Ketchikan Alaska

 

Port Call

The port call in Ketchikan Alaska allowed Tronster and Sunshine to explore another city in the last frontier.  Ketchikan Alaska.  This little fishing village has a lot to offer.  Even if you do not visit the Misty Fjord National Monument or the Totem Bright State Historic Site.  Our landing party went for a walk through the town.  Although our ship was docked about 5 miles from the center, the bus provided by the cruise line was comfortable and entertaining.  The bus drivers tend to provide commentary from the pier to the city.

Historic Creek Street

This little board walk has many restored buildings.  Here you will find several local shops, with nick nacks and souvenirs.  This was the location of some businesses from the gold rush, that were, shall we say, of ill repute.  

Get Something to eat!

There are some great eateries in the town.  We decided on the little place seen in the video.  I had fish tacos, while Sunshine enjoyed a little crab.  

Thanks for stopping by, come back and take a look at my older posts. I promise they are easy reads, with the exception of spelling errors and bad grammar. (Occasionally)  

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Tour Guide

 

When the family comes to visit.

I live outside Washington DC.  Sunshine and I have family all over the United States of America.  Each with their own core family members.  (You know, kids, in laws, cousins). Most people in the US will not get the chance to see the White House, or the Capital in their lifetime.  However, we always have an open invitation for our family to come and visit.  I wanted to share a few tips I like to use to make the trip (and the visit) as enjoyable as possible.

Talk before they arrive

The Washington DC area has many sites to visit.  I find it always a good idea to understand a couple of things before the family arrives.  For instance, you have to have an appointment for certain activities in the area. (a tour of the White House for example).  Other attractions may require an appointment or may be under construction.   Here are some of the questions I ask:

• How much time do we have for touring?
• Is there one thing you must see before you go home?
• Do you have any appointments you must make?
• How long will you be with us?

All of these questions will assist you in making the trip as fun as possible.  

Set expectations

I think is is also important to let your guest know what to expect.  In my case, I tell them there is a lot of walking.  Parking is limited in the city, and therefore, we normally park in one area and walk around.  We can also take advantage of the local metro service.  It all depends on what the family wants to see.  (and if there are any mobility challenges)

Tell them about the weather that time of year.  Along with the weather, I will look into the different attractions and see if any are closed during the visit.  We don't want your family to be disappointed when they get here.  

Let them know about the travel times between attractions. We need to remember they are not from around your area.  They do not understand the traffic, and travel times.  

Plan the visit

If you need to take time off from work, or not.  Take in all the information they provided you, and your local knowledge, and make a rough plan.  My family does not like detailed plans.  I generally come up with an outline.  

• Where I plan to take them and when.  
• Where I an going to park.
• Where we will eat a meal.
• Daily start times and approximate return to home base times. 

Most times we host visitors, it's a day trip to downtown.  Family like to see the White House, the Washington Monument and Lincoln memorial. A good day of walking with the possibility of catching a few extra outdoor memorials along the way. 

Have fun!!

There was a general or commander that once said "All battle plans are great until you have first contact with the enemy."  it means, you can have the best plans, but when you start to execute those plans, life and things happen.  I think this is one of the reasons I like an outline as opposed to a detailed plan for family visits. Be prepared to answer questions for your family.  It makes them think you are really smart (a bonus), and they will get more out of the visit.  

Take photos with and for them.  In my case, I travel to the Washington DC 10 or more times a year.  I have taken enough bad photos to know, don't stand in front of the Washington Monument for a picture.  It looks like a horn.

I appreciate you visiting the site.  Please let me know some of your tips and tricks for being a family tour guide. 

Juneau Alaska

 

Cruise day 3

The Salmon Run

 

Where are you Tronster?

Sunshine and I were able to take a nice vacation to Alaska.  More details later, first I wanted to share the site and amazement I felt when learning about the Salmon.

The Pacific Northwest is known for salmon.  This year I am sure was no different than previous years.  The Salmon Run was almost over while we ere visiting.  Sitka Alaska gavels an opportunity to see a large number of Salmon.  As a fisherman, I found the hustle and bustle of the run to be very exciting.  As someone who eats what he catches, and not a fan of Salmon, I was still impressed. 

