Cruise from Anchorage to Tokyo

Cruise from Anchorage, Alaska to Tokyo, Japan - September 2017

I’m glad to be traveling again and missing the excitement of Hurricane Irma.

September 5-7, 2017 - Anchorage, Alaska

Flying to Anchorage is almost as long as flying to Europe. The flight from Dallas was 6 1/2 hours.

The highlight of Anchorage was having Alaskan King Crab two nights in a row. I definitely like king crab better then lobster.

Look at those prices

We took a scenic 4 hour train ride from Anchorage to Seward, where the cruise ship was docked. It felt great joining my Silversea family. Quite a few staff members remembered me from previous cruises.

Glacier

Another glacier

September 8, 2017 - Kodiak, Alaska

This quaint town is the home to Kodiak bears and the Kodak camera (it was so cold the dropped the i for all the ice. Thank you Dianne for coming up with this story, but I believe it.

I walked into town from the ship, giving me enough exercise to eat another fantastic dessert. It was formal night and we feasted on Maine lobster, confirming my decision that king crab is by far superior.

Salmon?

September 10, 2017 - Dutch Harbor, Alaska

I walked into town and missed it. Eventually I realized my mistake and returned to the Safeway store, the post office and the hotel.

I did see some seals playing in the water and two bald eagles.

King Crag pots

Bald Eagle

September 15, 2017 - Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia

Today’s excursion was to a few of the 29 active volcanos. Luckily none erupted during our visit. We traveled by a six wheeled ATV one a very bumpy dried river bed. At the base camp we continued up the slope for another few miles. The sights were breathtaking. The gourmet lunch of borscht and salmon were not as good, but the vodka was plentyful. The ride down the mountain and riverbed was much rougher then the assent, since I bounced for hours in the back seat. Even the paved roads were bumpy. The sailaway with the volcanos in view was a great way to end the day.

ATV

September 18, 2017 - Kushiro, Japan

Today’s port was cancelled due to a typhoon. I have never been in seas this rough. Glasses were flying and tables were falling in the dining room.

September 19, 2017 - Hakodate, Japan

Today’s excursion was sushi and Mt. Hakodate. It was the first time I had sushi at 10:30 in the morning. I’m not a big sushi fan but they carved a whole tuna and it was the best I’ve had. I then opted for tempura. We took the cable car to the top of Mt. Hakodate for the magnificant panoramic view of the city.

In the afternoon I walked to the warehouse district which as in most places has become a shopping mecca.

View from Mt. Hakodate

Which way?

Father and son

September 20, 2017 - Aomori, Japan

Today’s excursion took us to Hirosaki Castle, a long hour’s bus ride from the pier. There was no real castle to see. We then saw some local talent playing a stringed instrument I’ve never seen.

Julie, this is real

Tepees?

September 22-25, 2017 - Kyoto, Japan

I finally had to give up my cabin on the Silver Shadow, but I got to take the Bullet Train from Tokyo to Kyoto. The 318 mile trip took less then 2 and a half hours at a speed of 150 miles per hour. The cars on the freeway were left in the dust. You really didn’t notice the speed.

On the 23 I took the rapid local train to Osaka. I did a long walk ending up in the shopping district. There must be a square mile of shops, from the finest to the ¥100 store. So far I have avoided the temptation, but tomorrow is my last day in Japan, so who knows if I will give in.