Our Alaskan cruise included stops in Juneau, Sitka and Ketchican. In Ketchican, we saw the location of the proposed billion dollar "bridge to nowhere". It was accurately described. None of these cities (or villages) are accessible by car. The only way to get to these exciting places is by air or water. Juneau is the state capitol and has a population of 30,000, half being state employees. Although most inhabitants live in a fairly compact area, Juneau is the size of three Rhode Islands.
With this visit to Alaska, Penny and I can now say that we have been in all 50 states. We have seen about .001% of Alaska but it was enough for us to conclude that Alaska has the best scenery in the country and we will surely return to see more.

Proud and spectacular! We saw hundreds of eagles.

This is a fish ladder at a salmon fish hatchery. Thosands of salmon are returning home for spawning. Notice the disturbance in the water to the left as salmon crowd to enter the ladder.

This is a Catholic chapel on the shoreline and is also the summer home to the Juneau Symphony and Opera Reporatory. The gentleman was our tour guide, a third generation resident of Juneau. We rarely take shore excursions offered by the cruise line. Rather we look for a local to take us wherever tour busses don't go. It's better and cheaper.

A portion of the fishing fleet at anchor after transferring the day's catch to the mother ship and now resting up for tomorrow

Totem pole under construction