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Ketchikan, Alaska

These first six photos were taken at the Totem Heritage Center. The first totem pole was inside the center and we were asked not to take flash photos. Before we entered, while outside, I turned off my flash. But then I set the camera on automatic thinking that the flash would not flash. Well, it happened. The flash went off but, thankfully, no one complained. This Center has a “library” of totem poles, some very, very old. In one room they are laid horizontally where one can see them easily and there is a short description and history written for each.

The photograph above was taken at the totem pole park. It shows the “rain forest” of southeast Alaska and was taken while on the path to the location where the next four photos of this group were taken. The “rain forest” was very much a surprise. Generally, such conditions are thought to be tropical and one would not expect it in Alaska were the weather can be so cold.

The first of the two above photos was taken inside what is called a “clan house”. Because the winters are so very cold, the Alaskan natives lived as a family in such houses. There is storage space beneath the floor, a pit for fire in the center and the floor was used for sleeping. We were told that it would be very hot inside, well over 100°F. The opening seen in the center of the second photo was used to get into and out of the house. Only, in reality it was half the size as the one shown here. Its size would require a person to crawl on all fours in order to get through the opening. If the person coming in was not a member of the clan, he/she would get hit smartly on the head and forced back outside. Below shows the totems erected at the park. Our guide was explaining each the images on each pole and the story that the totems tell. Through the carving of the totem pole, the Alaskan natives recorded their history.

Here we are back at our ship, however, the ship shown is not the Sea Princess. It belongs to the Carnival Lines and is the Carnival Spirit. We saw a lot of cruise ships, some smaller than our's, some larger. I would guess that they are all just as nice. The photograph of the hillside and houses is Ketchikan. Notice the stairs. Long ago there was little need for streets and the hills prevented the construction of roads. Many of the houses there have “stair addresses” rather than street addresses.

These two photos are us at the bow of the Sea Princness. It would appear that Mieko feels that she might blow away. Below, the Sea Princess has started to pull away from the pier and we were on our way to Juneau.