April 14th
– April 20th 2014
SPRING IS COMING TO ALASKA:
There are many people who are driving with serious cracks in their
windshields (even we have one now). There are older articles about
Alaska being the land without fast food restaurants – gone, baby,
gone. Especially Anchorage is not much different from any other city
in the US, Subway seems to be very active here. Also, another Alaskan
myth: the ratio of men and women (so few women). It is true that
Alaska has the highest ratio (about 107 men to 100 women) in the US
but it is nothing terrible. Just few notes, for now. The week started
with J. coming home from the work (her night shift ended Monday
morning). She slept part of the day, the rest of it we just took it
easy and had relaxing day. Some errands, she went to gym, probably
some television, small walk – normal life. Relatively normal switch
day. Finally it looks like the freezing nights are over, the
temperature is holding above freezing. On Tuesday, we
had slower morning and decided to stay in town (it was supposed to
rain – it did not). We drove to Wild Berry Chocolate Factory –
one of the Anchorage's attractions. Snow is almost gone and the
city's workers are starting to sweep the streets – they use a lot
of gravel in here. The chocolate place (very quiet and almost empty)
has self proclaimed largest chocolate waterfall in the world. It is
pretty big but it is just decoration, they are not using chocolate
for anything else. We stopped by the bookstore. We went to Wells
Fargo Museum (another attraction, during winter Native Heritage
Museum is closed) that claims to have quite nice collection of native
art. A bit strange because it is located within bank's building.
Bigger room with quite a lot of artifacts – it was pretty
interesting what can be done with ivory. There was a replica of some
boat (from ivory) and apparently it took 8000 hours to build. Nice …
Grocery store. Visit from the landlord – someone looking to rent
after us. Quiet evening – J. got a movie called Hope Springs
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1535438/
because on the cover it stated it was funny. Not really.
We made really nice plan for Wednesday and we managed
to leave the house by nice o'clock. Overcast. Few patches of blue
sky. We drove north to the town of Palmer. Same freeway, almost no
snow – just dirt and grayness all over (kind of sad). And mountains
in the distance. Palmer – small town, few stores, and not much else
for the moment. We left the freeway and drove up to the Hatcher Pass
and Independence State Park (it used to be mine). It is interesting
how people here like their space. Along the road (miles and miles
from the town) there were cottages, houses, and shacks. Most of them
had large lot but also could see their neighbors. I think it is
interestingly strange choice to live like that. Oh well … As we
were climbing up there was more and more snow. Our plan was to see
the mine area, take few shorter walks and drive along the dirt road
with apparently incredible scenery (and cross the Hatcher Pass). Few
parking lots where it was possible to park (snow was plowed).
Incredible scenery and amazing views of the valley with more
mountains in the distance. It was magical. Snow around us, on the
other hand, was quite real. We got to the area of the Independence
mine, there was Lodge open and we could see the structures of the
state park (mile away or so). The road ended by the lodge's parking
lot. There were some ski trails and estimated three feet of snow on
the rest of the road. And, getting to this parking lot we passed the
turn for our dirt road (closed with a lot of snow). We were almost
blind from all the snow and decided to walk towards the mine, it was
nice, cold, and really bright. Change of plans, drive to Wasilla, and
find pretty much nothing there. Eastern European store – kind of
funny. Home. I guess for higher elevation places winter is not over
yet. Thursday, J. slept in until almost eleven o'clock
(like a bear as we are apparently in bear country). She will be
switching and staying up tonight so this should help her to stay up.
After breakfast we went for a walk to the nearby Russian Jack Park.
Still snowy but spring is definitely coming. There is big parking lot
and municipal building in the middle of the park. On the edge, by the
main road, there are some greenhouses. Apparently Anchorage has great
display of flowers during summer and they grow them here (or at least
some of them). There is also tropical greenhouse open to the public.
Nice (relatively small) two chamber greenhouse. The first one had
aviary and fish pond and bunch of planted plants. The other part had
decent selection of plants in pots – also some cacti. It was really
pleasant place. Back home. Errands, grocery store, cooking, and other
monkey business. Friday and Saturday – J. worked.
Nothing special. No wild animals. Relatively stable (and mediocre)
weather. School, errands, relaxing, and other monkey business on my
side. J. had day off on Sunday but because it is just
one day she did not switch (she slept during the day and stayed up).
Time is flying.
