Holland America Cruise 08/23/10 through 09/06/10

Check out the summary which is the last posting. Images are inserted from first to last for each article. Page down to skip the text just to view the images. We have extensive editing yet to do on our journal for next few weeks. Images are inserted in front of each article topic and above each image is a brief description.
NOTE: Except for the map and ship, you can click on any image for a larger view.

We have examined and selected the "story telling" images that are samples of all photos taken. As we examine images from the larger collection, we will upload them to a photo sharing site and announce the posting here. Glaciers and flowers were the main attractions at the ports. It is almost worth the trip to see the flowers in Alaska. The glacier's are awesome to say the least.

Of the places we visited, the town of Sitka was our favorite. The best view of a glacier was in Juneau. Homer was keen for fisherman, but not for tourists.

A side note:
We learned that many shop owners and those making a living from the tourist are "snowbirds" that move to the lower 48 in the winter, although some of the coastal towns do not get as cold as we might think.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Seattle 9/5 - 9/8/10

Seattle 9/6/10
We were returning to the Light Rail Station to return to Hotel and Larie
wanted to pet the policeman's horse.



Seattle 0906-0907-0908-090910
http://alaska14days2010.blogspot.com/2010/08/cruise-journal.html
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Deboarding the ship

4:14 PM 9/6/2010
After departing the ship we gathered our luggage and Larie stayed with them while
I found a porter who loaded our bags and helped us pass through customs. To my surprise the agent asked for birth certificates as our driver's licenses were not sufficient, but when we showed our passports he was happy and took the declaration slip. We breezed through customs with the porter in separate isle. We proceeded to the bus that carried us to the Hotel. To our surprise, the driver gave us an impromptu tour of the heart of the city since it was his last run. Larie became chilled and asked the driver to turn up the heat. The outside temp was in the 50's.

At Hilton Seattle airport and one of the first things that came to my mind was how to ship two bags home. Our count is three 28 inch and two temporary overflow bags, one of which contained items shipped by box to Seattle that was later transferred to the ship from the Holland American Fairmont Olympic Hotel. The box was packed with shoes, heaving jackets, etc. Now we have to get that stuff back home so that we would only have three bags on return flight. Our Hilton Seattle Airport Hotel provided arrangements with FedEx for shipping travel bags, so I completed the forms and started by weighing one bag, then the other at the Hotel gym scale. The hotel's arrangement with FedEx enabled use of special shipping labels that were prepared to adhere on luggage. It worked out fine as we shipped the two pieces of luggage on Tuesday and received the two pieces at home on Thursday. The rate was for 3 days delivery.

Apparently hotels do not give a free ride on the internet. the rates were:
copied from internet connection to hotels' provider accessed:


Plan Price Duration Qty ai
Daily Standard Internet Access - Public IP ? $14.95 24 Hour
Hourly Standard Internet Access - Public IP ? $6.96 1 Hour
Hourly Standard Internet Access ? $4.95 1 Hour
Daily Standard Internet Access ? $12.95 24 Hour

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Tuesday 09/08/10
We had a free day at the Hilton Airport Hotel, so about lunch time we boarded the light rail costing $5.00 total for both of our round trip tickets. We left light rail station and walked to the pier, had a halibut burger and took an elevator to higher level to see the Seattle Market. Abundant fresh produce, fish, berries, and about every fresh produce that you can imagine. Those that live in downtown Seattle have a great place to shop for fresh produce.
We walked backed uphill to the Specialty shop for coffee before we boarded the light rail for trip back to the hotel.
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9:04 AM 9/8/2010
Wednesday

We arrived at the airport about 8:15 am and went through security. I had to removed the Acer Netbook from my carry-on and display it in the carrier box.
After being wanded (they even found a hearing aide battery in my shirt pocket)
I was cleared and looked back as Larie was still being searched or rather her cosmetic bag was being searched. The security person removed a bottle that was in excess of 3 oz and instructed Larie to place all bottles in zip lock bag. The bottles were in plasic dividers in a special cosmetic bag, but that was not sufficient for the security person. Lesson learned at the cost of a special cosmetic that Larie purchased on the cruise.

We arrived at the flight gate. Our flight boards at 10:30 and we left hotel shortly after 8 am, porter was available, and we were first in line at Alaska check in for our three pieces of luggage. Our two extra bags were shipped fed ex yesterday. Seatac has free wifi so we are able to get on internet as we wait to board our flight home. After recharging the acer we have 4.09 hours battery power remaining and I will save most to see if I can get on internet in flight.
Internet access was available on the flight but I did not retrieve the Acer Netbook to use that free time provided by Alaskan airline.

Free airport wifi logged me out 45 minutes usage.

After a little less than four hours we were home and took a SuperShuttle to take us home.

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