Following a light breakfast bedded down in the Observation Bar with Noel posting the blog, transferring photos from two cameras to the pc and checking on emails and of course the usual check the Bank Balance just to make sure there is sufficient in the current account to cover recent bills.
Sitka fronts the Pacific Ocean on Baranof Island, west shore. Sitka is set amongst mountains and forests and across the way is Mount Edgecumbe which is an extinct volcano with a similar shape to Japan’s Mount Fuji it is said. However we caught the shuttle bus for the five mile trip in to town and it soon became clear that this place also lives on Tourism and fishing but on the tourism side it is mostly migrant workers who come from other parts of the USA for a summer job which we understand to be well paid. We keep getting informed that milk cost 6 US$ per gallon, or in English 60 pence per pint, and its an expensive place to live which is said several times hoping that us passengers feel sorry for the driver and give him a bigger tip.We walked around the town for a while and watched quite a number of people go off on various tours either by coach or boat whilst we went in search of the famous Russian Church St Michael’s Cathedral which is clearly under renovation and there is a very large sign that donations are welcome, but when Jennifer tried to enter the lady waiting at the door said in a rude way ‘its 5 Dollars to enter’ and so she was a little upset and said NO she would not bother. Clearly they don't understand what the word ‘Donation’ means.
After a rubbishy cup of coffee late we caught the shuttle back to the cruise terminal and again being regaled as to what an expensive place Alaska is to live in. We had a light lunch on the patio in the sunshine but unfortunately the wind was blowing diesel smoke from the Eurodam across th Patio Bar and so we headed back to the room for Noel to catch up on some office work and Jennifer some reading before she heads of for a pedicure, oh such luxury HA.
After the busy walk around town and covered a few miles so in the later afternoon we sat on the balcony and watched the day go by and then later a glass of wine and nibbles in the room before leaving for the main restaurant. Tonight Jennifer had the sole and Noel and Alaska salmon and both were really excellent. They have a computer system on board which helps the kitchen and as well as the serving staff and when you check in you give your suite number and a table is allocated and on their handheld iPad they automatically see my challenges with Garlic etc, etc and so I don't have to repeat it each time. I mentioned that I had been on the Eurodam earlier this year and the kitchen got it all wrong several times and that everything was covered in garlic thereby reducing my choice. He replied by saying they fully recognise that garlic can be dangerous for some people and so that all dishes that might have garlic as usual, they only marinate about 80% of the food to allow for people who do not wish it. Also they make sure that any person who request’s no garlic that they they use a brand new pan and cooking tools to save the risk of transfer contamination from the previously cooked dish with garlic. Excellent…
