North Pacific Passage

Cruising the North Pacific Passage via the Alaskan coast, the Aleutian Islands, Eastern Russia and Northern Japan. Read more

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North Pacific Passage Traveler
WWII Bunkers
August 24, 2019 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 11 °C
The bunkers from WWII are still evident in and around Dutch Harbour. The ones above the dock are painted in the motif of the current serving forces stationed here.
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North Pacific Passage Traveler
Safeway in Dutch Harbour
August 24, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
Safeway here is a huge store. The packaging has products in huge sizes designed for the commercial fishing fleets that fish from here. We learn that prawns are packaged according to their size and the number on the packet indicates approximately how many prawns are in each. The smaller the number, the larger the prawns.Read more
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Bald Eagle on a lamp post
August 24, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
Outside Safeway, atop a roadside lamppost sat a Bald Eagle watching the traffic closely.
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North Pacific Passage Traveler
Aleut Museum
August 24, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
The Aleut are the native people of these islands. Highly skilled hunters, they fished the seas using crude weapons to sustain their subsistence lifestyle. Aleut basketry is considered some of the finest in the world. In WWII, the Aleut were interned by the US and Japanese forces and were evacuated from their native villages. Their homes were burned and they were transported to SE Alaska and Japan with few belongings and housed in substandard conditions. Many Aleut died during this internment. Despite their poor treatment, the Aleut remained fiercely patriotic. In 1988 the US awarded restitution. The Aleut were once considered to be on the verge of extinction, but they have proven that they can adapt and survive against overwhelming odds.Read more
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Russian Orthodox Church
August 24, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
The Russian Orthodox, Holy Ascension of Our Lord Cathedral, was built in 1895 and is a National Historic Landmark. The Russian Orthodox faith remains a strong force in the Aleut culture today.
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North Pacific Passage Traveler
Dutch Harbour Airport
August 24, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
The only way to get to Dutch Harbour is by air or sea. All flights go through Ancorage, AK. Flights are subject to the ever-changing weather. There are boom gates across the road near the airport. When a plane is coming in to land, the gates are lowered and traffic stopped. The runway is short and closing the boom gate means there won't be a collision between a low-flying plane and a motor vehicle.Read more
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North Pacific Passage Traveler
In and around Dutch Harbour
August 24, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
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North Pacific Passage Traveler
Unalaska Bay
August 24, 2019, Bering Sea ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
We leave the protected waters of Unalaska and head for the Bering Sea. There are heaps of humpback and grey whales around just rolling along with their calves. A couple of tail flaps, a breach or two and lots of spouting.....not quick enough to get great photos. The coastline remains rugged and volcanic.Read more
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Leaving this wild windswept landscape
August 24, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
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Out into Unalaska Bay
August 24, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
We leave the port and head out with the Pilot Boat escorting us out. Looking back on Dutch Harbour, it's been a great place to visit.
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Domain of the Golden Dragon Ceremony
August 25, 2019, Bering Sea ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
This ceremony was held exactly 12 hours before we cross the International Dateline and officially lose a day. Tonight we go to bed on Sunday and wake up on Tuesday. The Captain, Anders Steen, read a proclamation and 4 of the officers jumped into the pool in full uniform. Guests were daubed in a yellow spot (we passed on that).Read more
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Crossing the International Dateline
August 27, 2019, Bering Sea ⋅ 🌧 10 °C
Our second full sea day and crossing the Dateline, we lost 26 August. Sea Day Trivia was really hard today but we managed to be near the top. The lectures and entertainment onboard have been excellent.Read more
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North Pacific Passage Traveler
A Russian Morning
August 29, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C
We wake up in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy to a clear, sunny morning. The Kamchatka Peninsula is home to hundreds of volcanoes. We are docked at the port closest to town. The Mutnovsky Volcano across the bay stands prominently in the morning light.Read more
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North Pacific Passage Traveler
Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral
August 29, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
First stop on our city tour takes us to a high point in the town where the Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral of Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka Peninsula is built. This cathedral is fairly new after having been burned down and rebuilt. The gold onion domes of the exterior are able to be seen from all over the city. Commanding views of the nearby volcanoes are seen from this point.Read more
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North Pacific Passage Traveler
Inside the Holy Trinity Cathedral
August 29, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Beautifully decorated with masses of gold, the tourists mingle with the local parishioners in prayer. The ceiling is amazing.
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North Pacific Passage Traveler
More of the Holy Trinity Cathedral
August 29, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
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North Pacific Passage Traveler
The Volcanoes Dominate the City
August 29, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
This is a city among volcanoes. In 25 km from the city there is a chain of five volcanoes with two active ones such as Avachinsky and Koryaksky. Always smoking Mutnovsky volcano is clearly seen over Avacha Bay and behind it, rarely but also smoking, Gorely, and significantly closer than them all is Vilyuchinsky.Read more
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North Pacific Passage Traveler
Lenin Square - the Monuments
August 29, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Lenin Square is a wide open public space that is used for parades and open air performances. Set along the bay and lake, it's a busy area for both people and traffic. All the heroes of the city have monuments here.Read more
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North Pacific Passage Traveler
Nikolskaya Hill
August 29, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
A special place in the memorial of Nikolskaya hill is a small necropolis with a stone chapel. The graceful chapel with stone stairs is a later work. It finishes the ensemble with two common graves in its center. The right one is for Russian warriors, the left one for English and French. Nearby in a small green space is the statue of St Nikolas.Read more
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Petropavlovsk Overlooking the City
August 29, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
We drive to a highpoint overlooking the city and all over Avacha Bay. The Russian nuclear submarine base is located on the other side of the bay and there are battleships at anchor. From this point its easy to see how the volcanoes have shaped this land. The billboard, says "We see the morning first" - it's a tourism slogan.Read more
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North Pacific Passage Traveler
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Quirky bits from P-K
August 29, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Traveler Love the pop of colour
8/30/19Reply
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North Pacific Passage Traveler
Toward the Koryak Village
August 29, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Heading out of the city into the rural flood plain at the back of the bay, the Koryak Village is close to the largest volcano. The rural roads are dirt and very bumpy; the dust comes in thru the air-con.
It's a large property owned by 2 families who raise they animals here and continue the Koryak traditions and language.Read more
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The Koryak Village
August 29, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
The families are passing on the traditional Koryak way of life to the younger generation.
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Koryak Dance and Song
August 29, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Dressed in traditional ornate reindeer hide garb, a Koryak woman and 2 girls dance and sing several items from various seasons, illustrating the Koryak reliance on the seasonal patterns. We are invited to participate in a group circle dance. The Koryak man plays the traditional drum. He has been injured in a fishing accident but still participates while seated (he's on crutches).Read more
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North Pacific Passage Traveler
Koryak Song and Dance
August 29, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
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