Well, we got everything into our 4 bags and 3 carryons, made it through the Westjet weigh-in (although 1 bag was exactly 50 pounds!) and had 2 short, pleasant flights home. Mom, Dena and Jason met us at the airport and now we're home, safe and sound, tired but happy.
What a trip. Wow. It is hard to believe that we were really there--we'll have to look at the pictures to be sure! Some places and experiences we want to go back and do again, but others we'd avoid. People were friendly everywhere we went. Travel has meant so much to us--helped/made us grow. Now, on to plan the next trip!!!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Ketchikan
Ketchikan is a cityof 10,000 (14,000 in the summer) on the shore of the inside passage. It is only accessable by sea or air, has 26 miles of road and thousands of cars. 1 in 7 people has a pilot's license, everyone owns at least one boat and usually a quad or snowmobile.
We got off the ship this morning soon after it docked and I (Laurel) decided to take a float plane trip to Misty Fjords National Monument. It is a unique mountainous area that is awesomely beautiful. We flew over mountains, frozen lakes, and stunning scenery. We landed on the fjord and got a chance to see it up close by getting out and standing on the floats...took me back to my north country past for sure! Michael was a little reluctant but was as awed as the rest of us on the plane ( a DeHavilland Beaver, the safest plane in the world!) We were out for 2 1/2 hours and could easily have stayed for more. Earlier it rained so we were not sure how the visibility would be but the sun came out and it was beautiful. They get 13.5 FEET of rain per year so trees grow in logged out areas without reforestation. After our flight we walked around downtown and visited the Alaska Interpretive centre...very interesting and a timber frame, stunning building. We went to the old red light district, called Creek Street, which is now cute shops and pubs.
We are on our last sea day tomorrow so will be busy trying to fit everything into our suitcases.....may not be possible! Looking forward to be home and see everyone!!
Laurel and Michael
We got off the ship this morning soon after it docked and I (Laurel) decided to take a float plane trip to Misty Fjords National Monument. It is a unique mountainous area that is awesomely beautiful. We flew over mountains, frozen lakes, and stunning scenery. We landed on the fjord and got a chance to see it up close by getting out and standing on the floats...took me back to my north country past for sure! Michael was a little reluctant but was as awed as the rest of us on the plane ( a DeHavilland Beaver, the safest plane in the world!) We were out for 2 1/2 hours and could easily have stayed for more. Earlier it rained so we were not sure how the visibility would be but the sun came out and it was beautiful. They get 13.5 FEET of rain per year so trees grow in logged out areas without reforestation. After our flight we walked around downtown and visited the Alaska Interpretive centre...very interesting and a timber frame, stunning building. We went to the old red light district, called Creek Street, which is now cute shops and pubs.
We are on our last sea day tomorrow so will be busy trying to fit everything into our suitcases.....may not be possible! Looking forward to be home and see everyone!!
Laurel and Michael
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Juneau
We--well, Michael...--were a bit slower getting mobile today--so, onshore for about 9:30. We took the tram up the mountain beside Juneau for a really great view of the town and the ship channel and the airport and mountains in the far distance. The tram is a biggie--40 people-- that goes almost straight up for 4 minutes. The weather was again perfect--sunny, clear, a gentle breeze and warm.
After the tram, we walked to the Alaska Museum and had a good look around. Lots of coastal First Nations items, plus a good section on the Russians in Alaska. We went many repeat many! steps up the side of a hill to catch the end of the main street in Juneau, and then walked down to the ship, stopping and shopping along the way. We missed the Governor's House by a block, but some folks we talked with said that Sarah Palin was in the window waving at them. We did not feel a great sense of loss...
We're leaving now--4:15 local--on the way to Ketchikan, so will blog after that.
After the tram, we walked to the Alaska Museum and had a good look around. Lots of coastal First Nations items, plus a good section on the Russians in Alaska. We went many repeat many! steps up the side of a hill to catch the end of the main street in Juneau, and then walked down to the ship, stopping and shopping along the way. We missed the Governor's House by a block, but some folks we talked with said that Sarah Palin was in the window waving at them. We did not feel a great sense of loss...
