Sitka
Wow! This promises to be an absolutely spectacular day to spend in this majestic part of Alaska. On board the National Geographic Sea Bird, on approach to Sitka, a charming and inviting little harbor, the sun is bright and the sky crystal clear. As we transit Peril Strait we are consumed by the beauty that surrounds us and enveloped in the peace it evokes. The Edgecumbe volcano in plain view leaves us breathless.
Our first excursion, once here in Sitka, is to the Alaska Raptor Center. It is one of the largest centers in the country of its kind. In 2003 they opened a one-of a-kind flight-training center to rehabilitate and reintroduce injured raptors into the wild. It is quite a special day when these birds are released back into the wild. The entire staff gathers for the emotional event with tears in their eyes and hearts weighing heavy. Familiar with the “good-bye,” they watch the raptor fly off and never look back. The center also provides refuge and training for birds that were to severely injured to be released back into the wild.
Sitka National Historic Park is our next stop. Celebrating their 100 year anniversary in 2010, the carvers and weavers in the visitor center are preparing their works of art to be sold at the event.
Afterward we walk the grounds impressed with the beautifully carved totems and the symbolic nature of each carving. In commemoration to the Tlingit peoples, there are memorial poles, which the Russians noted, in the early 1800’s, lined the ridge behind the Tlingit villages. The carving of a story-telling pole reveals a legend, such as the mosquito legend pole that tells the story of how mosquitoes came to be such pests.
The first cathedral in North America was the Saint Michaels’s Orthodox Cathedral in Sitka. It is very impressive with its 19th century ornate artifacts. Ninety- five percent of the artifacts were rescued and salvaged from a fire that burned the cathedral to the ground. The cathedral was later reconstructed, following the original blueprints that were still intact. It is stated to us by our guide, “Miracles occur when your eyes have the ability to see.”
We are free to spend as much time here on the last part of the guided tour before exploring the town of Sitka on our own.The afternoon is spent relaxing and soaking in this glorious day.
Wow! This promises to be an absolutely spectacular day to spend in this majestic part of Alaska. On board the National Geographic Sea Bird, on approach to Sitka, a charming and inviting little harbor, the sun is bright and the sky crystal clear. As we transit Peril Strait we are consumed by the beauty that surrounds us and enveloped in the peace it evokes. The Edgecumbe volcano in plain view leaves us breathless.
Our first excursion, once here in Sitka, is to the Alaska Raptor Center. It is one of the largest centers in the country of its kind. In 2003 they opened a one-of a-kind flight-training center to rehabilitate and reintroduce injured raptors into the wild. It is quite a special day when these birds are released back into the wild. The entire staff gathers for the emotional event with tears in their eyes and hearts weighing heavy. Familiar with the “good-bye,” they watch the raptor fly off and never look back. The center also provides refuge and training for birds that were to severely injured to be released back into the wild.
Sitka National Historic Park is our next stop. Celebrating their 100 year anniversary in 2010, the carvers and weavers in the visitor center are preparing their works of art to be sold at the event.
Afterward we walk the grounds impressed with the beautifully carved totems and the symbolic nature of each carving. In commemoration to the Tlingit peoples, there are memorial poles, which the Russians noted, in the early 1800’s, lined the ridge behind the Tlingit villages. The carving of a story-telling pole reveals a legend, such as the mosquito legend pole that tells the story of how mosquitoes came to be such pests.
The first cathedral in North America was the Saint Michaels’s Orthodox Cathedral in Sitka. It is very impressive with its 19th century ornate artifacts. Ninety- five percent of the artifacts were rescued and salvaged from a fire that burned the cathedral to the ground. The cathedral was later reconstructed, following the original blueprints that were still intact. It is stated to us by our guide, “Miracles occur when your eyes have the ability to see.”
We are free to spend as much time here on the last part of the guided tour before exploring the town of Sitka on our own.The afternoon is spent relaxing and soaking in this glorious day.
