San Diego, CA 5/3/26 Day 120

cousins day in San Diego. Ben Nieberg met us fur cafe olla in Logan Street where we met Frida Kahlo who we bumped into with Daryl Baskin at the San Diego Art Museum after lunch and farmer's market in scenic Hillcrest. 

Seattle, WA The Emerald City 4/29/26 Day 116

Sunny Seattle shone stunning so after a Pilgrimage to the Pike Place Market complete with Seattle flying fish throwing and a visit to the impressive Seattle Public Library, I took the monorail to the Space Needle to get a bird's eye view of the harbor, complete with a view ofMt Ranier, reminiscing Mt Fuji. 

Nestled at the bottom was the gorgeous Chihuly Glass Museum and Garden complete with a glass blowing demo. to round off the day I wandered through the spectacular Olympic Sculpture Park.  

Sitka, The Jewel of SE Alaska 4/26/26 Day 112

St. Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal church, Mystery Star of David built in 1899.  After going inside the always open church I happened upon the mistaken stain glass window swap and delivery theory.

I'm so glad we splurged on a 2 1/2 hr wildlife tour with Brad to see sea lions lounging in a navigation beakon, playful sea otters, a pod of spouting grey whales, and nesting bald eagles!

Returning to the Sitka National Historical Park for a Totem pole sampling and forest bath. 

Kodiak Island, The Emerald Isle of Community, AK 4/24/26 Day 111

Shabbat Shalom from Kodiak 

A Whale of a Tale found by the high school teacher who greeted us at the US Forest service discovery center which was built to exhibit this beached whale carefully preserved. 

Hiking at the North End Park with emerald drenched moss cover and frolicking sea otters  

While the Aquarium is only open on Tuesdays we found a kind soul who not only let us in on the condition that we would not sign the guest book attesting to our visit, but toured us around the touch tank telling us Aluetian marine tales. 

I loved the Alutiiq Museum to understand more of the indigenous civilization. After a cider sampling at the local cidery and seeing the popular challah at the bakery, we celebrated Sabbat on board marveling at the hidden hidden even in this remote community. 

Ketchikan AK "First City" or "Salmon Capital of the World" 4/27/26 Day 113

Timing is everything in Alaska. I went on another wildlife tour to see salmon, bears, eagles, seals and deer only to see the latter two and find out that we were too early for the keystone salmon species which meant that no bears or eagles were around to fish for them. The historical Ketchican city tour was delightful with stories about the "municipal Mafia" building bomb shelters AKA road tunnels and extorting Walmart into building infrastructure. The Saxman native village complete with clan house and totem poles immersed us on Tglinket culture. After the fun and kitchy Great Alaskan logging show, I meandered over to the old Red Light District on Creek Street to learn the stories of independent women entrepreneurs. There I found Sam McGee's Warehouse and findkin remembered Ribery Services classic from grade school, The Cremation Sam McGee!