San Diego Children's Choir, Alaskan Choral Cruise Tour
Thursday, July 20, 2006

Please click on any thumbnail to view a larger image; see journals (3) below

Today we left the ship yet again to see our last sight of Alaska with SDCC. Like always, we started the day with a wake-up call and greeting at the door by our wonderful chaperones, then after some primping time headed out to breakfast.

After breakfast we returned to our rooms to pick up our music and start the day with another combined rehearsal with the Central Carolina Children’s Choir. After a long few hours of singing we went to lunch and them had some free time this we spent getting ready for our destination, and watching TNT.

We soon got off the ship and were glad we had the rain gear. It was cold wet and rainy. The first thing we did was meet up with our bus driver, a native who was a school teacher and yes a bus driver. She took us to see the bald eagles and salmon, or at least where some of them lived any way. We saw 2 beautiful bald eagles and many different types of salmon. Then we walked over to see a show put on by the natives of the town. Lauren and Ali participated and danced with the natives and had a lot of fun. After hearing many different stories about the totem poles and visiting a museum for some very old ones we got to see how totem poles were made.

Then we got to do some shopping in the local town and buy some last minute souvenirs. After our last shopping spree, we cold and wet choristers got back on the ship for a more relaxed evening. We ended the night seeing a show by the cast on bored the ship called “stage and screen” some SDCC members stayed up late but for the majority us it was an early night.

Respectfully Submitted By: Selina Wood

Well it was a dark and rainy day and the masked murderer was on the loose. Just kidding, well we arrived in Ketchikan at around 2:00pm and it was a bit cold outside. We were able to go and see the local eagle shelter and the salmon hatchery. It was neat to learn about how salmon, during the mating season, will go exactly where they grew up and how they memorize all the minerals in the water so that they know where to go.

Afterwards we walked over the totem pole preserve and some of them were actually really interesting to look at, I took a couple pictures for my brother and my mom because I know that she is interested a little more than I am about those types of things. I felt bad though that I wasn’t able to get anything for them because I didn’t have any money with me. But then we went to the Saxman Native Village and we went to a dance demonstration and Ali Icenhower and I joined in and got to wear some of the native clothing that they were wearing. It was fun.

After that we drove back to the ship and my friend Celine Goodbody and I went back on the ship while the rest of the girls went to finish off their shopping. Later on that night we went to the ‘Stage and Screen” show as Selina stated before and that was spectacular, and then it was off to bed. It was actually on of the better nights of the trip and I wish I was able to see more of the shows afterward.

Respectfully Submitted by: Lauren Levin

Well I suppose I’m a day late but it’s ok, I’ll talk about yesterday. After getting an absurdly early wake up call I dragged myself out of bed and headed to breakfast with my two very awesome roommates Selina and Lauren. We rushed through our breakfast and barely made it to rehearsal.

Later that day (I’ll stop with the boring stuff…) we got off the Zuiderdam and into Ketchikan. Our first stop was an eagle shelter. The eagles were amazing of course but, I loved the story behind them. In case you didn’t know eagles mate for life. There were two eagles in the shelter, but both were female. One eagle named Chalk had had a mate named Hunter, but Hunter was killed in an accident and Chalk had been in mourning until they gave her a companion named Aurora. I thought it was so beautiful, they were really like people, It seemed like they understand exactly how love works, love and friendship.

My other favorite part of today (yesterday) was going to the Saxman Native Village where Ali Icenhower and Lauren joined in the native tribal dances. It was really funny because they really looked like they knew what they were doing. We also went to the Totem Pole Heritage Park, I didn’t think that that was very exciting but I think all in all it was a really fun day and I’m happy that it all happened, well it’s getting late and I have to sleep because lucky me we wake up at 5:00 am tomorrow!! How exciting!!

Respectfully Submitted by: Celine Goodbody

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