Hi to everyone who has been following us on this amazing journey to Alaska.  I apologize for not keeping up with the blog but when we return we will finish posting our adventures.  So stay tuned!

Monday September 11 - Day 7

We gained an hour during the night.  Set alarm to get up for 7 to watch the whales at the back of the ship.  We woke up to rain.  Saw a bunch of spouts in the distance but nothing really close.

Ate breakfast at the buffet and then to ppresentationsabout wildlife and glaciers. Then buffet for lunch.  (The day seems to revolve around eating.)

We arrived in Juneau at 1 pm and got off the boat at 1:15 to walk around until our excursion to Mendenhall glacier at 2:30.  We had a great bus driver named Jonathan, from Arizona who kept us entertained.

Finished excursion and went to a bar for drinks then back to the boat for dinner.  All Aboard is 9:30 pm and boat will travel to Skagway during the night.  We are scheduled to arrive at 7 am.

Sunday September 10 - Day 6

 Woke up this morning to the rocking of the shipbdue to being in the open water.  It was rainy but not too cold 

Our first port will be Juneau, which is the capital of Alaska.  We will arrive on Minday around 1 pm.  The only way to get here is by air or by sea 

We went to the Lusa deck for breakfast buffet.

Dave and I went to the Alaskan brunch which was delicious.  We sat with three other couples. Found out later that joan and larry were there too.

Ship continues to rock and the waves are quite large.  Glad I am not driving the big vessel.

Went to the fitness center today which is at the front of the ship.  I was able to watch where we were going while on the treadmill.   Nobother vessels around.

We did see a humpback whale yesterday and Maureen saw two playing at the bow.

Lots of aactivities on the ship to include wildlife presentations and music.

Tonight was a dress up night and we went to the Pinnacle Grill  for steak and seafood.  Delicious.

It continues to be windy and the ship continu3s to do some rocking and rolling.  Guests could be seen moving from one side of the hall to the other because of it.  Quite funny to watch as well as we try to walk.

Clocks are being set back one hour tonight so we will be 4 hours behind the east coast.

First excursion will be the Mendenhall Glacier tomorrow in Juneau. 

Saturday sept 9 - Day 5

 Another beautiful day in Vancouver.  Up again leisurely and finished some of the groceries that were bought.  It's sailing day so got everything packed up and bags tagged.  Joan and Larry took the train to Canada place, the port, and ron ordered an Uber for the rest of us.  The driver dropped us off and the check in was easy, with lots of people available to assist if necessary.  They took our bags and we were on the ship by 11.  Out staterooms weren't available right away so we went to the Dive-in food area for a little snack of hamburgers and fries and others had pizza.  A little while later a message came over the PA staing our rooms were ready.  Watched a short video about safety procedures and unpacked.

Sail away was at 3 and it was very interesting to watch the ship leave the dock.

We have reservations for dinner.

We were able to make it to Masa for 5 pm.

Friday, Sept 8 - Day 4

 Up leisurely.  Joan made scrambled eggs and English muffins for breakfast.  We finished Lee's Donuts filled pastries.  Yummy.  Off to Stanley Park by bus.  Got dropped off and walked in.  Started at water front and after a few minutes Dave turned back and went on a horse drawn wagon ride.  We saw him at Brockton point.  He continued on the wagon and we stopped at Stanley bar and grill for a drink.  There was a wedding g about to happen.  What a beautiful day for a wedding.  Dave finished ride and I went to find him to bring him to where we were.  

Lunch was a Jingle Bao for Chinese food.  Tasty.  Got a sampling of different items - high noon tea.  

Delivered Dave back to the airbnb and the rest of us went to Gastown.  They we found a steam clock.  Then to a bar fir happy hour.  

Arrived back to airbnb to relax and then ordered pizza from downstairs.  Delightful evening. 

Getting packed up and ready for departure fro. Airbnb then off the board the cruise ship.  Holland America - Koningsdam.

Sept 7 - Day 3

 DAY 3 THURSDAY SEP 7, 2023

RON AND MAUREEN ARRIVED ABOUT 6PM LAST EVENING TO BE CONFRONTED BY THEIR MISSING BED IN THEIR BEDROOM. LARRY AND I HAD FOLDED UP THEIR MURPHY BED INTO THE WALL FOR A JOKE BUT THEY SOLVED THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. GOOD TO HAVE ALL ASSEMBLED. OUT FOR DINNER BUT SOMEHOW DID NOT END UP CHINESE. MEAL WAS GOOD BUT NOT MEMORABLE. ALL WERE TIRED BUT SOMEHOW EXCITED TO BEGIN OUR ADVENTURE SO STAYED UP LONGER THAN I THOUGHT WE WOULD.