We're leaving now--4:15 local--on the way to Ketchikan, so will blog after that.
Skagway
What a neat place!
We got off the ship and straight onto the White Pass and Yukon Railway train. Powered by a older diesel--they have 2 working steam engines, but they are only used for weekend trips--there were about a dozen old passenger cars. This is a 3 foot narrow guage railway, but we had lots of room. The trip is awesome. The average grade is 2.6%, but it is quite a bit steeper in spots! And, the track itself is built into the side of the cliffs with tremendous drops over the edges. There is only one wooden trestle left, but it is a high one--lots of good pictures. There were a couple of spots where we think we could see the "Trail of '98"--but it was covered in snow. And, at the top, there is a replica of the RNWMP post.
(There were 2 Gold Rush routes--from Dyea over the Chilcoot Trail (shorter, but tougher) and from Skagway over the White Pass (longer, but easier--they used pack horses). From what we could see, the White Pass route was still darned tough!)
Then, we wandered around Skagway. Although the roads are paved, the "sidewalks" are still boardwalks. The town has a very small winter population that doubles for the tourist season. We went to a few museums--one big one and a few smaller exhibits. And wandered the town just absorbing the sunshine and the place, and a beer, to be truthful!
Then, we went for a swim and a hottub in the outdoor pool--it was really nice weather.
We got off the ship and straight onto the White Pass and Yukon Railway train. Powered by a older diesel--they have 2 working steam engines, but they are only used for weekend trips--there were about a dozen old passenger cars. This is a 3 foot narrow guage railway, but we had lots of room. The trip is awesome. The average grade is 2.6%, but it is quite a bit steeper in spots! And, the track itself is built into the side of the cliffs with tremendous drops over the edges. There is only one wooden trestle left, but it is a high one--lots of good pictures. There were a couple of spots where we think we could see the "Trail of '98"--but it was covered in snow. And, at the top, there is a replica of the RNWMP post.
(There were 2 Gold Rush routes--from Dyea over the Chilcoot Trail (shorter, but tougher) and from Skagway over the White Pass (longer, but easier--they used pack horses). From what we could see, the White Pass route was still darned tough!)
Then, we wandered around Skagway. Although the roads are paved, the "sidewalks" are still boardwalks. The town has a very small winter population that doubles for the tourist season. We went to a few museums--one big one and a few smaller exhibits. And wandered the town just absorbing the sunshine and the place, and a beer, to be truthful!
Then, we went for a swim and a hottub in the outdoor pool--it was really nice weather.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Glacier Bay
Glacier Bay is a long--53mile--fjord-like National Park at the BC/Alaska border, just west of Skagway. We arrived at the entrance at about 8:30--we saw otters and many spouts, whales and orcas!!! After picking up the Park Rangers, we sailed along the Bay to the end, where Marjorie and Grand Pacific Glaciers meet the Bay. Marjorie advances 5 feet per day and so calves of lots of ice into the water. We saw a few pieces (size is hard to tell--the glacier front is 75 meters tall and 1 km wide, and we're about 600 meters away) fall off. You catch a glimpse of motion in the corner of your eye, hear a great crack--sort of like thunder--like when an ice cube explodes in your glass, times 200--and see the splash. Quite amazing. Grand Pacific Glacier comes down from Canada--the border is just a few hundred meters back in from the water. Its not moving as fast as Marjorie, and is black because of rocks and silt and the like. We were maybe 3/4 of a mile off the end of it--and saw a brown bear on the edge of the glacier.
We sailed back a bit to Lamplugh Glacier--the water off the end of the Glacier was just white with floating ice pieces--big and small. And in the background of all this are snow covered mountains--the Fairweather Range at 15,000 feet plus, the Saint Elias Range, the Alseks and the Takhinsha Mountains. Just beautiful--for the second day in a row, words fail. The weather is perfect--bright blue sky, about 5 C, only a breeze. We are very lucky!!!
