Later, Koningsdam! Since it’s so easy to forget the day of the week on vacation, they change out the mats in the elevators daily.

First stop after disembarking from our floating hotel and entertainment center was a motor coach tour of the town. Which doesn’t take very long; the touristy area is only nine blocks long by two blocks wide.

They have one main grocery store. Deliveries come weekly. Today is fresh produce day, tomorrow is frozen food day. This is a very expensive place to food shop; a dozen eggs or a gallon of milk is $8. Later in the week, shelves are empty of many staples. Lots of bartering and trading of provisions happens. Locals adapt. That’s Life in a Northern Town. You’re welcome for the earworm.

Afterwards, our driver took us about halfway up White Pass Trail and a couple miles across the border into the Yukon Territory. In its early days, this trail was only one of two ways to get to Skagway by land.

Chilling with a warm beverage in our hotel lobby before heading out for a bite. Drizzly, foggy 52 degrees when we arrived, now sunny and about 60 degrees.

Diane and I are in agreement that NY/NJ/FL aren’t the only places to go for great pizza. Yeah, yeah, we know, we traveled 3500 miles to seafood heaven and got pizza for lunch?! This little Italian//Mexican restaurant in Skagway knows how to make a great pie.

Tasty dough, really flavorful sausage, and lots of soft melt in your mouth mozzarella.

The pastry resistance: Alaskan Fried Bread. Imagine the best funnel cake you’ve ever had, then douse both sides with cinnamon and sugar. Another winner.

Walked about the town, checked out shops, back to the hotel for a nap

I wonder if residents ever take these views for granite? </DadJoke>

* This cruise has a heavy Asian and Indian influence. Vancouver was surprisingly that way also.

* Asians love to take pictures. Boarding on the gang plank, every turn found us waiting for four Asian ladies giggling and laughing and taking every picture imaginable at every turn.

* Even though there is no smoking on the ship except designated areas outside, the casino always smells like smoke.

* Traffic in Juneau was very kind. Stopped to allow us to cross the street all the time.

* I’ve met two quilt shop ladies and our wood working operation may expand into Vancouver and Alaska. Speaking quilt is universal.

* Musicians are rock stars. They impress me. Here they have an amazing rock band, BB King band and dueling pianos. All are coordinated for when one stops the other starts. So talented.

* Alaska is number one for homelessness. If you come here without a plan you may end up without a plan.

* Muesli a cold form of oatmeal type cereal served cold. Great for fiber. I like it and will have to figure out how to make it like they do here.

* In Juneau they boycotted the Walmart. The low prices according to residents would have put the locals out of business. Wow! Small people win over big box retailers. Walmart left.

* Juneau has the world’s smallest CostCo.

Dinner this evening was on land. Not 10 minutes from Juneau is the Salmon Bake. Chef Salmon is a cute petite native Alaskan who owns her grill. She actually dropped my salmon into the special sauce. It’s a brown sugar/butter sauce and when I went back for seconds I told her to drop another one in the sauce again. We both laughed. Grilling over wood gave this fish another level of flavor.

We took a yellow school bus there and Sherae from TX drove the bus. In those 10 min to the Salmon Bake we learned about Juneau. Sherae works in Juneau for 6 months serving the cruise industry and the other six months she lives in TX. She and her husband are building tiny houses for men who are homeless and down on their luck. Her personality is southern/black with a touch of spice. We loved her immediately.

Back from Juneau we went right to the thermal spa for the last time. Then onto the dueling pianos where sing alongs are the norm and these two were amazing. We sat there so long listening to James and Michelle that we barely made the pack schedule for tomorrow’s leaving of the ship at Skagway. No worries, they need the bed here and we’re ready to have our breath taken away by God’s glory. dmc