Ketchikan - the second time around.

The night before landing in Ketchikan, we saw seals basking in the sun on a rock. They hang out here all the time and knowledgeable people call this a "rookery". Click on the photo to make it bigger. Trust me, they are on the rock...lots of them.We came back from dinner to find a scorpian towel. Couldn't leave this out!
When we first landed in Ketchikan, Bruce was being stalked by another bear! I think he was attracting them with his t-shirt.
We took a tour of the island. We saw lots of eagles.


Then we went to the Saxman Village and saw how totem poles are made.

This is how they are made today...inside.
Seward's totem. Notice how bare it is because he was considered by the natives as stingy.
The native long house.
A totem under repair.




A partial totem in the shop.
A short totem. Perhaps there is one in my future.
After seeing all the totems (and purchasing a book on how to make one), we headed back into Ketchikan to the historic Creek Street.
How nice it would be to have your house right in the river!
Dolly's is a brothel. We had tickets for inside and I may go into more detail on that later.
Ketchikan IS a fishing village after all.
This is a local bug. The leaves were the size of my hand so this was a pretty big bug.

We came back to find a flying swan. I actually thought it looked like a flying ant eater....the kind for flying ants.

Mt. Edgecumbe

The first time in Sitka was a little misty and the clouds were low. You coulndn't see Mt. Edgecumbe. This is why I'm glad we sailed up and back. Second time had the sun shining on Mt. Edgecumbe most of the day!This is a good shot of the boat that took us to shore. It is also our lifeboat and will hold 150. I wouldn't want to be in there with 150 but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
The top of the ship.
When the day started getting dark with clouds coming in, Mt. Edgecumbe was still in the sun.
Isn't frog towel cute!
Bruce took this shot of Mt. Edgecumbe.

Sitka

Sitka was the most normal town with very little commercialism from the cruise ships (so it seemed to me). This is a town I can most see living in. Below is St. Micheal's.Bruce being attacked by a bear.
Then it attacked me. The streets are not safe! Colbert is right. Bears are the most dangerous animal known to man!!








This snail seems pretty safe.




View of town from the hill.
A two inch pine tree.
The same tree.
Our ship in the harbour.
Sitka is a 'tender' port so small boats ferry us to town from the ship.

Monkey towel was waiting for us tonight. I'm so glad he wasn't an attacking monkey. I don't think my heart could take much more today. :-)