May 6, 2011

After two days of driving non-stop, I got to experience my first taste of Alaska. Its nothing to brag about considering all I had was "Idaho potato" french fries and a weak looking hamburger - but I was in Alaska! I keep hearing about all these great places I need to eat at - Sushi, Chinese, Thai, Fish 'n' Chips, Fudge, etc, etc, etc. And I look forward to wasting my money at all of them! But today was "hanger burger" time. After we all got done with work, we decided to go celebrate Haylie's glorious accomplishment (she passed her dreaded CDL test with Christopher - an impressive feat!) and we invited what was left of the guys to join us, which included Zach, Kyle, and Eric. It was fun and the place was right on the water. I guess it was an actual hanger at one time. In the 1940s, it was the home to the Alaska Coastal Airlines. But it was bought out by Alaska Airlines, that was then bought out by Delta (I think). Anyway, as you walked in you are walking on sketchy looking floors with holes and junk. It kinda freaked me out but I got over it quickly once I sat down at my booth overlooking the Gastineau Channel. We got to see planes take off and land ON THE WATER! This is such a FREAKING AWESOME PLACE!

Yesterday I got to go grocery shopping - YAY!!!! Everyone scream with excitement!!! I HAVE A PILLOW AND FOOD! Yeah, its great I know! I also got to go see the Mendenhall Glacier for the very first time. I know it won't be the last, but it was really, really cool! (Not just cuz it was chilly outside, it was legit a sweet sight to see). I also got to go figure out ways to maneuver my 40-ft bus in and out of very tight places such as the Salmon Bake and the Glacier Gardens (which mind you has upside down trees. Yes, you heard right. Don't ask, because I don't actually know).

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If you ever have a chance, its worth it to see all the sights here. They are amazing and its worth every minute to stop and look around! 

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Now, when you spend like 8 hours a day driving back and forth over the same 12 miles, it makes you really tired. So we came home and pretty much crashed. Now we're sitting in our not-so-fancy-but-much-nicer-then-everyone-else's front room going over our tour information. Its kind of entertaining. For example: "Oh my gosh we have wolverines in Alaska - I'm excited about that!" exclaimed my roommate as she read through our tour handbook. We have wolverines in Alaska? I always here about the bears and the fish - never about no wolverines! Sweet! Maybe after I try to pet a bear I could find a wolverine to befriend.