ship – Page 2 – Growing With Leala

Today we board our cruise ship. My aunt drops us off with the luggage and we wait while she returns the rental car (she rented a car to do some nature excursions while we toured Vancouver). Once aboard we have some time before our room is ready so we head to the main dining for lunch. If you are not familiar with cruising, there is typically many ways on the ship to get fed. One of the more formal ways is in the main dining room where a waiter takes your order off a menu of set choices for the day. We decided it would be a good start to our cruise.

Our first day of the cruise is at sea. We are heading to Alaska and I guess it takes a while to get there. We enjoy some of what the ship has to offer. No pool time though because it is mostly too cold. I do sign up for a fitness class that kicks the crap out of me that first day.

Sunsets

Bingo – I did not win

Dinner

First of many cheese plates in leu of dessert

Tomorrow we dock at Ketchikan.

In the morning I visit the Basilica of St. Bridget. This reconstructed church was originally built in the 14th century. It was destroyed in WWII and rebuilt in 1970. It is known for its beautiful amber alter and its homage to the solidarity movement.

There is a chapel in memory of those who participated in the solidarity movement.

There is another area dedicated to those that have lost their lives in the Katyn massacre during WWII.

And finally I have to make a visit to the room of skulls. I must see all the skulls.

I visit Blue Lamb – a heritage museum housed in an old granary, in order to get an archeological view of the region. I enjoy the exhibit where they show you what the original people of the region would have looked like based on the skulls found.

They have walk through sight and sound area depicting life in the region over time.

And finally there is a display of archeological items.

I end up back at Mariacka once more but this time I enjoy a glass of wine and people watching and check out some additional things I learned about the street.

Many of the houses on Mariacka street have reliefs out front but one restore one was given a modern day touch – a Lunar rover.

Last official stop is the first seagoing ship built in a Polish shiyard – Soldek. It is docked in Gdansk and available for exploring.

I slow down considerably for the rest of my travels. I am very tired so it is good I go home soon. I’m just trying to enjoy the cool and sunny weather my last few hours here.

It’s been a long trip but I am not done with Poland. There are so many places I left off my itinerary. I will be back.

More shots around town….