Seward is a rustic port town where our water adventure ends and our train adventure begins. The ability to transition from one to the other was a major draw of this particular cruise.

Our little group of eight as well as 38 others left the ship around 8:00 this morning and boarded a bus for the two-and-half hour ride to Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city. It rained the whole way.

We got to Anchorage in time to grab a quick lunch before our self-guided tour of the Alaska Native Heritage Center. The collection of dwellings and meetinghouses was the most interesting feature of the museum. Unless you count the fun and friendly women selling their crafts. Cyd bought a pair of earring with mammoth (as in pre-historic animal) beads and I bought a pair with porcupine quills. We laughed and enjoyed the company of the women who were so generous with their time and enthusiasm for the details of their respective crafts.

We bellied up to the bar for a simple meal at the Anchorage Downtown Marriott and headed to our rooms early. All but Cyd, that is. An old friend from home who lives here now picked her up at the museum, so they could enjoy the afternoon and evening catching up.

… Really? …

Every July 4th, Seward hosts a 1.5 mile race up and back down Mount Marathon.
Starting at sea level, the race rises 3,000 feet in elevation and covers very steep terrain. Runners race over gullies, ice, and snow using their hands to haul themselves to the finish line.

The United States purchased Alaska from Russia for a price of $7.2 million in the spring of 1867.
This very unpopular decision was negotiated and signed by Secretary of State William Seward.