Sunday at the Playground

We all had fun on visits to playgrounds this morning.

Sitka

 We landed in Sitka on August 16 after a great week in Seattle.

 We learned a lot about the native Tlingits, who still have a presence. They lost an historic battle with the Russians here in 1804. This "Totem Park" is both the oldest and smallest National Park in Alaska. 

The Russian Bishop's House, now a museum, was built in 1842. The Russians arrived about 1740. Their main objective was to harvest sea otter pelts.

This Bishop was apparently very accepting of the Tlingit culture, and was instrumental in spreading the Russian Orthodox religion in Alaska.

 View of downtown Sitka, with the Russian Orthodox Cathedral (the smallest we've seen). It burned in 1966, but was rebuilt. Most of the icons were saved. 

 It didn't rain while we were in Sitka, but we were often reminded that this is a rainforest. 

 Mt. Edgecumbe viewed from Totem Park. 

 On the ferry to Juneau, August 17. A few whales were sighted on the five and a half hour cruise.