Sitka–same same but different
A friend of my mother told her that she should “put a ball and chain” on me. Hmm, well, maybe I have one and the God of Travel (Hermes, is it?) is just having fun bowling.
I have now “crashed” into Sitka, Alaska after a run down the lane of longitude from Southern to Northern Hemisphere. As we came into Sitka, I grinned over my neighbor’s shoulder at the welcome view of snow-spotted mountains under a shawl of clouds; the plane miraculously found solid ground as it aimed for a little poke of cement in the water. That feeling of “coming home” continued all day as I wandered around this familiar town where I’ve never been. Eagles, coffee stops, art shops, bikes, fleece, cool air. The only real novelty is the giant cruise ship—thankfully docked far enough away to look “small”—that dumps off its daily dose of trinket-happy tourists. Or Tlingit-happy. The Tlingits are the native tribe who first lived in Sitka and still do, contributing their culture, totem poles, carvings, and dance shows. The Russians who settled here later are also due their congrats for the pointy St. Michael’s cathedral, nesting dolls in shop windows, and rivaling dance troupe. The result, a small, large-minded town with some unusual facts:
–Sitka, with only 9,000 people, is the 5th largest Alaska town
–Sitka, since it was the capital of Russian-owned Alaska, is where the ceremony was held to lower the Russian flag and raise the US flag to mark the purchase
–Sitka has the “largest incorporated city limits in the US,” including 2,874 sq. miles and 300 miles of coast; the longest road you can drive is 14 miles.
–Sitka is the first site of employment for Cindy since August of 2006
Last night I went to the opening night of the Sitka Summer Music Festival. Excellent world-known musicians came and played on a little stage backed by a glass wall over-looking the harbor and mountains. Float planes and eagles soared by making it believable that Arensky and Brahms were responsible for their aerodynamics. The audience was typical Alaskan-ecletic in everything from black strapless dresses to fishing waders and boots.
It’s gonna be a great summer….. 🙂
Tags: Alaska, Sitka, US of A
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