Salmon, which are born and spawn in freshwater, live most of their lives in saltwater.  Apparently this is not true for all species of Salmon.  (I did not know there was some freshwater Salmon). The life in the open ocean, lasts between 3 and 5 years for the salmon we observed.  They have been tracked to travel thousands of miles to return to fresh water. It has been studied and determined they also have a homing type sense.  They generally return to the same waters they were born to spawn and lay eggs.  Who knew. 

I also learned that salmon will rapidity age and deteriorate after spawning.  So if the bears, eagles, hawks, or humans don’t get’em, they just die.  While walking around the different towns in Alaska, I personally witnessed several salmon just dying.  I was told we were there towards the beginning, so several were still active, but in a couple of weeks, the smell may be a touch more prevalent. 

Thanks for checking out my little blog, please come back, and check out some more. 

Tronster

Vacation Cruise

 

NCL Sun and Alaska Cruise

Turning 50

That's right folks, your host has turned the corner on life and is now 50 years of age.  For s special treat, Sunshine decided to take me on a cruise.  What a great surprise.  I may also suggest this for anyone who wants to celebrate a special day, the cruise lines work very hard, and this was no exception.

Our Cruise

Alaska has always been on my bucket list.  Which now I can safely mark off the list.  Sunshine, along with 4 other couples, picked a 10 day cruise on Norwegian Cruise Lines.   This is a cruise line we have used before, and we like them.  In all fairness, we have only been on. two cruise lines.  So far, NCL is our favorite.  

There are several itineraries to choose from, ours started in Seattle

1. Seattle Washington
2. At Sea
3. Juneau Alaska
4. Skagway Alaska
5. Hubbard Glacier Alaska (At Sea)
6. Sitka Alaska
7. Icy Straight Point, Alaska
8. Ketchikan Alaska
9. At Sea
10. Victoria British Columbia (Canada)
11. Seattle Washington

The Ship

Pictured above is the NCL Sun.  A smaller, slightly older ship, with all the comforts of a hotel and resort.  Minus some of the fancy water park amenities.  But we are in Alaska, so who wants to ride a water slide?  The Norwegian Sun has 14 dining options, 12 bars, a casino, basketball court, fitness center, spa and much more to entertain.  They have a smaller crew of just over 900, and can accommodate right around 1900 guests.  I don't think the cruise was full for our journey, but I honestly do not know.  

The Cruise

Here is where I will be a little vague, on purpose.  Why?  I want to post more details in the near future about the different stops and activities.  Needless to say there are several different things you can do, to enjoy a shipboard day, a day at port, or a birthday celebration.  

Thank you for stopping by, and come back to see more. 

Episode 6: London River Cruise

Day Trip in London:

Sunshine and I had a day long layover with our recent trip to Europe.  I wanted to share some video from that day.  The cruise was a blast.  The tour guide was entertaining as well as informative.   This was part of the package with the Hop-on Hop-off bus ticket we purchased.  As I mention before, these are great deals for getting around in big cities. 

Episode 5: TRONSTER on the Danube

 Thanks to GoPro for helping. Enjoy the clip.

Where the Rhine begins

 

The Rhine River

The Rhine river runs throughout Europe through several countries.  During our trip, we were able to stop off at the beginning.  At least that is what our tour guide said.  These are the Rhine Falls.  A great place to visit and spend a couple of Swiss Francs.  The River is about 760 miles long and goes through Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands (and three other countries).  I have read it is the longest river in Germany.  I myself have seen it in several German cities on my travels.  

As our tour bus pulled into the parking area, the quick pace of our tour allowed for a 30 minute visit.  Turns out this is a great amount of time.  We were able to see the falls, walk around a little, grab a quick bite and and take a few pictures.  Have no fear, I will add a few more photos in the coming days.   I am a nature person, but when the crowds are present, the quick stop was just the right amount of time.  

In all my adventures, I have visited a few famous falls.  Niagara Falls , Great Falls and Black Forest to name a couple.  Check out those posts if you have a minute.  

As I work to produce additional updates for the site, keep coming back.  I really appreciate the feedback.  There will be more posts from our recent adventure.  This will include some reviews of the products Sunshine and I used, information from the tour company we used.  The different hotels we stayed in, and the overall value from our investment in our vacation.  

German Food

 The food is always good.

Whenever I travel, I feel it is important to try the local food.   This is a quick shout out to the German cuisine. I really like the sausages they offer here in Germany. Thiss time I had one of the bigger sausages. Covered in a sauce similar to barbecue sauce back home.  In the past I have had a frankfurter on a bun. Which is also a treat.   Served on a plate, eaten with a knife and fork, was also a delight. To wash it down I enjoyed a refreshing ginger ale. 

