KETCHIKAN, ALASKA, USA-SALMON CAPITAL OF THE WORLD-APRIL 27, 2013

KETCHIKAN is Alaska's 4th largest city and it is no more than 4 blocks wide but stretches over 32 miles along the Tongass Narrows.  Like other Southeast Alaska towns, KETCHIKAN grew because of substantial gold and other mineral finds in nearby hills.  I incorporated in 1900 when it was just a boomtown of 1,000 miners, fishermen and saloon-keepers.  By the 30's over a dozen salmon canneries produced more than a million pounds a year, giving this city the title of "Salmon capital of the world".  By the mid 70's the fishing industry nearly collapsed.  Salmon have made a remarkable comeback since, and the lumber industry is still a part of the city's economy.
KETCHIKAN also has the dubious reputation as "Rain Capital of Alaska".  Average annual rainfall if 162 inches with measurable precipitation on 240 days of the year.
Our shore excursion was to the MISTY FJORDS NATIONAL MONUMENT and for 5 hours we were on a very comfortable Catamaran seeing the pristine rivers and streams, ice fields, forested mountains, tumbling waterfalls and glacial lakes.  No roads lead into this untamed land; only ships and planes make it accesible.

LEAVING CRYSTAL SYMPHONY.

 MONUMENT

 SCENERY

WATERFALLS

HARBOR FROM OUR VERANDAH

 CRUISING GLACIER BAY

SUNCHAIRS ON POOL DECK AND GLACIER BAY IN BACKGOUND

GLACIER BAY, ALASKA-GEM OF THE INSIDE PASSAGE-APRIL 26, 2013

As we sail 65 miles into this glacial fjord, we are folllowing in the wake of the fastest glacial retreat in recorded history.  There is spectacular scenery and magnificent wildlife and we have 2 park rangers on board that are answering all of our questions and share some of the highlights of the day.
Glaciers form because snowfall in the high mountains exceeds snowmelt. Tidewater glaciers, those that reach the sea, are formed in only 3 places on earth: Chile, Scandinavia and Alaska.

 Our ship docked in Seward-a town of 2,500.

View of Seward Harbor from our verandah.

SEWARD, ALASKA, USA-APRIL 24, 2013

The only way to speak of Alaska is in superlatives.  Everything here is the largest, the best, the first, the coldest or the most beautiful.  Mt. McKinley is the highest mountain in North America and the state is larger than 1/5 of the continental US and its 33,000miles of rugged coastline exceed the length of all the other 49 states' coasts combined.
Despite its vastness, Alaska has only 16,000 miles of roads, most unpaved.  The majority of the "bush" settlements-those inaccesible by roads-depend on planes to connect them with the outside world; thus Alaska has more planes and pilots per capita than any place in the world.  Their traditional isolation has made Alaskans an independent, self-sufficient people.  They are also a friendly, outgoing and gregarious lot.
SEWARD began as fishing village and point of arrival for those visiting Alaska.

This was taken from our verandah and was all that we saw of KODIAK.

KODIAK, ALASKA, USA-APRIL 23,2013

We docked @ KODIAK, ALASKA this morning and instead of seeing the town, Don and I went to see the Doctor on board.  He is on anti-biotics and Coriciden and I am just Coricidin.  He gave me his cold.
In 1867, America purchased Alaska from Imperial Russia.  It had been the capital of Russia from 1733-1867.  When WWII unfolded, fears of an attack from west surfaced following the Japanese invasion of Kiska and Attu. Then, in 1957 oil was discovered on the Kanai Peninsula in Swanson River and the rest was...history.  Statehood came to Alaska on January 3rd, 1959 with Juneau its capital.  ALASKA became the 49th star in America's stars and stripes.
KODIAK ISLAND is found on the western side of the Gulf of Alaska,  The terrain is rugged yet rich with geological drama and wildlife.
Fewer than 7,000 claim their town ranks among the country's top three fishing ports with 700 fishing vessels calling here annually.  KODIAK is filled with crab pots, drying netss, canning factories, fish smokers, and curbside eateries serving everything.  Most of the catch is frozen immediately and shipped out to markets around the world.

