Sitka Alaska
by Gil on Jul.18, 2011, under Happenings
After our Sea Otter & Wildlife Quest excursion we disembarked in the city of Sitka. Sitka was the site of the original Russian outpost named New Archangle. The main objective of the Russian-American Company was to trap the then plentiful Sea Otter for their pelts. They were successful to the extent of reducing the population to near extinction. The Russians lost interest in Alaska, then sold it to the U.S. for a small sum. Today the small community thrives on commercial fishing and tourism. We searched high and low for a restaurant that served Dungenes crab to not avail and settled for King crab on a open deck in the sunshine. We then explored the town starting with a visit to the Russian Orthodox Church that is still active. We then climbed Castle Hill, the former site of Alexander Baranof’s castle with a great view of the harbor and Mount Edgecumbe across Sitka Sound. That evening after another great dinner we enjoyed a show put on by the crew that received a standing ovation from the passengers. Tomorrow early its Hubbard Glacier so it was in to bed relatively early.