If ever in Germany you should try the sausages. 

Budapest

 The Castle District

Although currently being renovated, the views are spectacular. Our tour bus drops us off at the back side of the castle. The Hungarian government has build an elevator to take you to the top. There are still several steps, but the elevator helps

Walking through the district there are a couple of sites to see. The Presidential Palace, fisherman’s bastion and St Mathias church. Round trip was about three miles. 

This is definitely worth a visit next time you are around Budapest 

London in a Day

 A couple of hours in London

Sunshine and I are off on another adventure. I’m not going to sugarcoat this for my readers. I’m posting from my cell phone with a few Wi-Fi locations I can access. So these posts will be short   Hopefully you will enjoy them. 

We had an overnight in London as we head to our tour. Even after a very long delay at immigration/passport control we were able to knock a few things off our list of things we want to do 

Ride the Tube and Mind the Gap

Heathrow airport is not in the middle of the city, they do have a train from the airport to downtown. The “Elizabeth” line was a straight rude to paddington station.  I don’t know if the train is considered the “Tube” but it did get us under ground

The hop on off

A good way to see a lot in a short time   Several cities offer the hop on off bus.  I would recommend. I have used it in Barcelona, Washington DC, Berlin and now London.   It will get you to the main sites with little fuss. I recommend riding it around once, then pick your spots. The best deal is to get on it when it starts. 

That’s all for now. 

Black Forest

I have always enjoyed Black Forest Ham.  Never really knew where it came from. Well, now i do. Its Germany.  The Black Forest is a large section of forest in Germany.  

Our hosts took us on a great little trip to a small town in the Black Forest, Triberg.  Famous for its falls, and history, we enjoyed a few hours observing the local town, trekking to the top of the falls and strolling through the museum.  

This Triberg falls, although a great tourist location just for the falls, used to be on oof the primmer winter sports locations.  Having Sledding, toboggan, eking and ice skating all in the same location every winter.  However, do to the climate change, there is not as much of this anymore. 

There were several interesting things to see, and do, but because of our tight timeline, we limited our selves to two (two and half) attractions.  If you are every here, you should check out all the small german town has to offer. 

First, we went  to the falls. Written in German, these are either the largest, or the longest, falls in Germany.  The view in the evening sun is spectacular.   At night, the light up the falls.  The family went to the top observation deck available, stopping at each point to take some photos.  In the past these falls were outfitted with two hydroelectric plants.  Producing enough energy to run the street lamps in the town.  Triberg was one of the first towns in Germany with electric street lamps.  This trek is not for the light hearted, there is a continuous upward grade as you walk up a well established path.  The first deck, appeared to me, to be handicap accessible.  However, beyond that i would think would be a great challenge.  Additionally, the temperature will drop a few degrees as you go higher up the falls.  It is a good walk, but you should be prepared.  

If you can stay until evening or dark, they provide lights.

A note from Berlin

The time has come for us to separate from our friends for a couple fo days.  They have been great.  Shuffling us around Germany.  However, the next part of our adventure we will undertake solo.  

We finish our breakfast in Munich, and head to the Train stations.  Munich was a great city, our next stop is Berlin.  Before leaving home (the USA) we purchased our train tickets.  The ride will last about 5 hours with a few stops in between.  According to our host, the ICE trains have the fewest stops, which is why that is what we booked.  The upgrade to 1st class was not high, so we sprang for first class.  In addition, i signed us up for the quiet car.  Mainly to keep from having to listen to someone else’s phone conversation.  When they speak German, i don’t understand it anyway. 

The Munich train station was pretty easy to navigate. finding our train was a piece of cake.  Getting in the right car was also not that difficult.  With the newer train we were riding, everything was labeled on the outside, and i easily found our seats.

 After about 2 stops, which were very close, we presented our tickets without any issue.  Every hour or so, a conductor came by and provided us with chocolate or gummy bears.  

I finished reading a book on my Kindle.  Its an old-school kindle.  But it still works.  I brought along a couple of books to read on this trip.  With my Prime membership. the books do not cost anything, and some are the first in a series.  I will get to that later.  