UNEVENTFUL NIGHT. UP AND LEISURELY GOT READY FOR THE DAY. THE AIRBNB OWNER HAD LEFT TIRA MISU AND LARGE CROISSANTS FOR OUR BREAKFAST. WE SUPPLEMENTED WITH EGGS AND MUFFINS. GOT OUT AND ABOUT ON THE LOCAL SKY TRAIN, FIRST STOP AT THE SCIENCE CENTER. HOPE THE PHOTOS SHOW THE SCENE.

GRANVILLE ISLAND IS A GIGANTIC FARMERS MARKET. ACRES OF STALLS OF EVERY FOOD KNOWN ON EARTH (MAYBE A SLIGHT EXAGGERATION) RON BOUGHT US ALL A TASTE OF SALMON MAPLE FLAVORED CANDY. ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. I PROMISED TO MAKE SOME FOR OUR NEXT GET TOGETHER, CHRISTMAS? WE THEN STOPPED AT A BREWERY FOR SOME REFRESHMENTS. NEXT STOP TO LEE’S DONUTS, FAMOUS HERE. DONUTS WERE SHARED AROUND AND I BOUGHT 3 GIGANTIC RASPBERRY FILLED FRITTERS FOR BREAKFAST TOMORROW. BACK ON THE BOAT TO YALETOWN WITH INTENTION TO HAVE OYSTERS FOR LUNCH BUT NOT OPEN TILL 4PM SO WE SOMEHOW SETTLED ONCE AGAIN FOR NON CHINESE FOOD. BEST PEA SOUP I HAVE EVER HAD, 3 KINDS OF PEAS WITH A CHUNK OF HAMHOCK IN IT. SIMILARLY AROUND THE TABLE. WE WALKED TO THE DOCK WHERE WE WILL BOARD OUR SHIP TO ALASKA ON SATURDAY. SPECULATING HOW WE GET OUR LUGGAGE THERE. WILL WORK ITSELF OUT FOR SURE. I WAS VERY TIRED SO THE CREW ACCOMPANIED ME TO OUR AIRBNB WHERE I TOOK A NAP. THEY DEPARTED FOR FURTHER ADVENTURES. WE WILL TRY TO MEET UP FOR DINNER TONIGHT. CHINESE AT LAST I HOPE.

Lisa here – After we dropped Dave off at the AirBNB, we took the sky train back to the water front and then boarded the sea bus (ferry) across to North Vancouver and walked around for a couple of hours. It was a beautiful, sunny, day 70 degrees F.

Back to BNB and walked to a couple of Chinese food places, but they were closed. Finally decided on Sushi. It was tasty and everyone was satisfied. Went back to BNB and winding down.

Tomorrow we plan on going to Stanley Park.

Sorry - not able to upload photos at this time.

Sept 6 - Day 2

 

DAY 2: SEP 6, 2023

DAVE HERE: UP AT O DARK 30, SACK BREAKFAST, SHUTTLE ON THE WAY TO THE AIRPORT. TODAY WAS A DAY OF SITTING AND WAITING, 2 HRS AT OTTAWA AIRPORT, SITTING FOR FIVE HOURS ON THE PLANE (WATCHED THE COMPLETE JOHN WICK 4 AND HALF OF BLADE RUNNER). ARRIVED SAFELY IN VANCOUVER AT 930 AM LOCAL TIME, WAITED UNTIL 1PM FOR JOAN AND LARRY ARRIVAL, SAT FOR TWO HOURS WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO OPEN OUR AIRBNB, FINALLY INSIDE AND WAITING FOR RON AND MAUREEN. SHOULD ARRIVE ABOUT 6PM.THAT WAS THE WAITING HISTORY.

DID HAVE A CULINARY ADVENTURE IN THE VANCOUVER AIRPORT. THERE IS A SHOP CALLED JAPADOGS, HOTDOGS SERVED JAPANESE STYLE. THE ONE WE HAD WAS SERVED IN A REGULAR BUN, BED OF VINEGAR SEASONED CABBAGE, DOG, TOPPED WITH CROQUETTS (SEASONED AND FRIED MASHED POTATOES) AND A BIT OF WASABI. THE JAPANESE FRENCH FRIES WERE BETTER, VERY SMALL SLICES, VERY HOT SERVED WITH SIRACHA.

WE DID HAVE A NICE TAXI RIDE TO OUR AIRBNB WITH TALKATIVE HINDU DRIVER. DEVA MEANS THANK YOU IN HINDI. VANCOUVER IS LARGER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. VERY CLEAN, PROSPEROUS, LOTS OF CONSTRUCTION. BUSTLING.

WE ARE WAITING IN OUR AIRBNB FOR THE FINAL COUPLE TO ARRIVE AND THEN OUT TO A CHINESE DINNER SOMEWHERE. WE ARE STAYING IN CHINATOWN.