We are sailing back down Glacier Bay towards the entrance now. There will be another hour or so of good whale watching later, so hopefully we will see more...
Tomorrow, Skagway and the White Pass and Yukon Railway trip, so we'll blog after that for sure.
We sailed back a bit to Lamplugh Glacier--the water off the end of the Glacier was just white with floating ice pieces--big and small. And in the background of all this are snow covered mountains--the Fairweather Range at 15,000 feet plus, the Saint Elias Range, the Alseks and the Takhinsha Mountains. Just beautiful--for the second day in a row, words fail. The weather is perfect--bright blue sky, about 5 C, only a breeze. We are very lucky!!!
We are sailing back down Glacier Bay towards the entrance now. There will be another hour or so of good whale watching later, so hopefully we will see more...
Tomorrow, Skagway and the White Pass and Yukon Railway trip, so we'll blog after that for sure.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Anchorage, Whittier and College Fjord
We awoke yesterday docked in Whittier, Alaska. Customs and Immigration were a breeze, and we picked up the Avis Rent-a-Car, and friends Willy and Cori, and headed off through the longest combined rail-traffic tunnel in North America--just over 2 miles. Neat! And on into Anchorage--a bit over an hour driving along the seashore--Turnagain Arm and Cook Inlet--with snowcapped mountains everywhere around. Gorgeous doesn't even begin to describe...
We dropped of Willy and Cori at the airport and went downtown. It was the first Farmer's Market of the year for Anchorage, so we did lots of wandering and some buying. Think big fleamarket with probably 200 booths selling whatever, and food tents too! Wandered through the downtown area and generally, were on LAND. This made Laurel very happy!!!! Didn't have to do anything, just not be on the ship. Back to Whittier and wandered around a bit--a small place--170 full-time residents--with the dock and some infrastructure built by Princess. Before the 1964 earthquake, there were some 1200 residents--it hasn't recovered from the military pulling out and the earthquake. But it is charming, nonetheless.
This morning was College Fjord, with its many glaciers, all named after colleges--Yale Glacier, Harvard Glacier, etc.. The weather was perfect and we got many pictures. Sadly, there is no way that they can capture the true beauty and grandeur of the location. Simply stupendous. Lots of "bergy bits" and "growlers" floating in the water, some sea otters swimming around, the glaciers and the mountains, the clear, cold air and warmpth of the sun--just filled your senses. Thumbs up for Captain Dino getting us there and the weather for cooperating.
Thats all for now. Will keep you posted!
We dropped of Willy and Cori at the airport and went downtown. It was the first Farmer's Market of the year for Anchorage, so we did lots of wandering and some buying. Think big fleamarket with probably 200 booths selling whatever, and food tents too! Wandered through the downtown area and generally, were on LAND. This made Laurel very happy!!!! Didn't have to do anything, just not be on the ship. Back to Whittier and wandered around a bit--a small place--170 full-time residents--with the dock and some infrastructure built by Princess. Before the 1964 earthquake, there were some 1200 residents--it hasn't recovered from the military pulling out and the earthquake. But it is charming, nonetheless.
This morning was College Fjord, with its many glaciers, all named after colleges--Yale Glacier, Harvard Glacier, etc.. The weather was perfect and we got many pictures. Sadly, there is no way that they can capture the true beauty and grandeur of the location. Simply stupendous. Lots of "bergy bits" and "growlers" floating in the water, some sea otters swimming around, the glaciers and the mountains, the clear, cold air and warmpth of the sun--just filled your senses. Thumbs up for Captain Dino getting us there and the weather for cooperating.
Thats all for now. Will keep you posted!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Sea Days, Whales, and North America
We are on the last of a series of SEVEN Sea days. I can not imagine the early explorers not setting foot on dry land for months at a time! We get fed, watered, entertained and have chocolates on the pillow at night.....and I am stir crazy. Mike, however could cheerfully wander the globe as long as he has his daily dose of Internet!
