- The car is loaded onto the ferry to Juneau
- Harbor porpoises and humpback whales spotted during the crossing
- Stroll through the tourist port area of the capital
- a whopping four huge cruise ships are at the dock
- Meal in an Indian restaurant
- Washing and showering
So today I have to say goodbye to Glacier Bay again, which the sunshine today doesn't exactly make any easier. I have breakfast and drive to the lodge to post the latest news on my blog. Then it is time to go to the ferry station in Gustavus. I really enjoyed the cozy, authentic atmosphere here and, with some luck, saw a lot of animals. In retrospect, I would have booked a longer kayak tour and stayed here longer. That’s definitely on my 2Do list for the next time!
On deck I enjoy the warming rays of the sun on the journey towards Juneau. Also on board are some people whom I have already met in the last few days and we are talking about further travel plans. Porpoises, a small species of dolphin, can be seen twice. Shortly before Juneau, you can even spot a humpback whale. Then we arrive at the ferry port outside of Juneau.
I'm driving a Dutch couple straight into the city center to their hotel. There I park my car and stroll through the alleys down by the harbor. This Juneau is actually a pretty pretty town, if it weren't for these cruise ships and their numerous guests. The city with a well-counted 30,000 inhabitants is literally overrun every day by up to five of the traveling luxury resorts with up to 5000 guests. The port area, with its numerous souvenir shops, is also heavily geared towards comfortable cruise tourists. Some of these are quite original and entertaining, such as the Alaskan Brewing Company shop. The tourist information, tour operators and many shops have already closed. I decide to dine in an Indian restaurant a bit away from the hustle and bustle. Then I drive to a laundromat with showers and use both offers. Then I go to the campground on Mendenhall Lake to spend the night here. Unfortunately, it's already closed, so I'm staying in a parking lot around the corner.
