Alaska: Days 1-4

So begins our Alaska adventures, this time traveling with our good friends Tobi and Greg. We started our trip with a late night flight to Anchorage.  We arranged lodging in a log cabin type hotel, called Long House.  Greg and Tobi were placed in a tiny room with a full sized bed, while we were inexplicably placed in a double sized room with two king sized beds.  None of this matters when you get to the hotel at 2am, but may matter if you are 6 months pregnant.

The first morning, we took a walk 3 blocks from our hotel.  Note: blocks are super long in Anchorage.  We visited the exceptionally overrated “Earthquake Park,” the commemorative park where the 1964 earthquake that struck Anchorage shed several hundred feet of land into the sea.  It looks like a forest on the sea.   We then walked along the Tony Knowles Coastal Walk.  It's basically just a low grade walking path through the suburbs with some views here and there.

We then wandered in to town, and got lunch at the mall.  Despite being a relatively small city, they do have a nice big mall. And with good vegetarian options. After that, we continued our walking tour of downtown Anchorage.  We ate dinner at Glacier Brewhouse where I had the best Veggie Burger EVER!

Glacier Brewhouse, Anchorage

The next morning we went to Seward, where the cruise leaves from.  Tremendous scenic drive, and on the way, we stopped at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.  They had Moose (Meese?), three types of bears (none Golden)  and some other types of Alaskan animals.  Definitely a fair value for the $10 entrance fee.

Elk at the Wildlife Conservation Center - check out the antlers on these things!

We also had a brief stop at Canyon Creek for a photo op:

At Seward we went to the Alaska SeaLife Center.  The aquarium was built with funds from the Valdez oil spill, so it's way too nice for the small town.  How small?  Their cell phone towers do not handle data plans at all!

Beth, Rich & Greg at the Alaska SeaLife Center

After a quick tour, and 40 minutes trying to get an away message for my email, we boarded the pride of Holland America line:  The Zaandam.   Despite my pleas and emails, we were placed in a room right next to Tobi and Gregory.

Quick rundown on the Zaandam – 10 year old boat, felt older, other people on board felt much older.   Inexplicably the central atrium houses a 3 story pipe organ (snoozer).  Two pools, theatre, several bars, casino.  Convenient room location next to the exit and the stairs/elevators.

Holland America's Zaandam

The first two days were at sea and cruising by glaciers in the College Fjords   The first day we saw Harvard glacier after cruising through the fjords that it had previously carved out.  Witnessed some small to moderate calving, before turning around.  Glacier viewing began at 6:30 am, which is really early, even in Alaska. 

Harvard Glacier in College Fjords

That night we had rough seas and Greg suffered some nausea.   I would have guessed it was with the prospect of Tobi being 3 months from delivering a child, but apparently, Greg gets motion sick and there was a wicked awesome storm.

The next day, we cruised through Glacier Bay, which is a large bay with glaciers.   It had a really nice glacier, Marjorie Glacier, where we witnessed some good calving.  We sat there for an hour and watched little and big chunks fall of the 250 foot face of the glacier.   Apparently 4 horizontal feet calve every day!


Calving on Marjorie Glacier (don't miss about 20 seconds in!):



We then sailed off and headed for Haines. Some highlights of our two
days at sea include Beth going in the hot tub with me, Tobi being
called up to participate in a magic act on stage with a magician from
the Magic Castle in Hollywood, and Greg and Tobi squabbling with the
host of the Newlywed Game before celebrating victory over a couple
married almost 61 years and another middle-aged couple who'd been
married about 20 years.