FRIDAY, APRIL 24 ~ DUTCH HARBOR (UNALASKA), ALASKA, U.S.A.

DUTCH HARBOR....U.S.A.!
At the southwestern end of the 1,000-mile-long Alueutian Islands chain, we arrived in Dutch Harbor known chiefly for the area's booming fishing industry.  Captain's Cook's 1778 log noted that "the waters of Dutch Harbor are ice-free year-round and the spit provides a sheltered anchorage for vessels from the storms of the North Pacific and Bering Sea." 

Following U.S. Customs and Immigration, we disembarked and set foot on U.S. soil for the first time in 3 months!  Before we could get our bearings in the icy cold wind, we spotted an eagle sitting on a fence post, a very welcomed sight and very timely!  Taking a taxi owned by "Joanne", we ventured out to see the few sights here.  First we spotted a fishing boat docked near a stack of king crab cages. 

Next we visited the remains of Russian influence here, the Holy Ascension of Our Lord Cathedral and graveyard, currently on the top ten list of most endangered National Historical Landmarks in the Untied States.           

   

With heavy overcast and grey skies, photography today was not at its best, but the dreariness did cast a rather eerie feeling over this old and deteriorated landmark. 

On the lighter side, we stopped to hear about a crazy lady and her crazy house.  We did not get to  meet "the crazy" lady, but learned from our taxi driver, Joanne, that although she also has a tour business here, was no competition.  We got the message that in order to be in the tour business here, you had to be crazy or it made you crazy!  Joanne wasn't far from the same condition! 

The little town of Unalaska (same name for Dutch Harbor), was stark and certainly not very inviting.  Interesting, however, as we always look to the good side of any place we visit. 

In a way, it reminded us of the movie set we visited in Canadian Rockies above Banff when we visited our son and 1st Assistant Director, Scott,  on the movie, "The Assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford".  

The level of life here is very seasonal and people we met were rugged and hearty including the women.  We will always remember Dutch Harbor as one of our American outposts and definitely living on the edge.  We hail this brave little community and the spirit in which it exists together with the screaming overhead of our beloved American symbol, the Bald Eagle.

OUR THOUGHT FOR THE DAY....
"America is a tune.  It must be sung together".