Sunday, October 4, 2009

Sunday in My City #9 - Cruising

Do you know Unknown Mami? She's awesome and she created a fun Sunday theme inviting you to get out and take pictures of your city to share with the rest of us. Click here for details and her logo and click here to see Unknown Mami's City today.

A few years, my husband and I took a cruise from Vancouver, British Columbia to Anchorage, Alaska with my Mom and Dave. Of all the traveling we've done, this was by far one of the most visually stunning trips we've ever taken. Since life in Los Angeles wasn't exactly "picture worthy" this week, I thought I'd share a few photos from the trip.

It rains a lot in Alaska so places like Taku Glacier Lodge in Juneau have a lot of trees that look like this.

Actually, Alaska has A LOT of trees period. The foliage and trees were gorgeous.

Below is the view from an old gold mine in Skagway. That white streak down the center is a waterfall peaking through the fog.

But it was the glaciers that took our breath away. I described them as "humbling", my husband used the word "spiritual"... Seeing such massive, powerful beauty left us wondering how anyone could think for a second they should be disturbed by oil drilling or that global warming isn't a "real" issue. In the picture below, we saw a chunk of ice break off that was the size of a Volvo!
We saw three separate glaciers in Glacier Bay National Park located in Southeast Alaska. About 90% of the annual visitors to the park arrive by cruise ship (roughly 28 ships from 13 companies per year). The park only allows two cruise ships per day to enter the park during the warmer months.
To give you an idea, the above Margerie Glacier is about 250 feet high. The glacier extends another 100 feet below the water line. By comparison, the Statue of Liberty is 307 feel tall.I would love to go back and spend more time in Alaska both by ship and on land. It was a stunning trip and one that we returned home from and actually felt rested and rejuvenated! Usually after a trip I need a vacation from my vacation.

How's your Sunday?
Welcome to The Fifty Factor - Joanna

56 comments:

  1. Beautiful. thank you for the comments

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  2. Amazing pictures. Thank you for sharing. Alaska was and maybe still is on my list of a place I would really like to visit.

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  3. I am no longer able to travel, but, after a fantasy trip to the British Isles and then Iceland, I dream of cruising to Alaska. The photos were so beautiful!!!

    My Sunday is peaceful and glorious! Hope yours is too!

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  4. I've heard from friends who have traveled to Alaska how gorgeous it is. Your pictures show that it's true!

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  5. These pics are beautiful definitely reinforcing my desire to go to Alaska.

    Thanks for sharing.

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  6. You lucky woman!!! Dan and I hope to get to Alaska sometime; he wants to drive and camp and I'd like to see part of it from the "outside" like you did! Thanks for sharing! Makes me more determined to go!!

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  7. what a cool trip...T and I have wanted to cruise to Alaska. would love to go look at the glaciers, while they are still around.

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  8. I would love to go there! It has always been a dream of mine!

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  9. WOW! It looks amazing!!!!

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  10. Oh, these are truly beautiful! Just this weekend I was watching the Alaska segment of the PBS series on National Parks, so I sort of had Alaska on my mind even before reading this. Maybe it's a sign???

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  11. Until I moved East, I didn't realize how very fortunate I was to live in the West. So much beauty within a day's drive. Your pictures show that the farther north you go, the better it gets. Beautiful.

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  12. Alaska is amazing! You tend to think of it as all snow but the forests are stunning!

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  13. I'd love to see this one day and glad that you shared this with us! I like how you gave us a comparison with the Statue of Liberty because I find that visuals like that make it become real for me. Now, I guess I should start the travels by seeing the Statue of Liberty first, wouldn't you say?

    Michael was stationed in Alaska for four years...he found it fascinating...even learning to live with the darkness all day long.

    Hugs To Start Your Week!
    ECSS

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  14. I look forward to stopping by your blog every Sunday morning to see your pictures---once again, you didn't disappoint. Friends of our just returned from Alaska and couldn't say enough about the experience. Matt and I have put this on our "goal list"---thank you for reiterating Alaska's beauty!

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  15. Such pristine beauty! I gather that Alaska is a bit like Sweden - but I think it looks more dramatic with all the icebergs.

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  16. Gets me all excited for winter!! Bring it on!
    HAPPY WEEK!!!!

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  17. You know, anyone I've ever spoken to who has gone to Alaska (particularly on a cruise through the glaciers and fjords) has said it's the best most fabulous trip they've ever been on. Including my sisters! I'm not much for cold weather climates, but these photos show such majesty and beauty, I'm sure I could sacrifice a little creature comfort for the privilege of experiencing that kind of nature.

    Thank you for the lovely photos. What a contrast! From deep green lush forests to frosty blue glaciers. Just breathtaking!

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  18. Loved your pictures. We traveled from Anchorage to Vancouver. The scenery was so beautiful. The best trip ever!

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  19. Beautiful pictures Joanna, country I will never see except by pictures so thank you for sharing. I would be so in Awe of the glaciers too. The blue ice is stunning!

