Anchorage, AK

Because any previous Alaskan cruise we have taken ended at Seward, we take advantage of the cruise ship docking in Anchorage and book two shore excursions.  Our morning tour is the “Anchorage Flight-Seeing Safari” and our afternoon tour is the “Portage Glacier Cruise & Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center”.

 

We climb aboard a floatplane for our 30 minute Flight-Seeing Safari.  The floatplane taxis off from the water and soars into the air.  Unfortunately, there is a forest fire burning. We can't see the fire ... only the smoke that is making the air a hazy blue.  As a result, distant visibility is reduced.  We fly as far as Turnagain Arm (no wildlife sightings) and back to Anchorage.  The next time, I would take a longer flight because 30 minutes (15 minutes out and 15 minutes back) just gets us into the good scenery and we have to turn around and go back to Anchorage.   

         

Flight-Seeing Tour

In the afternoon, our tour bus takes us down the scenic Seward Highway.  In about an hour, we arrive at the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC).  Here we see wounded birds and animals (like the bear that tangled with a porcupine and became malnourished because he couldn't eat or an orphaned bear cub).  After the rehabilitation is complete, the animal/bird is returned to the wild (if possible).  While here, the animals are free to roam within the large tracts of land (an electric fence defines the boundaries).  We spend most of our time watching a couple of grizzly bears (one cub and one adult).  They saunter by us - literally a few feet away.  Two sets of fence keep us out of their reach (the interior fence is the electric fence). 

         

Bears at the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center

A short drive from the AWCC is Portage Glacier Cruises.  We board a boat for a one hour scenic cruise to/from Portage Glacier.  Over the years, this glacier has been receding.  The glacier used to be visible from the road.  Now the only way to see it is by boat. Along the way, we see lots of seasonal waterfalls.  When we arrive at Portage Glacier, the Captain keeps the boat floating within a quarter of a mile from it.  It looks so much closer than that. 

            

For more information on AWCC or Portage Glacier Cruises, visit the following websites:

Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center
Portage Glacier Cruises

Scenic Cruising - Tracy Arm, AK

Tracy Arm is located about 45 miles south of Juneau, Alaska.  It is a narrow fjord around 30 miles long.  The cruise ship slowly moves through the ice-studded water.  Imagine - some ice pieces could be as large as a three-story building!  Why do I keep thinking about the Titanic?

Seattle, Washington

The Space Needle is 605' high and was completed in 1962 for the World's Fair.   It is an iconic landmark that any visitor to Seattle should see ... but there is another location that’s an even better place!

Delightful Dominica

Brrr!   The 2013-14 winter months are long with bitterly cold temperatures.  We need a break from winter.  So, we book ourselves on an 11-day Southern Caribbean Cruise. 

 

Day 5:  Our second port-of-call is Dominica.  The ship docks in Roseau (its Capitol City) at 9:30am. 

 

As soon as we exit the ship, we are greeted with some "liquid sunshine".  We board a small bus (#283) and meet our tour guide Elvira and driver Damien (Fun Sun Tours).  There are no signal lights here and drivers honk every time they enter a curve (which is often).  The roads are narrow, winding and steep but they offer some scenic views. 

 

Our first stop is at Morne Trois Pitons National Park.  The park is named for the three volcanic peaks that sit on the property.  The Emerald Pool is part of the National Park.  We begin walking to the pool.  The first part of the trail is fairly easy but once you pass a viewing point, the trail becomes steep and steps are part of the dirt trail.  We are told to wear good walking shoes to hike this trail because of the rocks and roots and it is good advice.  When I reach the wooden footbridge, I can hear the rushing sound of a waterfall.  Up some more stairs and there it is - a lovely waterfall cascading down into the Emerald Pool.  Brad (and others in our group) chooses to take a dip in this natural pool. 

  

Emerald Pool & Waterfall

Our second stop is also within the National Park - Trafalgar Falls (two waterfalls).   For about 10 minutes, we walk a trail through the forest to see these "Mama and Papa" falls.  Our tour guide asks us not to go any further than the wooden viewing platform (due to time limitations).  Both falls are easily seen from here.  The "Papa" falls are bigger and stronger while the "Mama" falls are slender and more delicate. 

  

Trafalgar Falls (aka “Twin Falls”)

In Roseau, we stop at a Botanical Garden which includes a bird sanctuary.  The birds are in cages set back behind a fence.  So viewing them is difficult.  We didn’t spend much time here but there did not appear to be much to see anyway.  So, I wasn’t disappointed when we had to leave. 

Our final stop was a scenic overlook at the top of a hill for a view of the town and our ship.  Our time in Dominica is over for this trip … it is back to the ship and time to sail away to our next port – Barbados.

Colonial St. Thomas

Brrr!   The 2013-14 winter months are long with bitterly cold temperatures.  We need a break from winter.  So, we book ourselves on an 11-day Southern Caribbean Cruise. 

 

Day 4:  Our first port-of-call is St. Thomas USVI.   This is not my first time at St. Thomas but it is my first time touring the island (we usually go to St. John or Tortola to do water activities).  As we leave Charlotte Amalie, we drive by Fort Christian (the oldest structure in the USVI). Fort Christian (red building with an ornate clock tower) has been a school, jail, government building, and a museum.

   

Fort Christian

Our first stop is a panoramic view from Drakes Seat (where Sir Francis Drake was supposed to have looked for enemy ships of the Spanish fleet).  The view from this high vantage point is beautiful. 

      

View from Drake’s Seat

At Blackbeard’s Castle, we begin a self-guided walking tour of Colonial St. Thomas.  The tour includes Blackbeard’s Castle, two historic homes, Hotel 1829, the 99 Steps, and an unusual amber waterfall.  Unfortunately, we are not given any map, so I wander around on my own. 

Blackbeard's Castle (built in 1679) is really a watch tower.  It is 35 feet high, four feet thick and has a spiral staircase consisting of 36 steps to the top viewing platform.  The top of the tower is so small only 8 people are allowed there at one time but the view is outstanding. 

          

   Blackbeard’s Castle and Panoramic View from Top of Tower

Located on the hillside is the Britannia House (originally built in 1847).  The house is furnished with antiques and the porch has a lovely view of the bay.

      

Britannia House – Porch View

Haagensen House: is beautifully decorated and furnished with West Indian antiques.  The original 1.5 story house was built in 1822.  I can imagine myself sipping on a cold beverage while sitting on a porch chair enjoying this view.   

  

Haagensen House – Porch View

Amber Waterfall is tucked away in a small courtyard near Hotel 1829.  It is the largest amber waterfall in the world (2-stories high) and contains over 12,000 stones.  This “waterfall” is not what I call a waterfall but it is unusual and an interesting tourist attraction.

   

Amber Stone Waterfall

Built in the mid-1700’s, Charlotte Amalie has many step streets cutting through the hills that rise from the harbor area.  Of these step streets, the 99 steps are the most popular and probably the most photographed. 

  

99 Steps – Going Up?

Well, the allotted time for my St. Thomas walking tour time is coming to an end and the warmth of the day is making me feel tired and ready for air conditioning.  I am heading back to the ship.  See you at the next port – Dominica!

2013 Winter Storm Ion

Just before Christmas (December 22, 2013), mid-Michigan is hit by a devastating ice storm.  It causes more than 660,000 power outages state wide…including our subdivision   Shortly after we wake up on Sunday morning, our electricity flickers off and on a couple of times and then everything goes dark....