Wind Songs: A Town Kinda Guy

A few days after Chris arrived in Juneau we headed downtown together on a bright and sunny and warm day to walk around and check out the tourist action.

As is the case every day from May through the end of September there were a few cruise ships in port, and the town was packed with curious and eager and money-spending people from around the world.

I was very pleased to be able to show him around because Juneau is a very beautiful town - one of the most beautiful towns I have ever lived in, and I have lived in towns all over the world.

During tourist season Juneau has an energy and a drive behind it that does not exist during our towns' "down time".

It is not my favorite time of year in Juneau by any stretch of the imagination.

I loved it here in winter. But I love any place more in winter.

Winter brings quiet - fewer people, less noise, a slower pace, and a sense of peace that is not found during the constant motion of warmer months.

And in Juneau in the summer, the constant urgency to compel visitors to our town to invest their tourism dollars.

But regardless, this town is beautiful and I was happy to show my child all that there was to see downtown.

And the day of our visit was a beautiful day to wander and explore.......

Yes, that is my son at the back of the line, heading up the ramp towards the entrance of a visiting cruiseship.

After both of us joking about stowing away, the boy good-naturedly got it in his head to see how far he could get before he was turned around.

He disappeared completely into the ship before thankfully reappearing a few moments later smiling.

Chris had enough sense to turn around before arriving at the card-swipe station and before attempting to gain complete entrance to the ship.

Dumb in this day and age, and with the challenges facing security personnel on all fronts.

But thankfully he wisely bailed on the test, and reigned in his curious nature, before it all bit him in the behind.....

I love this little old car. I took pictures of it many times in the cold and snow last winter, when there was nobody else walking on the street.

It is located outside a t-shirt shop, right next to the big Harley Davidson shop......

As famous of an iconic bar as the Red Dog is, I had never been inside until this day spent downtown with Chris.

We moved from the bright sunshine of a beautiful Juneau afternoon into the darkness of a bar in the middle of the day.

As with most iconic places that I have visited over the years it was a disappointment.

Typical bar with typical bar stuff. In this case, with all the Alaskan trappings you would anticipate.

The place was packed.

Sawdust on the floor.

A joking and moderately talented country singer providing the entertainment.

$13 for two glasses of beer on tap.

I was very glad to finally have found an opportunity to check it out........

Street pictures I took as we slowly wandered around. This town is beautiful.

We walked in and out of tourist stores, smiled at easy-going and relaxed visitors.

Took our time, and had no particular agenda in mind other than just enjoying the experience.......

Mt Roberts Tramway on the way down.

Even though we had tickets for the tramway, and talked a few times about going up the mountain, it never happened during Chris' visit.

It is one of my favorite things to do downtown (aside from walking along the boardwalk at Marine Park where the ships come in), so I know for certain that eventually we will put the tickets to good use.....