About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Monday, March 21, 2011

J is for JUNEAU


This week, J is for Juneau Alaska where I'm headed in approximately 6 or 7 weeks with D2. This will be my third time arriving via cruise ship to Juneau, where one of my cousins and his wife live.

On a Juneau website, I found the following: If Juneau were a type of music, we'd say it's part funk, part soul, part bluegrass, and a whole lot of classic rock. Here, you'll find an unexpected mix of fishermen and teachers, legislators and artists, lawyers and homemakers, dock workers and frontier entrepreneurs, students and Native elders.
Somehow, we make it all work.
Spend a few days with us and you'll see why so many folks choose to visit and live here. In Juneau, you can watch humpbacks in the morning, take in a performance art activity in the evening, and toss back a few locally brewed beers at night. We're eclectic that way. And we've got all the activities and attractions you'd expect in a state capital. We just share them without all the pretension.

Not least of all, Juneau locals are a friendly bunch, if we do say so ourselves. We're a fiercely loyal type, and we love this city enough to want to share it with anyone who visits.
Something I've wanted to do both times I visited Juneau was to go up the Mount Roberts Tramway. Both times, the weather did not cooperate and I didn't want to spend the money to wander around the clouds. Apparently, on a sunny day you can see spectacular views out over the harbour, sea, and mountains. Also, there is a glorious native mountain house with native art demonstrations, a theater, and a raptor center. There is, as well, a trail system where you can wander through the Sitka Spruce and the grasses and wildflowers of the sub-alpine. Keep your fingers crossed that we'll have a good day this time!

The other main attraction in Juneau is the Mendenhall Glacier. Thirteen miles from downtown Juneau, the glacier measures 12 miles long by 1 1/2 miles wide. The ice can be anywhere from 400 to 800 feet deep. It seems the only way to actually walk on the glacier is if you go via helicopter, but that costs mucho dinero so D2 and I will see it from the ship (which does get as close as possible) and maybe take a land tour to the Visitors Site where you can get splendid views from along the hiking trails there.
I do remember that the day our ship went into Tracy Arm, it was a gloriously sunny (but ccccold) day, and I was mesmerized by the colour of the water and the smaller icebergs that were floating loose. The sun glittered off these bits of ice making a variety of colours and patterns. It's going to be a lot of fun this time, seeing Juneau and its environs through my daughter's eyes. She is so excited that she has already gone out and bought a new camera and has practised by taking photos (both long shot, wide lens, and macros) in downtown Vancouver and around home. I think I'll just take my old camera and will get copies of good ones from her camera. And of course we won't forget to go into the shops to find a suitable souvenir - like maybe a stuffed moose, grizzly bear, or whale.
Have a great week, everyone, and don't forget to ask your friends to play along with this fun fun fun weekly activity, brought to you by Denise Nesbitt and her jolly team of helpers. Click here to access the ABC Wednesday webpage.

18 comments:

Powell River Books said...

That sounds like lots of fun. I've been to Alaska twice in our little plane but never to Juneau. -- Margy

Roger Owen Green said...

Never been to Alaska at all; definitely, someday.

ROG, ABC Wednesday team

nancygrayce said...

I'd love to go to Alaska now......I lived in Fairbanks when I was 19, husband in the army and a baby and we were POOR.......I didn't see many sights.

Maybe one day I'll go again and do a cruise, I hear they are wonderful and can't wait to hear all about your trip!

Sylvia K said...

Looks fantastic, Leslie, and I hope you have a terrific trip! Makes for a great post for the J Day!! I've never been to Alaska either, but would love to some day! Have a day!!

Sylvia
ABC Team

Reader Wil said...

i wish you a wonderful and adventurous journey to Juneau. It is wonderful to see whales. I know someone here who made a cruise to Alaska and saw actually whales. Wonderful!

Gemma Wiseman said...

A wonderful destination! So many unusual sights to see! Juneau sounds like a great place to be inspired!

photowannabe said...

I'm so happy you get to visit Alaska with D2 again. It will be so wonderful for both of you.
I did it with my Mom about 16 years ago. I'm so glad to have that special memory to keep with me.

J.Rylie.C said...

Very interesting J and so pretty too.

Please come and meet the J's in my Family, hope to see you around, thanks!

Joy said...

It sounds a fascinating place with lots to do. The cable car in the mist looks pretty, but guess not if you are sat in it:-)

Tumblewords: said...

Oh, what fun you'll have! The photos are so beautiful! I've only been to Anchorage and that was by plane and fog. :)

Hildred said...

I hope you have a fabulous time on your trip Leslie, and that the day is sunny so you can see the sights from up above.

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

Jeneau is beautiful! Surrounded by such wilderness...if I forget to wish you a bon voyage when the time comes, well....bon voyage!

mrsnesbitt said...

Wow Leslie - love the pictures - what a "green" FANTASTIC!
Denise
ABC Team

Meryl said...

I loved Juneau and still can taste the fresh, fresh halibut I bought at this shack near the wharf! EnJoy!

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Wow Leslie .. what a fantastic place to go and see. I have never been to Alaska .. Hope you and D2 will have a super duper holiday .. you deserve it :-) ♥

Beverley Baird said...

Looks like a wonderful place to visit! I bet you are counting the days. Houw great that you are going with your daughter!
Taking an Alaskan cruise is one of my dreams.

Nanka said...

Looks like a great place to look around for unusualness!! Must be the best time of the year to be there !!
Have a great time when you visit Juneau Alaska!!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hope you have a great time and get to take the railway ride!