The mascot of Sitka – these guys are everywhere! Sea Otters Once called “The Paris of the Pacific,” Sitka stands out among other ports as a city rich in culture. Built on the empire of Russian fur trade, Sitka is set between steep mountain slopes and the Sitka Sound, just Continue Reading
Scenic Cruising – Glacier Bay National Park
This was the theme of the day. All day…outdoors…one spectacular thing after another. When Captain George Vancouver first set eyes on the small five-mile inlet that was Glacier Bay in 1794, he described a “sheet of ice as far as the eye could distinguish”. By the time naturalist John Muir Continue Reading
Homer, Alaska
First stop…coffee shop… Homer was happy to see us! Perched on the edge of the world, where the rugged majesty of Alaska meets the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, lies the charming town of Homer. We docked in the deep water dock at iconic Homer Spit which juts into Continue Reading
Kodiak, Alaska
The heartbeat of the commercial fishing industry in Kodiak Kodiak, Alaska is breathtakingly beautiful and has rich cultural heritage. The current population of Kodiak is approximately 5400 people. The National Wildlife Refuge spans over 2 million acres and is a major tourist attraction. Kodiak was at one time the capital Continue Reading
Dutch Harbor, Unalaska, Alaska
Down the road toward town from where we were docked. Desolate – if I had to choose one word to describe Dutch Harbor Nestled amidst the rugged beauty of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, Dutch Harbor emerges as a captivating tapestry of history, culture, and natural wonder. Situated on the windswept shores Continue Reading
Six Days at Sea – The Crossing
Cocktails – in this case Negroni – I’ve had more than my fair share on these 80 days. We left Kushiro and Japan and launched ourselves into the Sea of Okhotsk beginning what amounts to six sea days in a row. From the Sea of Okhotsk the ship navigated into Continue Reading
Kushiro, Japan
View of Kushiro from the ship Kushiro is a port city in eastern Hokkaido. The city is known for Kushiro Shitsugen, Japan’s largest marshland. Dedicated as a national park, the marshland is home to rare, wild Japanese red-crown cranes (tancho) that can be seen during the winter months. Kushiro has Continue Reading
Hakodate, Japan
These are sewer covers – different and all over town Hakodate is Hokkaido’s third largest city, located at the island’s southern tip. Hakodate is best known for the spectacular views to be enjoyed from Mount Hakodate and its delicious, fresh seafood. The city was founded in 1454, when Kono Kaganokami Continue Reading
Sendai, Japan
Sendai is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture and the largest city in the Tohoku region, located along the pacific coast of Japan. The city was founded in the 1600s by the feudal lord Date Masamune and has been a communications center since early historical times. It was also a Continue Reading
Kobe, Japan
On our way to Kobe we had to cross under three bridges from Hiroshima. This was the first while we were still awake. The others were after midnight and at 4:00 am Kobe is located along the tranquil shores of the Seto Inland Sea. Its 1.5 million residents have a Continue Reading