As
I write this, some of God's most amazing creation is in view from
this fabulous balcony. Rugged, tree covered mountains are dotted
with snow-caps melting, causing waterfalls of cascading, individual
pearly ribbons on their way down to the sea. All of this glory is
peeking out between the hovering, misty layers of cloudy bands, so
strand-like I want to wind them into a ball of fluffy whitish-grey
yarn.
We're approaching Juneau, though still three hours away, there are power lines, fishing boats, sailboats, houses dotting the
shoreline. Birds. An otter poked his head up to say “Hi!” about
50 yards from the ship! Yesterday, I saw a “teenage” whale
breech four times as it traveled the length of our ship and
disappeared astern. Reminded me of a skateboarder showing off.
“Let's go! You know they want a show! I'll do my twirling breach
– they'll go nuts!”
During
my breakfast - fetched from the sumptuous, varied for all cultures
buffet and brought to my balcony - the onboard naturalist gave us a
brief glacier lecture, as we passed a hanging glacier. I didn't learn
about this type on my last trip. It's a glacier the ends part way up
the mountain and doesn't move much. Thus the hanging, I guess. Took
me a while to spot it, until I saw a baby-blue dragon's head and
followed it up the mountain. I know it's weird, but the dragon was
wearing a princess dress, spread all poofy in it's hoop, with the hem
at the top of the mountain. I didn't have my camera, and the iPhone
photo is horrid so here's a link to a wiki article with a goodpicture. Mine was bluer though!
The
water has changed color dramatically, from “ocean” to a gorgeous
green-turquoise color.
I think it's because it's shallower.
Glad that there are 350 balconies on this starboard side because I
was writing, not looking, when a little girl alerted me, “Daddy!
Come quick! The water just changed color completely!” Sure
enough. Thanks for the info!
We
totally scored getting the upgrade to a private balcony stateroom.
We have a roof that extends past the railing by a whole balcony
width, so we can sit out here in the rain and not get wet, and we can
sit out here in the sun and not get burned. We could also throw
things at the three levels of balconies below us, which are staggered
like a terrace.
I
want to throw a ping-pong ball at the guy in the front row of
balconies who has barely put down his iPad since we boarded.
Seriously? You don't want to see any
of this? Did you get dragged here? Probably. A dad type guy is out
a lot with his binoculars.
If
you had the chance to see all of this natural beauty, would you be
sitting there in the virtual world, for a mighty stiff price I might
add, or would you be taking in the scenery? C'mon, be honest.
Ping-pong balls don't really hurt. That much.
Have you been to Alaska? What's the best trip you ever took?