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  20. I seriously love those photos!! Alaska has always been on my top 5 list of places I have always wanted to go..seeing these photos makes me want to go as soon as possible:) Have a wonderful sunday!

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  21. Joanna, this is great way to see Alaska without actually visiting there. Your pictures are stunning. I have to agree with both of you that the glaciers are something else to behold. And I don't blame the park for restricting the number of ships.

    Thanks for a pleasant trip through Alaska.

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  22. Some stunning images there, Joanna. My wife was born in Vancouver. I've often told her she should go back there...

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  23. Joanna, you have traveled to interesting places. These photos are very nice and give a glimpse of some sights in Alaska. I know you had a great vacation on your Alaskan cruise. That's why they call ships floating resorts, you only unpack once and you are taken care of on the ship. I look forward to seeing more of your photos.

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  24. Gorgeous pictures! I'd love to see Alaska.

    Your post will be featured on my cocktail party on Thursday. Thank you so much for participating!

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  25. BEAUTIFUL!!! I so want to go with The Hubs. Someday. Thanks for sharing.

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  26. Your pictures are breathtaking! Alaska is on my list, but after the kids are outa here!

    Thanks for sharing your trip!

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  27. The pictures are beautiful. I've always wanted to go there.

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  28. Wow! Yep...that's pretty much all I can say.

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  29. I've always wanted to do this. I'm very jealous. Lovely pictures.

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  30. I would love a trip like that. I'm sure seeing glaciers like that in person is indescribable.

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  31. Wow. These are glorious. I've always wnated to go to Alaska. Thank-you for sharing.

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  32. Gorgeous Joanna. I would love to visit Alaska someday.

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  33. And those glaciers are breath taking!

    Thanks for sharing!

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  34. That is a dream of mine! To step onto a cruise ship in Vancouver and go to Alaska! I loved your pic´s and it just made me want it more! :)

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  35. Gorgeous shots. What a fine trip that must have been.

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  36. Wonderful shot, especially of the glaciers. I'm having a quiet Sunday, not too much going on, and that feels good to me.

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  37. yes, stunning. that´s one trip i´ve always wanted to do... now even more... happy week joanna!

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  38. I think that if I ever saw a glacier up close I would cry. They truly seem humbling and spiritual and overwhelmingly beautiful.

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  39. I would really love to visit Alaska but it will be some time before I get there so thank you for sharing these wonderful pictures. x

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  40. Thank you for wishing my little cousin a happy birthday! ;)

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  41. Alaska is awesome isn't. Glad you got to go. I went about 15 years ago and spent a week riding around with my Aunt and her husband in their RV. Except for his snoring it was a great trip. I'll never forget it.

    Joy

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  42. I love your pics! It makes me homesick... I lived in Alaska for about 12 years before moving to the East Coast, and I so miss living in Alaska. It's so beautiful. I'm glad you and your husband got to see it, it's truly a breathtaking place. Thanks for stopping by my blog, it was lovely to 'meet' you! :-D

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  43. Absolutely breathtaking. I would love to take and Alaskan cruise someday but until then thank you so much for sharing.

    Have a great week and God bless!!!

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  44. I have many friends who have gone on Alaskan cruises and they all say it is amazing. Your pictures are proof that it is a stunning place to visit. We enjoy cruises...maybe this will be one we do one day. Thanks for sharing these.

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  45. I'd love to do an Alaskan cruise sometime. Thanks for sharing your journey through your pictures!

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  46. I've been wanting to go to Alaska and am hoping to get up there soon. What gorgeous photos.

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  47. Such a beautiful part of the world...a photographers paradise...thanks for taking us on a little journey....love to you...

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  48. I hope some of the above readers clicked on the pictures because they enlarge nicely. Thanks for sharing.

    Did you happen to see episode 6 of the Ken Burns PBS series on the national parks? It spent some time giving the history of parks in Alaska. Were you in Seward? I recall that was one town that opposed the national park. Now they promote it.

    Like many other readers I would love to make a trip there.

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  49. Thanks everyone for checking out Alaska with me. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

    Keep those cards and letters coming. I love hearing from you.

    xo

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  50. Loved your holiday photos. Am in awe. I moved out west a few years ago and had never seen mountains like the Rockies before. I am constantly in awe of what we've got in our country and am saddened that so many will never see it for themselves. Am also ashamed that I live in a province who is largely responsible for the oil drilling you spoke off. When you feel so small next to a problem so big, what can you do? (I'm trying to figure that out).

    Am now a follower aka groupie. Great to have 'met' you.

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  51. I have heard that Alaska is just stunning. What a great trip and great photos!

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  52. My sister recently moved to Homer, so it was lovely to see your gorgeous photos as I will be going to visit her once she has built her house. I particularly liked the glaciers!

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Thanks for stopping by and commenting, I really appreciate it.