Solo Sojourns

Juneau is the capital of Alaska and is surrounded by glaciers, including the famous Mendenhall Glacier.

I had hoped to take a tour to see this magnificent slow moving river of ice up close, but as our arrival was affected by bad weather, the excursion had to be cancelled. Talking about which, it’s not fun to feel a 100 ton vessel which carries over 3000 people pitching, rolling and creaking in the middle of the night, as the waves crash all around 😵‍💫🤢. It lasted about 3 hours in all and I was very glad when it abated .

But back to the glacier, it’s impossible to visit such a magnificent sight in our times without also contemplating the impact that climate change has on it. According to experts from Alaska university, its face retreated eight football fields between 2007-2021.

The irony isn’t lost on me that I’m coming to visit one of the last wildernesses, a supposedly pristine environment which is swarmed by increasing numbers of cruise ship tourists each year. ☹️ I don’t want to be part of the problem and yet it’s such a magnet due to its awesomeness. Today there two massive ships side by side on the docks.

Alaska is home to a diverse range of wildlife, and Juneau is no exception.

Being the capital, Juneau has plenty to offer. You can go hiking, kayaking, fishing, or even take a helicopter tour to explore the rugged landscapes and fjords. Today was grey and rainy

It has a rich Native American heritage, and it would have been great to learn more about the local Tlingit culture but there simply wasn’t the time. Will have to do that through the ship talk this evening.

The reality was that since I had missed my excursion I pretty much had to mooch around the docks and the tourist shops, majority of which, bizarrely seem to be overpriced jewellery shops. Wondering why anyone would even consider buying expensive jewelery on a cruise to a wilderness? And why are there so many of them? Are they owned by the cruise lines? Answers on a postcard please.