Passengers poured off the ships and invaded the downtown streets, panting for good jewellery deals, cheap tee shirts, fridge magnets, Native art, Ulu knives, shot glasses, and any species of souvenir that said "Alaska" all over it. 
The city huddles at the foot of a mountain. It seems to exist largely for the cruise ship season. There are many interesting excursions one can sign up for, to get a taste of the wilder side of Alaska--go out into nature, or even drive past the governor's mansion, but all these cost money. So I stuck to wandering the streets with my camera.
This decorative fence of stylized sea life caught my eye,
as did these brightly painted chairs sitting by the sidewalk.
I believe this is some sort of Native Community Centre, judging by the artwork of the fence and that seen painted on the wall behind the chairs.
I spotted this ashtray attached to the wall outside a bar on the main street. Symbolic, I thought.
This is where Elks hang out.
The sign says it is the Elks Mother Lodge of Alaska.
It's as close as I got to wildlife on the trip.
The wreath-like decorations, the colours and varied finishes on this old building intrigued me.
Even more so when I noticed its name painted on a side wall: "Palace"
Maybe not the stairway to heaven, but if you look closely between these two buildings you can see a steep set of wooden stairs that climb at least part way up the mountain.
But no time for further exploration today as it's time to set sail for our next port of call,
and more opportunities to make up for not buying that sweet little souvenir that we saw and passed up when we were in Juneau.
Loved your sight-seeing tour! Much better than the paid excursions. You really got to *see* the city. It was rainy and overcast the day we were there some 25 years ago :) So we did the tourist thing and hopped in and out of shops. Don't recall that we bought anything - nothing around here stamped "Alaska." :) Although I saw some lovely handmade sweaters, but had to pass on those... $$$ Love the "butt" shot. That really says it all...
ReplyDeleteMystic,
DeleteAt our Juneau stop, my sister went in a 12-person canoe out to view the Mendenhall Glacier and had a fabulous, if slightly daunting and exhausting experience. Each to her own! As you can see from my pictures, the weather changed radically through the course of our stay in port. You know, I don't have anything that says Alaska on it either, but I did buy a little souvenir whale tail necklace because we saw whale tails out on the briny while we were supping in the dining room on board ship. Nice that your memories of your Alaskan trip are holding up so well after 25 years.
Oh I would have made the same choice!!! I loved seeing all your 'stops' along the tour...that is the true Alaska and where the memories are. Wonderful trip!!!
ReplyDeleteDanielle,
DeleteYes, you got it, just what I was trying to do--capture a hint of something real about the places I visited. Although, I must admit, as we were in Juneau for the entire day, I did do my fair share of store hopping.
What a wonderful tour of Juneau!! Thank you!! It has a real frontier feel. (Though those bright chairs added a touch of Paris.)
ReplyDeletejann,
DeleteFrom Juneau to Paris in one fell swoop! Now that's a trip. There is a rough and ready sort of feel to each of the towns I visited in Alaska.
That first photo is almost science-fictional, those massive streamlined machines against that ancient landscape backdrop.
ReplyDeleteDCW,
DeleteThe whole cruise experience is like participating in fantastical fiction. It was most bizarre, and oddly stunning, to see three or four of those floating cities parked at the piers of these small towns.
Thank you for these interesting impressions ! Continue to wish to be able to breath the air of your last image. Always two hands of water beneath your keel and a good Sunday.
ReplyDeleteRobert,
DeleteOh yes, to breathe the chill salt air was very good for the airways! I understand how it could be a welcome change for you from the air of Athens.
Great sequence capturing the real Alaska which contrasts sharply with perceived images of the iconic alaska - looking forward to the sequel.....
ReplyDeleteCatherine,
DeleteYes, exactly--the "iconic Alaska" which is what and where, exactly?
Juneau looks less romantic than the name suggests. Stunning last photo!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to the seeing the next part of your journey.
Ruby
Ruby,
DeleteIt is a magnificent name--far too hard to live up to, especially in the wilds of the north.
It is quite boggling that so many people can be deposited all at once from these large vessels.. sure must make a huge impact on the town/city... I know this happens in Saint John too ... this industry has really exploded.
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying your take on it and your pictures!! take care!
Gwen,
DeleteI was boggled for most of the trip, with the whole concept of these floating hotels. But feeling boggled is not an altogether unpleasant experience, I must say. Four huge cruise ships docked at the same time! A store owner in Skagway admitted that there is hardly any life in these places once the tourist season is over, leading to a lot of substance abuse by the locals. At least larger centres such as Saint John have a raison d'etre outside of the cruise industry. But then, these Alaskan towns sprang up largely due to the gold rush: one could perhaps draw similarities with the influx of tourists to miners. But the tourists bring the gold.
You observe like a detective.. have you ever thought of doing a newspaper column.. oh what am I saying, blogs are better than the newspapers nowadays...love your take on the tourists bringing the Gold.. you are so Smart!!!
DeleteGwen,
DeleteOh, I think I might re-use that bit about the tourists bringing the gold in a later blog post, seeing as you pointed out how clever it is! Who better to quote myself than myself?
Always liked the name of the place... Juneau... flew over it once at 30000 feet. American Spirit cigarettes, with a Native American symbol on them; what a statement there ! Wish I could have seen it about 700 years ago. Long before any greedy Europeans came through the neighborhood...
ReplyDeleteOwen,
DeleteYes, Juneau is a catchy and impressive name, unlike "Skagway." Although, I must admit to a fondness for the name of the town "Ketchican." It's "ketchy". Though not kitschy. I don't imagine you saw much of the town from your vantage point of 30000 feet.
Couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the Natural American Spirit discarded amongst dead butts in an ashtray outside of a bar.
Gorgeous pics. And lovin' the clean new look of Le Blogue!
ReplyDeleteC
DeleteGlad to see you're cruisin' along! And that you like the new look--which took me hours to come up with and no one else has noticed. Let us assume they are just too busy taking in the tourist sights/sites.
Louciao, I feel like we're part of this cruise! I'm just now catching up with these fabulous picture posts of yours and I see that there's other installments. Yippee! I've always wondered what living in Alaska is like; the cold, the long nights, the way men outnumber women! hee hee! :)
ReplyDeleteBella,
DeleteSo glad you're catching up with the rest of us cruisers! In your assessment of living in Alaska, don't forget the way tourists outnumber locals in the summer months.
It is hard to imagine what a town like Juneau could do apart from tourism. It is so remote. But I like the little individual touches like those steps. I guess "palace " referred to Picture Palace, wouldn't you say? Oh, perhaps I had better go back and read the comments before I say this, I bet someone else said it :)
ReplyDeleteJenny,
DeleteAfter the goldrush days, it's amazing that the towns in the area actually hung on and even grew. Definitely a frontier spirit and strong sense of individualism in the "little touches"--though decidedly less so in the cookie cutter jewellery and souvenir shops. I think you're the only person to comment on the Palace. I like your idea of it having been a "picture palace." Perhaps a hotel, though. Definitely not a housing for royalty.