Alaskan Cruise - Ketchikan Part 2

Ketchikan - The Salmon Capital of the World.

Ketchikan is the southeastern-most sizable city in Alaska. With an estimated population of 8,050 in 2010 within the city limits, it is the fifth most populous city in the state. Local economy is based upon tourism and fishing. Ketchikan is named after Ketchikan Creek, which flows through the town. Ketchikan comes from the Tingit name for the creek, Kitschk-hin, the meaning of which is unclear. It may mean "the river belonging to Kitschk". Other accounts claim it means "Thundering Wings of an Eagle". Ketchikan also has the world's largest collection of standing totem poles.

We paid $50 each for a bus tour of Ketchikan. Too much for too little – but you’re only old once. Don't worry, the bus over-filled with foreign speaking souls before we left. 

Our driver said the natives might invite us inside but when I asked, the young woman told me that they don't let anyone in anymore. A woman fell and sued them. For insurance purposes, they close the doors to the public.

How did I get that eagle to pose for me at such a great distance? This is the extent of our wildlife sightings in the wilds of Alaska, my friends.

 
 Goodbye Ketchikan. We are sailing away. At least we thought we were. See what delayed us.

Spent the afternoon on deck watching the cast off and scenery. 

I was intrigued by the man coming out int he boat to release the ropes that held us to the dock. 

And HERE THEY ARE! They were so drunk they could hardly walk up the gang plank. Must have been quite a wedding.

 There are up to five or six ships in port at the same time. Skagway has a populaltion of 900. With 5 ships in that makes around 15,900 in the town that day. Tourism is their #1 industry, before gold, lumber, hunting, and fishing.

 Watching the seaplanes.

 We almost saw a whale. We saw the splashes and one fin. Lovely. Relaxing. We went to an art lecture at 5:30. The magic and comedy show in the evening made us laugh out loud and ooh in wonderment. How did he do that?

DeRay and Ed spent a lot of time in the Spinnaker, the observation room on the 13th floor. Ed observing; DeRay ? ? ?

The Tsar Dining Room. 

Wait until you see the men's side!
The camera only shoots what it sees.
DeRay's mother would have had them draped
before you could say "Jack Robinson".
She filed the breasts off a nutcracker
we gave her and crocheted a shawl to cover her.
She painted clothes on all the nudes in her art book.

Stay tuned.

Next:  Juneau and Tracy Arm