 RICHARD DUTKOWSKI-a Master Photographer from Great Britain is on board and I won a free lifestyle portrait session with him.  We did part of it 3 days ago and another part today.

 View from the back of the ship. 

Return to the ship after a short shore excursion.  32 degrees, but sunny.

DUTCH HARBOR/UNALASKA, ALASKA-THE PLACE WITH 2 NAMES

SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2013
About 800 miles SW of Anchorage, the "place with 2 names" is known chiefly as the heart of the area's booming fishing industry, situated between the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea.  The waters of Dutch Harbor are ice-free year round and provide a sheltered anchorage for vessels from the storms of the 2 seas.
Even before the Russians arrived on the Aleutian Islands in 1741, native Aleuts lived on the bounty of the sea.  The Aleuts were forced to join the Russian in their quest to trap seals and sea otters for their lucrative pelts.
The US Navy appropriated DUTCH HARBOR in 1940 and it incorporated as a city in 1942.  During WWII  area was bombed heavily and the surviving Aleuts were removed for their safety.  It wasn't until the 1960's that resurgence in the king crab industry led to a financial boom and a restoration to the previous affluence.  It is now a thriving fishing and marine port and exports millions of pounds of king crab, snow crab, salmon, halibut, cod and herring a year.  Unemployment usually hovers at about 2%, but because of the remote location, cost of living here is the highest anywhere in the US, over 200% than Anchorage and about 150% above the national average.  The 5,000 residents don't seem to mind.

GRAND GALA BUFFET

TEAM TRIVIA

3 FUN FILLED DAYS @ SEA-we went across the international date line and had 2 Fridays, the 19th of April.  We have left RUSSIA and are on our way to DUTCH HARBOR, ALASKA.
Our TEAM TRIVIA  won today and instead of keychains and flashlights, we received 25% off a shore excursion.  We are playing with 2 Brits and 2 Aussies and have had a good time.
Today was the GALA BUFFET with had lots of please the eyes and the palate.

PETROPAVLOVSK, RUSSIA-This is a city without style since it didn't expect visitors.  It is shut off from the outside world and is only accesible by ship and by plane.  It is part of the Russian Far East and is 9 time zones away from MOSCOW and Russia has 11 time zones in all.  It is the world's second largest isolaated city after Iquitos, Peru, but has a population of almost 200,000.  The fishing industry flourishes here along with the military which houses Russia's largest nucliar submarine base for their Pacific Fleet plus important military radar installations.

THE KAMCHATKA PENINSULA IS HOME TO THE WORLD'S DENSEST POPULATION OF BROWN BEARS.  A MATURE MALE STANDS 9 FEET TALL AND WEIGHS A WHOPPING 800 POUNDS!

I took a shore excursion called "RUSSIA COUNTRYSIDE DACHA EXPERIENCE.  We traveled about and hour outside of the town to a dacha (country home) of John and Vonna where we were served special lunch with entertainment by the local people. 

4 DAYS @ SEA-We love sea days!!  Breakfast, lunch dinner, lectures, Team Trivia, Bingo and Bridge for Nancy.  What fun!!  We had 3 days of Bingo and I won 2 games on 2 different days and came in 1st in Bridge with my partner Ina from Germany.

CAPTAIN'S WELCOME PARTY

COCKTAILS @ THE CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS

April 13, 2013

Breakfast in the room with our butler serving Don.

Japan-the land of the Rising Sun.  Sunrise @ 5:33 from out verandah window followed by a .6 on the Japanese scale EARTHQUAKE!!!!!!!  What is that all about?

 Our tour of Kyoto.

 Gekeikan Sake Brewery Museum which celebrates the 350 tradition of one of the most famous brands of Japanese sake.  We learned the history and process of making the rice-based brew.  The ball is the symbol of a sake brewery.

 Typical serving of sake.

