Cowbright: A beautiful day in Sitka

We spent a perfect day in Sitka, Alaska. We could not have ordered up more beautiful weather! I’ll post several photos taken from our room balcony – early morning with fog as the tenders started carrying visitors back and forth on the short ride to shore, bright sun taken when I returned to the ship this afternoon and the last one just before 9 p.m. tonight as the sun was going down and spreading its rays across the ocean. Sunrise to sunset in Sitka today is 4:15 am – 9:55 pm. That’s 17 hours and 40 minutes of daylight!

Sitka has a population of around 8,500. In town, one can see many signs of its indigenous Tlingit culture (totems, ravens, eagles, masks and more) as well as remnants of its Russian heritage. It is home to brown bears, bald eagles, all 5 species of Pacific salmon, humpback whales, sea otters, puffins and millions of seabirds. Its snow capped peaks and volcanic Mount Edgecumbe are definitely postcard worthy. The downtown area which is located between the mountains and the ocean has several hotels, restaurants and gift shops.

early morning tenders from our balcony

midday from our balcony

amazing sunset from our balcony (9 pm)

one of several hotels

The Prospector statue

Sitka's heritage is multicultural, first being called “Shee Atika” by the Tlingit Indians, then renamed “New Archangel” by the Russians who ousted them. The town and its shops reflect both cultures offering lots of totems and Tlingit masks, silver jewelry and Russian lacquered boxes and stacking dolls. Below are some random shots I took as we walked around.

shopping street blocked off for foot traffic only

St. Michael's Cathedral

inside St. Michael's

glimpse of inside

Matryoshka (stacking dolls) in almost every shop

no shortage of totems either

a wolf cap!

fox glove

We walked with friends around the town, browsed in a few shops, ate street food (reindeer hotdogs for Noel, halibut (or cod?) fish 'n chips for Kay, tamales for Ronnie and me). The others wanted to walk the totem trail, but my back was telling me "no" so after lunch I took the tender back to the ship. Ronnie said they walked at least 3 miles. Photo credits go to Ronnie for the pictures below taken during his totem walk this afternoon.