Saturday, October 12, 2013

In Which Miss Hoppington Goes to Where the Flatfish Gather

Good morning!
Hello friends!

After the long trip to get to Alaska, I woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed! (I can't help being bushy-tailed, I'm a rabbit). We landed in Juneau a few hours later.

There are lots of interesting things about Juneau. It is the state capital of Alaska. Also, there are no roads into Juneau. You can drive there but you have to drive onto a boat which then takes you to Juneau. Or you can fly in but not with your car.

Juneau is almost as big in size as the states Rhode Island and Delaware combined (imagine a city bigger than a state, much less two!) but it only as about 32,000 people in it. That's a lot of room for those people.

The eastern edge of Juneau Borough actually shares a border with British Columbia, Canada. That makes Juneau the only state capital to border another country.

Juneau has another name, too. The Tlinget people, who lived in the area since before Juneau was a city, call it Dzankik'i Heeni, which means "where the flatfish gather." Sometimes, it's translated "base of the flounder river."

Heavens, there are just so many interesting things about Juneau that I've run out of space to write about my day in Juneau. I did some really fun things. I'll tell you about them next time.

Cheers!

Hedda

Downtown Juneau, with Mt. Juneau in the background and Mt Roberts in the foreground





Saturday, October 5, 2013

In Which Miss Hoppington Sails Away

Enjoying the sunshine on the boat
Ahoy Friends!

I've been on a very exciting adventure! My first really big adventure and, my goodness, was it big, the biggest. I got on a big boat and went to Alaska!

Alaska is the biggest state in the United States, even bigger than Texas. I only got to go to a very small part of it and I hope to go back; there is so very much to explore.

 Before I even got to Alaska, I had to get on a big boat in Seattle, Washington. Everyone says it rains all the time in Seattle but that isn't true. It was beautifully sunny the day I got on the boat.
Seattle... not raining today!

After getting on the boat, it took a whole day and two nights to get to Alaska. It's very far away. We went out on the ocean and the waves made the boat go up and down. It made some people not feel very good in their stomach but I felt just fine. I even spent time walking the railing outside my stateroom (that's like a hotel room). I guess I've got good sea legs!

Next time I'll tell you about the first place we stopped in Alaska!

Until then, fair winds!

Hedda