Hammer Time

Around the world in 2 weeks

Well May has been another busy month for the Hammer Family.

Jennifer and I started off the month by taking our cruise to Alaska. Jennifer and i went on Princess Cruise Lines and sailed on the Golden Princess.

We flew into Seatlle and spent the morning before the cruise seeing the various tourist sites of Seattle like Pike's Market and the Space Needle.

We were on the boat by 2 o'clock and out to sea by 4:30PM. We opted for a balcony room and in the end are glad that we did because it ended up giving us tremendous views of Alaska from the comfort and heat of our room.

The first day was rough as we travelled north through the Pacific trying to get to Juneau, Alaska. The next day we arrived in Juneau to a nice batch of cold rain. Jennifer and I had booked the glacier helicopter trekking tour with North Star Trekking and had planned to leave at 1:00PM. When we called we were told that we had been rebooked on the 3:00PM departure instead. They gave us no apparent reason for the rebooking, but assured us they were still flying. Needless to say, we were met 10 minutes before the helicopter was supposed to leave and told by a surly driver that the flight had been cancelled. The office staff was rude and so was the driver...bottomline, I wouldn't recommend North Star Trekking to anyone.

Nonetheless, we managed to find a great seaplane outfit (Wings Airways that coincidentally had 2 seats available on their Taku Glacier Lodge excursion. Jennifer and I, after having a couple beers at the Red Dog Saloon made our way over to the seaplane outfit and headed off to the Taku Glacier. Jennifer and I really felt that the seaplane excursion to the lodge was probably the best excursion of the trip. Everything at the lodge was so peaceful and quiet as we were literally the only people for miles.

At the lodge they made freshly caught and grilled king salmon, which Jennifer and I had never had before. It was really good and even Jennifer managed to eat most of it (Jennifer hates salmon).

After that it was back on the boat for the trip down to Skagway, Alaska. I had arranged for a private tour in the neighboring town of Haines so I could try and photograph bald eagles. We had a great guide named Judy, who took us all around in our private van showing us the great spots for wildlife. I did manage to get some decent bald eagle shots. I think I'm going to try and go back in November for the Bald Eagle Festival.

Later that day, Jennifer and I continued our pursuant of all the old saloons and stopped in at the Red Onion Saloon, which used to be a local brothel during the Gold Rush.

The next day we went to Ketchikan, where Jennifer had arranged for a boat tour of Misty Fjords National Monument. The scenery was nice and waterfalls were everywhere.

After that the ship went into Tracy Arm Fjord. This is where our balcony really came in handy as it was just a day of enjoying the surrounding scenery of the fjord and ice fields, but since it was around ~30 degress outside it was nice to duck into the heat of our room. The ship went all the way to Sawyer Glacier and actually went through an icefield. It was crazy actually seeing the boat break through the ice.

After Alaska, it was on to Victoria, British Columbia.. Jennifer and I both agreed that if we were looking for a young and trendy place that was safe and very clean, Victoria was it. Everywhere we went there were great restaurants, friendly people, and it was all very clean. We started at the Empress Hotel where we were able to sneak in and look at the high tea setting and the lobby. On the way out we saw the "guests only" sign, but it was too late by then.

Jennifer and I enjoyed an appetizer on the bay at one of the local restaurants, then walked back to the ship. From there it was just a skip over some water back to the U.S. and into Seattle the next morning.

The next day, after disembarking the boat, we rented a car and went to Mt. Rainer. It reminded me a lot of Montana and Jennifer and I spent the day driving through the National Park enjoying the scenery. That night we went to a Mariner's game with some old friends that had just moved to Seattle.

The next morning, Jennifer and I boarded a flight back home. This time though, I ended up catching a different route home. In Atlanta I put Jennifer on a flight back home and boarded my own flight to Cairo, Egypt. I had been asked at work to give a presentation to our European and Middle Eastern Offices and they were flying me to Egypt. After connecting in New York, Paris, and finally Cairo, I made it to the Sofitel Hotel on the Nile.

I was extremely jet-lagged coming out of Seattle, but managed to pull off a good presentation. While in Egypt I saw the Pyramids and the Museum of Egypt (which houses King Tut's death mask and tomb contents).

Although it was a once in a lifetime experience, I can't say I was overly impressed with Egypt and am very happy that Jennifer and I decided against it for our honeymoon back in the day. The town was very dirty and the pollution there is out of control. When I left I felt like I had been smoking for 10 years! You also know it's a bad sign when they come onto the plane when you leave and spray insecticide everywhere before leaving....they used the typical phrase, "this is safe for humans". Sure, as everyone coughs their lungs up!

Back in the U.S. I was really happy to see M&M after being away from them for so long. They've changed so much, but Madeline is still working hard to grow some hair!

I want to give special thanks to my mother who watched M&M for the week and a half while Jennifer and I went to Alaska. Today is also her birthday, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

ALASKA PICS ARE HERE
EGYPT PICS ARE HERE

Summer Time is Here

With the warmer weather starting to arrive, we've been trying to get M&M outside more often. Now that they can run around (in separate directions I might add), they're really trying to get out and explore.

Last weekend I got out the inflatable pool and M&M enjoyed their first dip outside of a bath/shower. Neither one was too interested in sitting down in the pool (the water might have been a little cold), but the enjoyed splashing around and getting in and out of the pool (which allowed water to go EVERYWHERE!).

This weekend we packed up the car and headed over to St. Simons Island for a morning at the beach. M&M had been to the beach previously, but not since they were able to walk. They both like digging in the sand and watching the various people and airplanes go by.

Jennifer took Madeline down to the ocean to get her feet wet and as soon as they arrived, Jennifer noticed that an alligator was floating right in front of them! The alligator caused a big comotion on the beach and eventually the police arrived. It was a little too much drama for the Hammer Family so we decided to pack it up and head home.

Here are the videos of the pool and the beach.