 THE FUSHIMI INARI TAISHE SHRINE, the head of some Inari shrines located throughout the regine.  Founded in 711, the structure is didicated to five Shinto deities and boasts more than 10,000 Torii gates straddling the 2 and 1/2 mile pathe that winds up the hill.

 Don listening to our Japanese guide at t Shito Shrine.

The red painted gates are a striking architectural featuer.

 Geisha girls walking the street.

 A fan shop.

 Cherry Blossoms still in bloom.

A welcome to our lunch venue.

Traditional Japanese mini-course.

Our table set up.

 Entrance to the restaurant.

 Performance by 2 geisha girls.

 Tempura course.

 Geisha girls .

Gion District with one

WHAT A WEEK!!

We left the LA Airport @ 8:30 AM on Tuesday, April 9th and arrived in KOBE, JAPAN @  3:20 PM on Wednesday, April 10 having crossed the International Date Line. 
We took a shuttle to KOBE,JAPAN and spent 2 days @ The Okura Hotel.
KOBE, JAPAN-CITY ON THE INLAND SEA
Our hotel was close to the thriving port of KOBE where through these waters pass 1/4 of all of Japan’s imports and exports.  As early as the 4th century, Chinese and Korean influence and inspiration filtered into Japan through Kobe.  By the 13th century, Kobe was a burgeoning port that just continued growing.  The events of WWII left the citizens of Kobe to rebuild anew, for their city suffered great damage.
Looming high above the city is MT. ROKKO, the highest peak in the Rokko Range which rises 3,058 feet above sea level.  You can see the entire panorama of the city and the nearby Awaji Island from this lofty perch.
Kobe beef, reputed to be some of the world’s finest was available for a hefty $100-$150 and that is the reason that we had a BLT sandwich in the Hotel bar!

 

                                                      ATOP MT.ROKKO IN KOBE

                                          THE VIEW FROM THE HOTEL OKURA BAR

VIEW FROM OUR HOTEL ROOM OF THE KOBE HARBOR AND CITY OF KOBE

EMBARKATION ON CRYSTAL SYMPHONY FOR OUR PACIFIC PANORAMA VOYAGE FROM KOBE TO VANCOUVER-APRIL 12, 2013


KYOTO, JAPAN-APRIL 13
Rich in tradition and imperial history, KYOTO is in many ways the cradle of Japanese culture, representing almost 11 centuries of Japanese heritage.  Even though KYOTO was the country’s capital for more than ten centuries, the real political center was often elsewhere. This power structure allowed the city to survive the devastation of WWII.  KYOTO now boasts some of the oldest wooden temples, pagodas and palaces in Japan.
Our visit to KYOTO included the Gekeikan Sake Brewery Museum, which celebrates the 350-year tradition of one of the most famous brands of Japanes sake. We learned the history and process of making the rice-based brew and also tasted the sake.
Then to the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, the head of some 40,000 Inari shrines located throughout the region. Founded in 711, the structure is dedicated to five Shinto deities and boasts more than 10,000 Torii gates straddling the 2 and 1/2 mile path that winds up the hill.  The red painted gates are a striking architectural feature.
Lunch was in a traditional Japanese restaurant with mini-courses and we were treated to a performance of 2 beautifully dressed geishas.
Our final visit was to the Gion District where we walked the quarter’s quaint narrow alleyways which are home to teahouses, shops and restaurants.  This district is where the Kabuki Theater got its start and where geisha girls have entertained and delighted guests since the late 1500’s.


Sunrise was @ 5:34 with this bright red sun.  Japan is called The land of the Rising Sun.  We also had a pt.6 earthquake @5:35!!!!!!!!




Breakfast in our room with Greg the Butler serving Don.











In KYOTO.
        
                 













GEKEIKAN SAKE BREWERY MUSEUM.











Typical set up for Sake.












Don listening to our Japanese guide near a shrine.

















Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine.









Torii Gates.











Fan Shop













Geisha Girls.

















Cherry Blossoms.












Lunch.