Juneau

Alaska Cruise:  Norwegian Jewel:  Docked in Juneau this morning at around 6:30.  After our breakfast, we went to see the Mendenhall Glacier.  Really impressive.  We’ve never seen a glacier that close before.  Then toured the Mendenhall Gardens.  Really chilly with rain off and on.  But still enjoyable.  Juneau is much larger than Ketchikan.  Of course because it’s the capital of Alaska.  Still only accessible by boat or sea plane.  Juneau is surrounded by a huge ice field, so no roads other than local.  We had to be back on board the ship by 1:00 because we depart Juneau at 1:30.  So we had a large lunch at Cagney’s Steak House after we got back on board because we were both starved.  Back to our room to relax and watch the beautiful scenery as it slips by.  It’s like we’re cruising a river.  So narrow and beautiful.  This afternoon the ship is going to make its way up an inlet called the Tracy Arm to Sawyer’s Glacier. We should arrive there by 6:00.  It looks so narrow!  Should be interesting.  Then we turn around and cruise all night to Skagway.

Arriving early this morning at Juneau.

Mendenhall Glacier

Ice floes from the glacier.

The glacier is 100 ft. high.  And it's receding at a rapid rate.

Nugget Falls

Mendenhall Gardens

Mendenhall Gardens

Mendenhall Gardens

When we left Ketchikan last evening, it was like rush hour for sea planes.  They were taking off or landing every minute or so. Sometimes two at a time.  And the ferries were running as well. We sure knew we were in Alaska.

Either landing or taking off--right in front of the ferry.

Sea plane dock.

Another one taking off.

Sawyer Glacier:  Cruised up the Tracy Arm which was spectacular.  It kept getting narrower and narrower with more and more ice floes that looked like pretty ice sculptures.  We finally made it to the glacier which was really amazing.  Came right down into the sea.  And a beautiful blue color in places.  A once in a lifetime experience!  The Captain turned the ship around and headed back down this very narrow (in places) and beautiful channel. Mike went off to the buffet.  I sat out on our balcony until it got too dark.  Didn’t want to miss a thing.  

The closer to the glacier, the more turquoise the water.

In a wider section of the channel, that same Holland America cruise ship that passed by us when we left Seattle, passed us heading out of the channel.

Rivulets of snow melt cascade down the steep slopes.

More and more ice floes.

One more turn, and there it is!

Beautiful!  Don't see anything like this at home!