Our accommodations in Berlin was the Motel One, directly across the street from the main train station in town.  Which was very easy to get to from the train.  Disembarking and navigating to the hotel only took about 10 minutes.  I immediately noticed how much bigger the Berlin station was compared to Munich.  The city itself, also seemed busier.  It was Sunday afternoon, and there were a lot of cars on the road, and people moving about.  I am not sure if this is normal, or just my observation this day.  Our room was cozy, with a bed, bath and desk.  Not a big room, but clean and well appointed.  All we could ask for in a place to sleep for one night.  We had some ideas of what we wanted to see, so we started our walk.

Navigating to the major sites in downtown Berlin is not very difficult.  The walk started around the corner from the Train station.  We headed toward the Brandenburg Gate.  Made famous many times over during the history of this city.  Stay tuned to see more highlights from the trip.  

 

The Jeepney

Welcome back to tronster.net (pronounces Tronster dot net).  When Sunshine and I travel, we like to take in the sites, and experience local culture.  In the Philippines, that includes riding in a Jeepney. 

The Jeepney is a form of public transportation in the Philippines.  It is said to be the most popular form of public transportation.  While traveling to visit family in the Philippines, I was able to ride in a few of these wonders of transportation.  

History:

Avery good article on the Jeepney can be found on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeepney

5 thoughts on the Jeepney:

1. Cost

The cost to ride a Jeepney is very economical.(can you say cheap)  However, do not hop on one of these mini-buses and expect to pay with a credit card.  I would also suggest you always keep some small denomination of the Peso with you.  The driver (and sometimes with an assistant) will provide you change.  

2.  You are all in this together

Jeepneys can get very crowded.  Based on the time of day.  If you have reservations about being close to someone you do not know.  Opt for a cab or other mode of transportation. Additionally, if you sit towards the front.  You will be expected to pass change and fairs between passengers and drivers. 

3. Routes

The routes for a Jeepney are painted on the side (most of the the time). First and last stop. Sometimes, there is a sign in the front window with the final stop for the route.  If you need to be dropped off before then, you will have to let the driver know.   If you are unfamiliar with the area you are traveling, especially in Manilla, this can be confusing.  I would suggest looking at a few maps.  Many of the drivers can assist with directions, but I would not rely on them understanding what you are asking.

4. The Ride

I am of average height.  The classic Jeepneys are not very tall.  When I sit in one, I cannot see out the window.  (if you want to call it that).  The head room clearance I have is very limited.  While riding in the Jeepney, I believe i hit my head several time going over slight blemishes (understatement) in the road.  

5. The Look

Jeepneys can be extravagantly decorated.  Even if you never ride one, you should definitely pay attention to the decorations.  I was amazed at the different looks of Jeepney.  Bible versus are common, but so are superheroes and pop culture. 

Final thoughts

The Jeepney as it is none today, could be facing significant issues or challenges, in the future.  They contribute a lot to the local traffic congestion, and they are not very planet friendly.  Also noted is their reliability problems.  You will find new e-jeepneys all over Manilla now, and they are not as cheap to ride.  The compete with Trikes and other forms of transportation in the Manilla metro area.  If you have the opportunity to visit the PI anytime in the next few years, take an opportunity to ride a Jeepney.  They may be gone before too long. 

Thank you for visiting Tronster.net.  I hope you have been entertained.

Great Falls with a touch of social distance

 

During the times of social distancing, Sunshine and I try to visit outdoor places. This Sunday is no different. After our virtual church service and a little lunch. We headed over to a local national park. Great Falls is a great place to visit. There are several hiking trails and picnic areas. The visitors center is closed, but the bathrooms were open. With the rain of the past week, the water was moving fast. With the temps a little on the cool side it was not too crowded. 

My family was in town and we have always enjoyed this park. There are parts of the old bypass canal to see, signs marking the flood stages and at least one wheelchair accessible ramp to an overlook. 

This day we were in the Virginia side, but there is also a park in the Maryland side. Check it out sometime. 

Toronto Zoo

Tronster and the love of his life, Sunshine, always enjoy animals.  In September of 2016, we made a special trip to Toronto to visit some friends.  Also none as “distant cousins”.  Regardless, while we were in town, we grabbed a “City Pass”  which included a trip to the local zoo.

Toronto is about an 8 hour drive for my family.  Mainly because I obey speed limits.  Some have made the trip faster, however, I prefer to stay away from traffic court in other states. The zoo is about 700 acres of animals and exhibits for people to visit.  Sunshine and I always enjoy the Pandas.  They play around in their habitat and always look happy.  The part that makes me happy, is the smile on Sunshine’s face when she sees the enchanted animals. 

