I went on an Alaskan cruise and just got back on Monday. It was a 14-day cruise from Seattle to Seattle. It was so much fun and I loved it. The weather was great, it was in the mid-50's during the day. We only got rain on one day, and it was just a drizzle, not enough to really put a damper on the day.
The first stop was Ketchikan.
We watched some Salmon try to swim upstream, and then we went on a boat to see the Mystic Fjords. It was very pretty.
When we were in Skagway, we took a train ride up to the Yukon Territory.
And then of course, there are the glaciers! They are amazing to see and hear! When pieces fall off of into the sea, it sounds like thunder.
The kids are really growing up!
But, they still LOVE their video games!
We tried the Reindeer hot dogs. They tasted like regular hot dogs.
I also tried Escargot for the first time. You know what ... it was GOOD! Of course, it's smothered in butter and garlic, so maybe that is why it was good. Speaking of food, I was so happy when our first dinner had Alaskan King Crab Legs on the menu!! YUM!! My favorite!! I also ate a ton of Salmon and Prime Rib. I think I had more Salmon and Prime Rib in the two weeks than I had all last year! AND ... I didn't gain any weight! In fact, I lost a couple of pounds. I guess going to the gym almost everyday helped. However, using an elliptical machine on a rocking boat can get interesting ... you some times feel like you are about to fall off! :)
We saw a lot of animals ... seals, otters, bald eagles, whales, and even a mother bear with three cubs!
They were actually very close to us. This little stream is not wide, and we were standing on a platform. At one point, they came over to our side, and my cousin started to get nervous. There was nothing to stop the bears from walking under the platform and coming up from behind us! So, we decided it was time to leave! LOL!
The whale sighting story is kinda funny. A pod of whales was following the ship one night, and people sitting by the windows in the dining room spotted them. All of a sudden you hear people yelling "WHALES!" and everyone would jump up and run to the windows. Then, the whales would disappear, people would go back to eating, and then someone would yell "WHALES!" again and the commotion would start all over.
I have to include a picture of the pool deck.
This is where I think I spent 75% of my waking hours while on the ship! I
just hung out here almost all the time (except when eating, going to
the gym or gambling). I managed to get a slight sun tan too! It was heaven ... relaxing, reading, listening to my iPod, swimming ... my idea of a great vacation! :) And since we were at sea for about 6 of the 14 days, I was here a LOT!
It was sort of hard to get back to reality and especially go back to work. On Tuesday, I was lost on where to go for lunch, I couldn't just go upstairs to the buffet with tons of food all laid out! I actually had to go find food! LOL! But, it was a fun trip and especially great to spend time with my family. I don't get to see them enough. I think they are hooked on cruising and want to go another one soon!
I will close with a shot of sunset in Anchorage.
Bye for now!
