DAY 6--SITKA, ALASKA

 BACKGROUND INFO:

        The city and borough of Sitka is located on Baranof Island about midway between Vancouver and Anchorage in Sitka Sound part of the Gulf of Alaska.  Its 2010 population was nearly 8900.  This area was originally inhabited over 10,000 years ago by the Tlingit people.  In 1799 Russians settled here in Old Sitka.  In 1802 Tlingit warriors destroyed the Russian settlement and ransomed the survivors.  But in 1804 the Russians returned with a force of 850 fighting men and a war ship finally forcing the Tlingits out in what is called the Battle of Sitka.  Sitka was designated the capital of Russian America in 1808. 
        Russia, after its loss of the Crimean War, decided to sell Alaska.  Secretary of State William Seward under Presidents Lincoln and Andrew Johnson saw this purchase as part of America’s “Manifest Destiny”.  (Can you remember high school America history class?)  So on October 18, 1867, America bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million which equated to 2 cents per acre.  The port city for Anchorage, Seward, was named after William Seward.
        In the early 1900’s gold mining and fish canning spurred the economy.  Sitka was the capital of Alaska until 1906 but was moved to Juneau then due to declining whale and fur trade.  With the advent of WWII, the US Navy built an airbase nearby on Japonski Island bringing with it 30,000 GI’s.  Today, 18% of the work force still makes a living from fishing and fish processing.  Other large employers are a health care company and the school district.  There is also a US Coast Guard base here.  An interesting note is a Texas company in 2010 announced it was planning to ship 3 to 9 billion gallons of fresh lake water from Sitka (Blue Lake) to India.  This deal represented the world’s first regular bulk water export via tanker ships.  It was to make $90 million per year for Sitka.  Well, as my daddy always said, “If it sounds too good to be true, it is!”  As of 2013 the project ended in failure.
        Sitka is only accessible by either boat or plane.  You really don’t need a car here as the road from one end of the island to the other is only 14 miles long.  There is no public transportation as most everything is within walking distance of the town.  There is a ferry that operates to Juneau, Ketchikan, and other towns for $49 per ticket. 

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LAST NIGHT:

        While sitting at the bar Anatoli, our general manger, stopped by to report they did not find the source of our suite noise when they removed part of the ceiling to have a look-see.  No surprise.   After dinner we skipped going to the production show, "Blazing Boots" as just too tired.  We decided to just stay in our suite and not go to 813 to sleep in.  We could still hear the popping sound but still slept ok from being so tired.  Sure enough it did get VERY bumpy during the night but we were ok.
        Rebecca has an upper respiratory bug now and started taking a Z-pac yesterday.  Hope she will get better in a few days.  So here are some food photos from last evening.

Our jalapeno poppers were delivered to us right away after we arrived at the bar in Mariner Lounge.

        Viktoria (this is her spelling) made me Grey Goose vodka martinis.  I asked for this vodka in honor of our Toronto friend, Marcia Rector.  Few days ago when I ordered my first martini I asked Viktoria if she had and blu cheese stuffed olives and she said no.  Well since then, she had stuffed some just for me.  Now that is service!!
        While sitting at the bar a couple walked up and asked Rebecca how she was.  They were on a cruise with us prior to the pandemic (can't remember exactly when) and were dining in Prime 7 when Rebecca got a bit of meat caught in her throat and was chocking.  I got it dislodged finally but we caused quite a scene in Prime 7.  A "code mike" (code word for medical staff to respond) was even called and was at the Prime 7 door.  So this couple remembered this.

                Jofe served our La Crema chardonnay in Compass Rose during dinner.

I had planned on ordering escargot for my appetizer but Dara said there were none on the ship.  She suggested I try this instead.  It is a mussel & vegetable casserole in puff pastry.  It was very good.  We just received an invitation to dine with Donald, the Food & Beverage Manager, this Tuesday so I will ask him to get some snails.  I will also as for then to try to get some soft shell crabs.  I love the french fried.

           I also asked for this Alaskan crab and avocado appetizer in a bloody Mary sauce.

At noon yesterday I asked the restaurant manager for these panko crusted tiger prawns as my entree.  We had them on the menu a couple nights ago as an appetizer.  I also had a baked potato and some asparagus.  Rebecca had the marinated tiger prawns as her entree.  It was one of the featured entrees.

      For my dessert I enjoyed this macadamia nut pudding with ice cream.  Very yummy.

TODAY:

Today we are docked in Sitka, Alaska.  It is a very yucky day weather wise with rain and temperature in mid 50's.  I had a tour scheduled for 10:25, "Taste of Sitka", but canceled it yesterday.  We will be sailing at 3pm today and will be at sea tomorrow before we arrive in Victoria BC, Canada, at noon on Wednesday.

        This is the cruise terminal and there is a free shuttle to downtown which is 5 miles away.  We are the only ship in port today.  We both went to the fitness center for our hour workout this morning.  I thought about taking the shuttle into town but just to much of a messy day.  We hope the boutique on board has some cough med for Rebecca.  It will be opening after we sail at 3pm.

        Just before we left at noon to have some lunch, two head housekeepers stopped by to say hello.  Estera will be leaving for her vacation Wednesday in Victoria and Jolanda will be taking her place.  We may be having dinner with the both of them tomorrow.  Donald, our Food & Beverage Manager, has invited us to join him in Compass Rose for dinner.  He usually includes the Head Housekeeper so one or both will be joining us.  They were quite a hoot so it will be a fun evening.

For lunch I had a bowl of Manhattan clam chowder, small Caesar (with 5 anchovies), and this chili & honey glazed fresh coho salmon with some fried rice and broccoli.  Very yummy!

        The boutique did not have cough drops.  I will look for some in Victoria on Wednesday.  At 6 this evening we have been invited to a cocktail party in the theater Regent's top tier guests.  The ship is rocking and rolling quite a bit now after departing Sitka so doubt we shall attend.  Just go sit at the bar.  I believe the Captain said it will start to smooth our around 2am.  Hope so.  The noise in our suite is back big time since the ship is rocking again.  We will probably go to suite 813 for sleeping tonight.

        The show tonight is featuring a multi-instrumentalist, Alex Goncharov.  Never heard of or seen him before.  Not sure if we will attend or not.  Sea day tomorrow.