The Diamond Princess is a lovely ship. The dining rooms are all different and beautiful. We have met some very nice and friendly people, with whom we will probably keep in touch. Last night was formal night and we got all gussied up and had our picture taken (several times) and some even turned out! We have enjoyed having a window...hope to see even more duing the trip down the Inside Passage. Apparently there have been whales sighted, as well as puffins, albatross, and little birds called shearwaters.
Tonight we pick up our pilot at Seward and will be able to see glaciers...looking froward to that....Talk to you from Alaska, USA, NORTH AMERICA!
The Diamond Princess is a lovely ship. The dining rooms are all different and beautiful. We have met some very nice and friendly people, with whom we will probably keep in touch. Last night was formal night and we got all gussied up and had our picture taken (several times) and some even turned out! We have enjoyed having a window...hope to see even more duing the trip down the Inside Passage. Apparently there have been whales sighted, as well as puffins, albatross, and little birds called shearwaters.
Tonight we pick up our pilot at Seward and will be able to see glaciers...looking froward to that....Talk to you from Alaska, USA, NORTH AMERICA!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Pictures OK!!!!
Although the onboard Photo people could not read our erased SD card, one of our fellow Cruise Critic members, Tom, had a photorescue program that was able to recover all 450 of them! Much happiness and relief... They are saved, burned to CD, and we are happy, happy, happy!
The International Date Line is behind us now, and we have the certificate to prove it! We are also just slightly north of Winnipeg, latitude wise, and south of the Aleutians, shipwise. Grey, cold, dismal and wavy day... We are all screwed up sleep-wise, because there has been an hour change one way or another every day for the last week, with a couple more to go. But, we are now 6 hours behind Winnipeg on the same day, and catching up...
We've been on a Galley tour (with champagne and Orange Juice), walked the deck (with toques and gloves!), rented a car for Whittier so we can drive to Anchorage, done laundry (joy!), read and ate...
Bye for now
The International Date Line is behind us now, and we have the certificate to prove it! We are also just slightly north of Winnipeg, latitude wise, and south of the Aleutians, shipwise. Grey, cold, dismal and wavy day... We are all screwed up sleep-wise, because there has been an hour change one way or another every day for the last week, with a couple more to go. But, we are now 6 hours behind Winnipeg on the same day, and catching up...
We've been on a Galley tour (with champagne and Orange Juice), walked the deck (with toques and gloves!), rented a car for Whittier so we can drive to Anchorage, done laundry (joy!), read and ate...
Bye for now
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Muroran
Today is a sea day, but yesterday was Muroran, on Hokkaido, the northernmost Japanese island.
There was the (sadly and frustratingly) usual customs and immigration and health scanning kerfuffles before we were able to get off the ship. The Japanese people are wonderful, but I regretfully report that their official procedures are not up to snuff.
The town had a circular shuttle bus laid on for the day, so we took it! The first stop was at the tourist center. Laurel was guided through arranging flowers and conducting a Japanese tea ceremony. There ceremony was exacting and the tea, well, it is an acquired taste--it is a green, frothy, seaweed tasting, thick, hot drink. They also had a bunch of schoolkids--the youngest about 3--who sang a few Japanese songs for us--very cute, and they did a great job. Then, we climbed up 289 steps to a Shinto shrine--which was exquisite. Peaceful, beautiful landscape with traditional buildings. Laurel got to pound on a traditional Taiko drum in the shrine.
We hopped on the bus and went to the next stop, which had a couple of department stores--so we wandered around. Then, we went into a shop selling Bento boxes--box lunches--got a couple and went to a park area beside a canal to eat them. No idea what some of the items were, but they were tasty! Got some Mothers Day flowers and walked around a bit.
Went to another stop along the way and got an example of Japanese calligraphy, done in front of us by an older gentleman. Wonderful.