In 2012, on a trade mission to China, it was announced that the Toronto Zoo and the Calgary Zoo would be lent two giant pandas from China for the span of ten years, with the pandas splitting the time equally between the two facilities. The pandas, named Er Shun and Da Mao, arrived at the Toronto Zoo on Monday, March 25, 2013, greeted by prime minister Stephen Harper. Their exhibit opened on May 18, 2013. The pandas originated from the Chongqing Zoo and Chengdu Panda Base, resided in Toronto from 2013 to spring of 2018; moved thence to the Calgary Zoo for 2018 through 2022. In October 2013, Er Shun gave birth to twin cubs. The exhibit closed on March 18, 2018.

The Smithsonian Zoo, or National Zoo, also had an exhibit of Pandas.  A cub was born here not too long ago. I could look that up for you, but, you are already on the Internet. 

During this time, when social distancing and travel restrictions are in place, I figured I would share a few of my adventures in the past.  

Wat Pho, Bangkok

Sight seeing in Bangkok

Part 1 -Wat Pho

It was a hot day in September, as Sunshine and I headed out of our hotel.  We needed something to do to occupy our time until we could meet up with our friends.  We had made a list of all the places we wanted to visit while in Bangkok, and so far we have only seen a couple of malls.  

Looking over the public transportation options, we decided to mark off one of the spots.  What Po. 

Wat Pho, how the locals spell it in english, although they are not english, is first on the list of six temples in Thailand classed as the highest grade of First-class royal temples. (at least that is exactly what wikipedia says).  Sunshine and I studied the maps, talked to the hotel staff and then headed to the subway.  Which is convenient because a major stop is right outside our hotel.  

One of the main attractions of Wat Pho, is the "Reclining Buddha".  

This not to be confused with the reclining Tronster.   LoL.  The large statue is housed in the Chapel of the reclining Buddha.  This guy is 15m high and 46m long.  Those of us not familiar with the metric system, that would be about 49 feet high by 151 feet long.  (Oh my).  Sunshine and I were impressed.  While we were there, someone said the Buddha was built before the building.  I can believe it.  

The Wat Pho, although famous for the reclining Buddha, is full of other things to see and learn.  You will just have to come back to Tronster.net to see what we think.  

Casa Loma

Sunshine and I recently were able to take a much needed Vacation . lucky for us we have family in toronto Canada. while there we took advantage of a program called City Pass. one of the attractions was Casa Loma . A Castle built before WWI . The owner wanted a place that reminded him of his Scottish Roots Erm in the 1920's the home cost 3.5 million dollars to build. Uafrtemwly, MR. pellet Ran out of money before he Was able to move in and live there for any length of time . The Castle Home is a great family attraction . A Couple of the cool parts include the hall in the basement close to the Cafe. this hall inehdes all the movie posters d. moves that had beer filmed at Casa Loma. There Is a tunnel that goes across the street to the carriage house and garage however it was closed the day we Showed up .

Luray Caverns

Luray Caverns

If you are looking for a fun day in Northern Virginia, the Luray Caverns are a good family friendly choice.  The caverns are located in Luray VA.  If you are coming from DC and there is no traffic, you can make it in about 2 hours. 

Tronster was enjoying a weekend away from home in Shenandoah Crossing vacation resort with his parents.  This is quickly becoming a family tradition.  Parents of Tronster drive up from their home in North Carolina, and Tronster and Sunshine drive down to meet them at the resort. 

The Luray caverns entry building is well done. There is ample parking, and on a raining overcast day, we were able pick up our tickets and get in with a minimal wait time.  Just like most places these days, there is a photographer who snaps a picture of your group before you go down into the Caverns.

The walk is about 1 mile total.   The walkway is in good repair and the even go around a few of the formations so you can get a close look.  The tour normally holds a group of about 25 people, and the guides are well versed.  They ask that you stay with the group because the lights are on a timer.  If you are not with a group, the lights will go out.  I believe it would get dark in a hurry.

The location also hosts the carriage museum.  A collection of old wagons, cars and a store to purchase Luray Caverns knick-knacks,  and car collection stuff.

The caverns take about 40 minutes or so to walk through and there are lots of places to take pictures.  The Museum takes about 5 minutes or 30 minutes, depending on how many of the cars you examine and read about.

Great place to visit and a great place to kill some time.