Sitka Alaska

 Sitka, dubbed "The Paris of the Pacific" is a coastal gem nestled between mountains and Sitka Sound on Baranof Island, Alaska. With a population of 8,500 it's Alaska's fifth-largest city and a cultural hub in the Southeast. Its history intertwines with Russian fur trade, blending Russian heritage with coastal charm reminiscent of Engish towns. 

It’s another tender port, and there are no lines as we hop on the water shuttle. The town is small and totally walkable, with plenty of signs pointing you in the right direction and even telling you how long it’ll take to get there. While glancing at the map, a Russian cemetery caught my eye. Just a few blocks up from the main street, it turned out to be a hidden gem—amazingly beautiful, lush, and green, with Russian gravestone markers. It felt like stepping onto a movie set, and we were the only ones there. It was so peaceful, with just the sound of birds squawking overhead, though I have no clue what kind they were.

On to Sitka National Historical Park. It's about a 20 minute easy coastal walk with plenty of  signs for directions.

 Alaska’s oldest National Park isn’t a big one—only 113 acres—but it’s rich with history and there’s plenty to do: hiking trails, ranger-led interpretive walks, carving demonstrations, ethnographic displays, and more. The park’s main attractions are the roughly 20 totem poles and the beautiful coastal rainforest, which you can explore on your own or with park rangers.  

The park was created in 1910 to commemorate the Battle of 1804 between the Tlingits and Russians. Nothing remains of the Tlingit fort other than a commemorative plaque in an open field, but there’s a ranger-led walk that focuses on the battle. The National Park Service offers two other guided walks, one focusing on the park’s totem poles and the other on the area’s natural history. 

We just walked through the park on our own. 

Constructed between 1844 and 1848, the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel is the principal representative of Russian cultural influence in the 19th century in North America. From 1840 to 1872, Sitka was the Seat of the Russian Orthodox Diocese which governed all of North America, and thereafter it continued as the Seat of the Diocese of Alaska. This outstanding example of Russian church architecture was by far the largest and most imposing religious edifice in Alaska until well into the 20th century. The present cathedral is a reconstruction of the original building which burned to the ground in January 1966.

Sea Day Relaxation

 Sea days can be relaxing or action packed. 

We typically do breakfast in the Colonnade which is buffet style in the aft of the ship. I try to restrain myself because if I don't eat this much at home, I shouldn't eat more on vacation. 

I make up for it by going to the gym which is small and never crowded. 

I brought my Game of Thrones book to read because I’ve watched all the seasons twice and now I’m trying to read the book while rewatching bits of the show. Every time I watch it, I understand a bit more. The first time, I was just gobsmacked by all the scenes and couldn't figure out who was who. Now it's all coming together.

So, off to the pool we go! It’s never crowded, and we grab a round bed, order drinks, and watch the ocean drift by with my book in hand. Awwww, perfect!

We happened into Afternoon/High Tea by accident. We went to the Observation bar for a drink and changed my mind to have tea and scones. 

Dinner was a 6-course feast with a pre-fixed menu. Thankfully, the portions were small, making it easy to enjoy every dish. The presentation was a blast, adding to the fun!

The show featured the incredible international violinist Irina Guskova. We almost skipped it, thinking it might be boring, but wow, were we wrong! She’s from Russia, I believe, with the cutest accent, and she put on an amazing show with modern music and her favorite movie songs. We loved it so much that we didn’t miss her next performance!

It's a full moon tonight and the sun goes down late. Of course the moon never looks as good in photos. 

The 6 Course Menu