A great ceremony by the townsfolk as we were leaving port.
Today, we had a DISASTER. Laurel was trying to view the little camera pictures on the Coby viewer when the viewer erased--without asking!--all the pictures on the SD card--about 400 or so. We have the card in the photo shop now in the hopes that they can recover them. And, they are making a DVD of the 1300 pictures on the big camera. We will know tomorrow if we have lost the pictures--we are keeping fingers crossed that they can recover them.
For the next few days, as we sail east, we lose an hour each night--and a day tomorrow! There will be Monday-1 and Monday-2 for us--but each one will only be 23 hours long. This will put us eventually on Alaska time, but it will make for strange sleeping and many adjustments of the watches and clocks. Although we have been over the International Date Line before, each time is a new and strange--incomprehensible?--experience.
Smooth sailing across the Pacific so far--the Captain has the throttle open so he can get a bit ahead of schedule in case the weather slows us down later on during the crossing. He has 3000 miles to cover over the week.
We're doing fine, and they assure us that the Internet will be available the whole crossing, so we will do email, but will probably only post on the blog if something interesting happens. A sea day is relaxing, with reading and lazing about and participating in shipboard events. So, they are great, but usually there is little to blog about. We will let you know about the pictures...
There was the (sadly and frustratingly) usual customs and immigration and health scanning kerfuffles before we were able to get off the ship. The Japanese people are wonderful, but I regretfully report that their official procedures are not up to snuff.
The town had a circular shuttle bus laid on for the day, so we took it! The first stop was at the tourist center. Laurel was guided through arranging flowers and conducting a Japanese tea ceremony. There ceremony was exacting and the tea, well, it is an acquired taste--it is a green, frothy, seaweed tasting, thick, hot drink. They also had a bunch of schoolkids--the youngest about 3--who sang a few Japanese songs for us--very cute, and they did a great job. Then, we climbed up 289 steps to a Shinto shrine--which was exquisite. Peaceful, beautiful landscape with traditional buildings. Laurel got to pound on a traditional Taiko drum in the shrine.
We hopped on the bus and went to the next stop, which had a couple of department stores--so we wandered around. Then, we went into a shop selling Bento boxes--box lunches--got a couple and went to a park area beside a canal to eat them. No idea what some of the items were, but they were tasty! Got some Mothers Day flowers and walked around a bit.
Went to another stop along the way and got an example of Japanese calligraphy, done in front of us by an older gentleman. Wonderful.
A great ceremony by the townsfolk as we were leaving port.
Today, we had a DISASTER. Laurel was trying to view the little camera pictures on the Coby viewer when the viewer erased--without asking!--all the pictures on the SD card--about 400 or so. We have the card in the photo shop now in the hopes that they can recover them. And, they are making a DVD of the 1300 pictures on the big camera. We will know tomorrow if we have lost the pictures--we are keeping fingers crossed that they can recover them.
For the next few days, as we sail east, we lose an hour each night--and a day tomorrow! There will be Monday-1 and Monday-2 for us--but each one will only be 23 hours long. This will put us eventually on Alaska time, but it will make for strange sleeping and many adjustments of the watches and clocks. Although we have been over the International Date Line before, each time is a new and strange--incomprehensible?--experience.
Smooth sailing across the Pacific so far--the Captain has the throttle open so he can get a bit ahead of schedule in case the weather slows us down later on during the crossing. He has 3000 miles to cover over the week.
We're doing fine, and they assure us that the Internet will be available the whole crossing, so we will do email, but will probably only post on the blog if something interesting happens. A sea day is relaxing, with reading and lazing about and participating in shipboard events. So, they are great, but usually there is little to blog about. We will let you know about the pictures...
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Vladivostok
Yesterday was a sea day, but today was Vladivostok, Russia!
