WP & YR Scenic Railway of the World.
The White Pass is billed as Scenic Railway of the World. I can imagine with the play of clouds as we climb the almost 3000 feet to the summit of White Pass each trip is different. With steam power the … Continue reading WP & YR Scenic Railway of the World.
Beyond the White Pass Summit.
The White Pass and Yukon Route used to run from Skagway, Alaska at tidewater to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, 110 miles. Today it goes only as far as Carcross, YT. Most tourists only ride the train to the White Pass Summit. … Continue reading Beyond the White Pass Summit.
Elderly Ferries
If you really want to understand Southeast Alaska you should travel on the ferry. The trip to from Sitka to Juneau is a 20 minute flight, by ferry it takes 9 hours. It gives you a sense of the country. … Continue reading Elderly Ferries
Lynn Canal
Lynn Canal is the deepest fjord in North America. It runs 90 miles from Juneau to Skagway and is from 3 to 12 miles wide. George Vancouver named it after his birthplace, King’s Lynn in England. It’s an extension of … Continue reading Lynn Canal
The Run Home, Chatham Strait to Peril Strait.
Chatham Strait, or Shee ya xhaak in the Tlingit language runs 150 miles from the southern tip of Baranof Island to Lynn Canal where it joins Icy Strait. Admiralty Island is on the East, Baranof and Chichagof Islands to the … Continue reading The Run Home, Chatham Strait to Peril Strait.
Running of the Boots 2016
Spain may have its “Running of the Bulls” but in Sitka we have the “Running of the Boots.” I think this is safer. This year we celebrated the 22nd annual “running.” It started as celebration of the end of the … Continue reading Running of the Boots 2016
Magnetic Storm!
Last Night Suzi, Dave and I went out to look at the Aurora. At midnight we called it a night. I had just gotten home and before going to bed my Aurora Watch app told me that there would be … Continue reading Magnetic Storm!
Fall is late this year on Harbor Mountain.
One of my autumn rituals is to go up Harbor Mountain to see how the fall is progressing at higher altitudes. It seems like fall is a little late on the mountain top this year. But the berries are fine. … Continue reading Fall is late this year on Harbor Mountain.
Summer to Fall.
Living in Alaska, with my window by the sea, I mark the turning of the seasons. I never let a solstice or equinox pass without some observation, a bonfire or some other ritual. But seasons turn on their own times, … Continue reading Summer to Fall.
A House Post for Washington.
From mid-February until early May I have been watching master carver Tommy Joseph create a house pole that will be part of the museum at the Department of Interior’s headquarters in Washington. The pole took shape at Tommy’s skilled hands … Continue reading A House Post for Washington.
…coming back to civilization.
An essay on returning to Sitka: When I first moved to Sitka relatives and friends, especially relatives, would ask “when are you coming back to civilization.” Back more than 35 years ago you could forgive them for asking that question. … Continue reading …coming back to civilization.
Tbilisi’s Restored Opera House.
On Saturday after work Lika and I went to see “Swan Lake” at the Tbilisi Opera House. I had not been in the Opera House for almost a decade. It’s been closed for 8 years for renovation. It was stunning, … Continue reading Tbilisi’s Restored Opera House.
Saghomo and Paravani Lakes and Phoka’s Churches.
Thursday, after I finished my work at Radio Nor, we drove back to Tbilisi. Ararat told us that the more roundabout road, over a higher mountain pass above the trees, was better maintained than the road we came in on. … Continue reading Saghomo and Paravani Lakes and Phoka’s Churches.
Gorelovka and the Doukhobors
Ninotsminda was founded by Russian Doukhobor dissidents. The Doukhobors (Spirit Warriors of Christ) were exiled to this region in the early 1800s by Tsar Nicholas at his ascension because they refused to recognize the divine authority of the Tsar. They … Continue reading Gorelovka and the Doukhobors
Ninotsminda, Georgia
IREX has taken on a new partner, Radio Nor, a community radio station, in Ninotsminda. Ninotsminda is located near the spot where Georgia, Armenia and Turkey meet. The Lonely Planet guide mostly ignores this part of Georgia. There isn’t much … Continue reading Ninotsminda, Georgia
Tbilisi 2016
I love going someplace I know well, discovering something new and rediscovering something old. I had both experiences on this trip to Georgia. I arrived on Saturday morning and met my colleague and friend Lika for dinner Saturday night. We … Continue reading Tbilisi 2016
Istanbul 2016
The posts below are all from a working trip to Istanbul in May 2016. The first picture is or the old Roman aquaduct. Then there are the city walls. You can see where they are being rebuilt and where they … Continue reading Istanbul 2016
Istanbul Oddities.
Suzi and I are running a workshop in a Hilton Hotel in Istanbul. We’re working with Syrian broadcasters. We could be in any Hilton Hotel in the world. This one is far from the interesting parts of the city, surrounded … Continue reading Istanbul Oddities.
Golden Horn at Dusk
Thursday night was our last night before I took off for Tbilisi. At sundown we were on the Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn. It was a beautiful night with the call to prayer melding with tram bells and music … Continue reading Golden Horn at Dusk
Evening Call to Prayer
One evening, at sunset, we went to the park between Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque. We watched the night architectural lights come on at both buildings as the sun set and the evening call to prayer came from three … Continue reading Evening Call to Prayer
Istanbul’s Hop on – Hop off Boat
Instnbul has a hop on- hop off boat that cruises between Europe and Asia in a two hour round trip. Continue reading Istanbul’s Hop on – Hop off Boat
Istanbul Spice Market
We took the new light rail to the Spice Market. This week Istanbul is full of the world’s humanitarian aid leaders, at the Humanitarian Summit, but because of terrorism threats tourism overall is way down. One man said “come into … Continue reading Istanbul Spice Market
The Kariye Museum (Chora Church)
On Monday we met our friend Andrea Lemieux, a former IREX, colleague for lunch and a visit to one of her favorite places in Istanbul. The Kariye Museum (Chora Church). Constantine built it outside the walls of Constantinople, although this … Continue reading The Kariye Museum (Chora Church)
Suleymaniye Mosque
The last time we were in Istanbul the Suleymaniye Mosque was closed for renovation. This trip I finally got in to see a mosque that has intrigued me since I took a history of architecture class at St. Olaf. I … Continue reading Suleymaniye Mosque