Sitka, Day 4-Part 1

We lost internet service for most of last night, putting me a day behind on posting, so this is going to be big pics, short words again. 

(Apparently Starlink works better in the open ocean than it does closer to land or in crowded areas. Who knew?)

Making new friends

Day 4 was rainy and cold. Our “Otters, Raptors and Bears” tour started about 1:30 pm and got us back to the ship just before 7, cold, wet, hungry and very happy. 

 On the tour bus, ready for adventure  

First stop was the Alaska Raptor Center (here) where the rehabilitate birds for (hopefully) release back to the wild. 

Some that can’t be released they use for teaching ambassadors. 

 Main compound

Beautiful birds, 

 Bald eagle nest, she’s as big as a fledgling!

gorgeous location, 

 Photographer in action

great gift shop that the girls took full advantage of. 

 Large photo is 2 releasable bald, the 3 birds are permanent residents due to injurieseagles

(Addy wants to study raptors so she was especially thrilled with this stop.)

 Ambassador bird

Fortress of the Bear (here) was started 

 One of two bear compounds 

by a father-daughter team to rescue bear cubs 

who had been abandoned or whose mothers had died.

 Feeeeeed meeeeeeeee

The State of Alaska doesn’t have a cub rehabilitation program (??!?) 

 Enjoying his salmon

so before this the cubs were left to fend for themselves or were euthanized. 

They have 8 bears permanently in residence 

and have placed many others in zoos and other facilities.

Sad story: they warned us before we went out to the viewing area that ”nature is taking its course”. 

A duck had nested in the bear enclosure and currently was trying to protect her chicks from the resident bear. You can imagine how that is going. 

Mama duck kept swimming and squawking at the bear, who seemed more amused than anything. 

He’d swim right up to mom, then turn away. 

But apparently there are fewer nestlings everyday. ☹️

 The good photos are by Rachel

Trying to post this before we lose the internet again. Captions and corrections tomorrow…

At Sea, Day 3

So enjoyable, being on the ocean, miles from land, with nothing to do but relax (and eat).

Leia and Addy took part in their second trivia contest (topic: titles and singers of music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. “We need you, Grandma!” 😂)

while Pop and I hung out in the Commodore Room, reading.

It was also our first (and probably only) formal dinner night. 

Don’t we clean up good?

The girls seemed to enjoy it but weren’t all that crazy about the food, so we’ll probably eat at the buffet for the rest of the trip. There’s something for everyone and a more relaxed atmosphere. Tomorrow we’re in Sitka and have our first shore excursion - ‘Otters, Raptors and Bears’.

Shipping Out, Day 2

Getting onboard Queen Elizabeth was (almost) smooth sailing (see what I did there??) until a conscientious gate agent discovered Leia didn’t have a “parent” accompanying her. I’d talked to Cunard people multiple times while booking this trip and not one mentioned “notarized forms” and “parental id’s” required for her to board. 🙄 

Fortunately, the gate guy passed us up the chain to a Cunard officer who quickly resolved the issue. But was I steamed to find this out at the last minute? Maybeeee…

Fueling barge outside our cabin

Even with that delay, we were on board and eating lunch within an hour of drop off*. 

All our suitcases made it to the rooms quickly - nobody went to purser jail this trip. (Pop had a clothes steamer confiscated once before; he had to personally go claim his offending luggage from security. 😂)

After giving the girls a walking tour of the ship, we hung out in the Commodore Room, one of our favorite spots,

until QE was ready to pull away from the dock around 5 pm. 

Deck 9 aft (that’s the back end…) 

had some great views of Seattle as we went by. 

Tomorrow is a sea day - 

We are very close to being the last cabin on Deck 6

and our first ‘formal night’ dinner - 

before we dock in Sitka on Wednesday. 

Planning to eat, sleep, read and relax until then. 

Night all!

* Our ‘limo’ ride to the dock turned out to be a large black SUV but the driver saved us some hassle when he casually asked, “so would you like me to drive you to the airport when you get back?” Why yes, yes we would. Thanks for asking, limo guy. 

Seattle, Day 1

Today was crazy, I still can’t believe how much we saw and how far we walked.

Good thing Pop was keeping track. 

There are so many pics, and I still have to (re)pack my suitcase for tomorrow, so this is going to be big pics, short words. (Remember you can click/tap any picture to see it in better quality. Blogger shows just a low resolution thumbnail by default.)

Missed the first train, 15 min wait for the next one

The hotel offers a free shuttle to/from the airport and light rail station, so we took advantage of that and caught the 1 Line for the 35-ish minute trip into Seattle. That was fun all by itself!

Outside the rail station, starting our walk down to the sea

And then we hiked it, up (never ending) stairs, down hills 

and all around the aquarium’s 3 buildings. 

(The aquarium was nice but we’re so spoiled with all the really great aquariums in California.)

Twinsies by accident. We are so cute.

Some fishy photos 

 

and the newest addition to ‘my favorite creatures’. Critically endangered and so gloriously weird.

Bowmouth Guitarfish 

Skyline view from the aquarium.

A guy outside the aquarium had two macaws you could hold, for a small donation. Who could resist? (And why would you??) 

Such a great photo op, says the very happy grandma. 

Flowers of Seattle

Walked through Pike’s Market on our way to catch…

the monorail! I got the very front seat, right by the driver. Jac would be so jealous. 

Rachel said I didn’t look hot and sweaty. She lied. 😜

Next stop, and the end of the monorail, was the Chihuly glass museum. 

Pop and I have been before and really wanted the girls to see it. 

Such a crazy amazing place. 

(Photos - soooo many photos - continue below…)

My very favorite Chihuly piece has its own house -

We stopped about halfway through for a snack and to rest our aching feet at The Bar, a restaurant adjacent to the museum, 

which was decorated with Dale Chihuly’s personal collections…

accordions, Bakelite radios from the 50’s (?), 

bottle openers and so (very weird) much more. 

Then back on the monorail, 

to the light rail 

and finally home. 

Tomorrow we have a town car taking us to the pier where we board the Queen Elizabeth. Then on to Alaska! (The 36 passenger van-to-ship ride was $27/person plus tax; the limo was $25 each for just us 5. Truly was not a hard decision…)

Dr Seuss flowers

First exhibit - love it!

Reinterpreting Native American weaving

Glass in the ceiling

Center of ⬇️ bowl