We woke up berthed across from a couple of Russian navy ships, complete with big guns, missiles and radars--this is the home of the Pacific Fleet. We got off the ship and started our walking tour, led by Svetlana (a university language student with awesome English) by going past the city square, which had been taken over by the Pacific Fleet for a parade rehearsal. Think a couple of thousand sailors, jeeps, Personnel Carriers, missile carriers, trucks, etc. etc--not to mention the Admiral in Charge of the Pacific Fleet taking the salute. Quite amazing, and noisy--bands, a cannon, commands, etc.
We walked on past and stopped at the GUM "department" store. Full of strange items, some new, some used, all pretty out of date. The building itself was old, many stories, no elevator.
We walked all over, seeing hotels, apartments, a beach and a seafront park. We went into a museum with lots of historical--ancient to Stalin--items. All in Cryllic, so we really had no idea what was going on, but the models and pictures and artifacts were neat.
Chilly day today, not too much sun, but OK for walking around. The local people came out to watch the ship arrive and depart and took pictures and brought the kids. We got some of the little nesting dolls and Laurel got a Russian fur hat, complete with Naval insignia.
Dinner tonight with funny people. She's going to write a book..."I was married to a sea captain, one time..." or "close calls and near misses"!
Michael looked for the 1919 Royal Bank building -- no luck, or at least nothing conclusive. There was one possible, just up from the harbour--the stonework and windows looked right, but the roofing was wrong, and the front walk wasn't elevated like in the 1919 picture. Could have been renovations and street rebuilding, I suppose, but...
Tomorrow is a sea day, and then Muroran, Japan. (Remember that we don't have internet in Japanese waters) So, our next blog will likely be during the sea day out of Japan--3 days from now; Sunday.)
We woke up berthed across from a couple of Russian navy ships, complete with big guns, missiles and radars--this is the home of the Pacific Fleet. We got off the ship and started our walking tour, led by Svetlana (a university language student with awesome English) by going past the city square, which had been taken over by the Pacific Fleet for a parade rehearsal. Think a couple of thousand sailors, jeeps, Personnel Carriers, missile carriers, trucks, etc. etc--not to mention the Admiral in Charge of the Pacific Fleet taking the salute. Quite amazing, and noisy--bands, a cannon, commands, etc.
We walked on past and stopped at the GUM "department" store. Full of strange items, some new, some used, all pretty out of date. The building itself was old, many stories, no elevator.
We walked all over, seeing hotels, apartments, a beach and a seafront park. We went into a museum with lots of historical--ancient to Stalin--items. All in Cryllic, so we really had no idea what was going on, but the models and pictures and artifacts were neat.
Chilly day today, not too much sun, but OK for walking around. The local people came out to watch the ship arrive and depart and took pictures and brought the kids. We got some of the little nesting dolls and Laurel got a Russian fur hat, complete with Naval insignia.
Dinner tonight with funny people. She's going to write a book..."I was married to a sea captain, one time..." or "close calls and near misses"!
Michael looked for the 1919 Royal Bank building -- no luck, or at least nothing conclusive. There was one possible, just up from the harbour--the stonework and windows looked right, but the roofing was wrong, and the front walk wasn't elevated like in the 1919 picture. Could have been renovations and street rebuilding, I suppose, but...
Tomorrow is a sea day, and then Muroran, Japan. (Remember that we don't have internet in Japanese waters) So, our next blog will likely be during the sea day out of Japan--3 days from now; Sunday.)
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Pusan or Busan, Korea
Today we went shopping! Korea is a shopping Mecca so that is pretty much all we did. Our one foray into learning about the city took us to a museum in the downtown where we learned about the prot city. We saw the market area and had a great day just wandering around. The stalls sold everything from food to fish, to dried tree bark! We bought a few things...got a lovely silver necklace...not cheap but pretty! Mike got his first T shirt! He has been remarkably restrained.
In the afternoon we went for a swim as the day was so warm and beautiful...hope it stays that way for Siberia, where we visit Vladivostock tomorrow!
