Alaska, The Inside Passage

 

 Our cruise followed the Inside Passage of Alaska which is a network of waterway passages which weave through the islands of the southeast panhandle of  Alaska, British Columba and Northwest Washington State.   Juneau was our first stop along our cruise.  As you can see it was overcast while we were here, though the temperatures remained in the 50's and comfortable with jackets.  Juneau is the capital of Alaska and has about 32,000 residents.  We didn't get into the city proper to tour, but did make it through the gauntlet of jewelry and souvenir stores set along the road leading from the pier.

North to Alaska: Part One - The Cruise Ship

 Roger and I had never been on a cruise before.  We had heard about them, of course, a lot, but the desire to go on one had never really been there.  I guess it's retirement? Who knows. But we thought going to Alaska (something else we hadn't done yet) would be a good test of our endurance and an opportunity to see some amazing sights - as well as eat a lot of food!

Samchuk Market

Wonderful Boonchi has been taking me out and about this week and yesterday's outing was with Sue and Pat to Samchuk Market (also known as the 100 year market) in Suphanburi.

Take Some Garlic, Olive Oil & Garlic...

If you are a garlic and feta cheese lover, this is the post for you!  

Free Esprit Perfume!!!

There is nothing sweeter in life than something that is free.  Unless the free thing is perfume!  

In Bangkok, never buy perfume, aftershave (for my husband of course) or other such things from a department store, without asking for the free stuff.  The won't hand it out willingly, or offer it up as part of the deal, you have to be firm and demand a present.  

Sometimes it isn't really a great gift (sorry Margie, I did my best) but it is still better than nothing.  In my time I have had a matching cup and saucer (I have no idea why, but it obviously made sense to them), sample sized perfumes and for Alan's birthday gift this year, managed to get the matching deodorant to his aftershave for free.   

A few months ago I learnt that it is best NOT to get Alan to do the asking, as when he bought me some perfume, he came back with a couple of mean little samples, not at all what I had in mind, despite my coaching him!

This week, Baz asked me to buy some perfume for a friend (sob, not me!) and as usual I asked for my 'something extra'.  I got the usual, 'well if you buy the extra large, die before you ever manage to use it all up size, I might just see my way to giving you a little something' spiel.  Nah, your girl has made you proud.  He looked at me and saw it written in my eyes, 'GIVE ME THE FREE STUFF AND MAKE IT GOOOOOD!'.  (Er, you have to say that in one of those CNN pandemic alert voices to get the full effect).  Well what do you know, out popped a small bottle of perfume!

Fire on the Mountain:

 We knew it would happen eventually.  Every summer we have at least a couple of local fires on the foothills along our stretch of the freeway  and with this summer being especially hot and dry I guess I am surprised it took this long to happen.  This photo is looking north from our home and the fire is serving as a backdrop to the home two houses down and across the street from ours.  Our son-in-law woke us up with a phone call around 12:30 to let us know that there was a fire.  Heading out the front door I didn't see anything immediately, and then, smoke, fire, there it was.  We knew it wasn't nearly as bad as it looked and with no wind to change the normal inclination of fires to head up the hill rather than down, we took out our lawn chairs to watch.  I was, after all, concerned enough NOT to go back to bed before I knew it was completely out.   Some of our neighbors took the concern a notch higher and began to fill their cars with valuables in case they needed to make a fast exit.

Celebrating the 4th of July in Jackson Hole, Wyoming:

 Allison and family invited us to celebrate the 4th of July in Jackson, Wyoming this year and as it is one of our favorite places to visit we circled the dates on the calendar, rented our room and without too much additional planning were on our way.  Jackson is situated at the base of Grand Teton National Park and just about an hours drive south of Yellowstone National Park.  Roger and I have both visited the area as children, honeymooned there, sent our children (Evan and Allison) off to work there, and over the years claimed it as our own to hike, canoe, camp and yes, shop, in.  We love Jackson and the national parks close by.