In the afternoon we went for a swim as the day was so warm and beautiful...hope it stays that way for Siberia, where we visit Vladivostock tomorrow!
Kagoshima
Sorry for the delay in this post--Japan does not allow ship-to-satellite communications in its waters, and we missed yesterday. So, Kagoshima:
There was a huge mess trying to get off the ship. Due to H1N1, they wanted an additional paper from everyone and they wanted to see and scan EVERYONE on the ship before they would let ANYBODY off. So, we were about 4 hours waiting!!! Ugh.
When we did get off the ship, the GAiGO kids were waiting for us. (Cruisecritic shore tour with English students as guides) Because we were late, bits of the tour had to be shortened or cut out, sadly. Anyway, the first thing we did was take a 15 minute ferry over to a volcanic island, where we got out and looked around the landscape. We also did a lot of chatting with "our" students. Then back to the mainland for a bit of a bus ride to a Japanese Garden. Absolutely gorgeous--we could have spent a lot more time there. We had box lunches in the Empresses Room--an honour--sitting on the floor. Then, a bit of a tour around the city of Kagoshima and back to the ship.
The kids were wonderful. They could speak excellent English, they were in guiding us around on a national holiday, and they were really friendly and obviously having fun.
When we got back to the ship, there was a performance of Taiko drumming. 10 drums--but the biggest was on its own trailer and was about 2 meters diameter drum surface. Boy did they play! Laurel's desire to join one of the Winnipeg groups was reinforced.
As we were leaving, the Sakurijima volcano let loose with a gas, smoke and ash eruption. Amazing to see the ash rolling down the mountain and just about over the place where we had earlier observed the volcano from. Lots of pictures.
There was a huge mess trying to get off the ship. Due to H1N1, they wanted an additional paper from everyone and they wanted to see and scan EVERYONE on the ship before they would let ANYBODY off. So, we were about 4 hours waiting!!! Ugh.
When we did get off the ship, the GAiGO kids were waiting for us. (Cruisecritic shore tour with English students as guides) Because we were late, bits of the tour had to be shortened or cut out, sadly. Anyway, the first thing we did was take a 15 minute ferry over to a volcanic island, where we got out and looked around the landscape. We also did a lot of chatting with "our" students. Then back to the mainland for a bit of a bus ride to a Japanese Garden. Absolutely gorgeous--we could have spent a lot more time there. We had box lunches in the Empresses Room--an honour--sitting on the floor. Then, a bit of a tour around the city of Kagoshima and back to the ship.
The kids were wonderful. They could speak excellent English, they were in guiding us around on a national holiday, and they were really friendly and obviously having fun.
When we got back to the ship, there was a performance of Taiko drumming. 10 drums--but the biggest was on its own trailer and was about 2 meters diameter drum surface. Boy did they play! Laurel's desire to join one of the Winnipeg groups was reinforced.
As we were leaving, the Sakurijima volcano let loose with a gas, smoke and ash eruption. Amazing to see the ash rolling down the mountain and just about over the place where we had earlier observed the volcano from. Lots of pictures.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Dalian
Yesterday was Dalian. The smog had blown away for the morning, and it was a beautiful, sunny day, and everyone in town was taking advantage of it. Its an interesting city--brand new beautiful buildings and some old ones, reflecting Chinese as well as Russian and Japanese architecture--the city has changed hands a few times in history. Big wide streets and beautiful big open squares or parks everywhere. When you think of modern China, think of many new buildings taller than the Richardson, with stunning architecture--none, literally, of the box stuff we North Americans are used to. The older buildings are still there, but are off the beaten track. Housing and apartments are equally newer, but there is much more of the 20-30 year old stuff. Think downtown shopping centers that are 4 stories underground with a park at street level on top. All this in Dalien--a city of over a million.
We did a walking tour and then went to a big park--a circle about a kilometer in diameter in the middle of the city, with lots of landscaping and statues--to fly kites. What a blast; just awesome. There were mostly delta kites, but a few outlandish shapes and one "kite" that consisted of about 100 small kites along a single string that went upwards a *long* way. Back to the ship for a swim--the smog was starting to blow back in--and then sailaway.
Sea day today--not much to report--and Kagoshima tomorrow, so we'll blog that one for sure. We have an adventure scheduled!!!
We did a walking tour and then went to a big park--a circle about a kilometer in diameter in the middle of the city, with lots of landscaping and statues--to fly kites. What a blast; just awesome. There were mostly delta kites, but a few outlandish shapes and one "kite" that consisted of about 100 small kites along a single string that went upwards a *long* way. Back to the ship for a swim--the smog was starting to blow back in--and then sailaway.
Sea day today--not much to report--and Kagoshima tomorrow, so we'll blog that one for sure. We have an adventure scheduled!!!
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Great Wall of China
After 2 sea days and a 3 hour bus trip, we made it!
The part of the wall that we saw was a reconstruction, as is the rest of the wall, but it is in the same place and built in the same way as the originals--earthquakes did them in. It is just like in the pictures--about 2 stories high, wide enough for 8 people to walk side by side, and very steep. It is either like a ramp on top, or with stairs that are either about 3 inches high or about 18 inches high--walking was not easy. There are water drains across the walking part every 30 feet or so as well that you have to avoid! There are towers placed for defence that are about 4 stories high, with a very steep--75 degrees or so--and narrow stairway to get up to the roof. Other towers were placed on higher peaks for signal smoke, messages about how many troops were coming from Mongolia. And they also had one of the major encampments built into the wall--sort of a walled-city-like place--complete with temples, a hotel (now!) and disgracefully, a ferris wheel (now!)
Lunch was sort of Chinese food, sanitized for westerners, including french fries and beer. Another 3 hour bus ride back to the ship.
Some of the roads were narrow and twisty, but the majority were 4 lane or more, with interchanges and the like. Just like being in California, road-wise and agriculture wise too--flat plains with canals and irrigated crops.
The smog here is terrible. We don't know how people stand it. This morning, you could see about 2000 feet before stuff just disappeared into browny-grey. (We know this, because there were 2 cruise ships parked, and you basically couldn't see the back end of the second one...) It smelled and tasted like chemical crap. Fortunately, there was some rain in the afternoon that washed some away, but it was still bad.
Tomorrow is Dalian, with the promise of some Chinese Kites if the weather is OK.
The part of the wall that we saw was a reconstruction, as is the rest of the wall, but it is in the same place and built in the same way as the originals--earthquakes did them in. It is just like in the pictures--about 2 stories high, wide enough for 8 people to walk side by side, and very steep. It is either like a ramp on top, or with stairs that are either about 3 inches high or about 18 inches high--walking was not easy. There are water drains across the walking part every 30 feet or so as well that you have to avoid! There are towers placed for defence that are about 4 stories high, with a very steep--75 degrees or so--and narrow stairway to get up to the roof. Other towers were placed on higher peaks for signal smoke, messages about how many troops were coming from Mongolia. And they also had one of the major encampments built into the wall--sort of a walled-city-like place--complete with temples, a hotel (now!) and disgracefully, a ferris wheel (now!)
Lunch was sort of Chinese food, sanitized for westerners, including french fries and beer. Another 3 hour bus ride back to the ship.
Some of the roads were narrow and twisty, but the majority were 4 lane or more, with interchanges and the like. Just like being in California, road-wise and agriculture wise too--flat plains with canals and irrigated crops.
The smog here is terrible. We don't know how people stand it. This morning, you could see about 2000 feet before stuff just disappeared into browny-grey. (We know this, because there were 2 cruise ships parked, and you basically couldn't see the back end of the second one...) It smelled and tasted like chemical crap. Fortunately, there was some rain in the afternoon that washed some away, but it was still bad.
Tomorrow is Dalian, with the promise of some Chinese Kites if the weather is OK.
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