Astonishing Alaska

May-June 24 2011. I began my 14-day Alaskan cruises…I had never been to Alaska before and I had no idea what to expect or even imagine. We did the same 14 day cruise through Alaska…I did three cruises and my contract of nine months was completed.

Ketchikan, Alaska

Ketchikan was very pretty…the weather was phenomenal for us for the time of year. Aris and I set foot on our own little wandering adventures, like usual….just to see what we could get into. Mountains all around…the air was crisp…tasted some smoked salmon, since it is of course the salmon capital of the world! I did forget to mention I also went on a lone hike here in Ketchikan, it was just lovely. Originally there was going to be a group of us…but some of the bums bailed on me, I think someone was sick..but I still needed to get my mountain fix….and so I did.

 

 

 

 

 

Tracy’s Arm

Oh my goodness and then we moved onto Tracy Arm which is a fjord near Juneau…and absolutely blew me away with absolute pristine beauty. This was scenic cruising through the fjord’s of Tracy’s Arm.

 

 

 

I was in complete awe of this purity I was experiencing all through Alaska…there isn’t any other place similar to it that I had traveled to in all the world travels. I have heard it is very similar to Antarctica, which I have yet to travel to and experience.  

There were waterfalls coming out of the mountains…which I had never seen before either.

My dear Alaska, you truly amaze me. Stay that way…beautiful, bright special part of the country.

 

Juneau, Alaska

Violeta and I took a tram ride in Juneau up onto the top of the mountains….WHOA.            Hello, Gorgeous! (the mountain, too) Every time we were in Juneau, there were three or four other cruise ships there as well. First of course we went into one of the infamous coffee shops, Kaladi Brothers…to get our silly addicting espresso fix…I think Violeta spilled her coffee all over her as well..and she was quite pleased with that. ha. Anyhow…we got our coffee fix and free wifi fix, and off to the tram we went. Once we got to the top of the mountain there was the creepiest visitor, ever. I’m not really keen on people or stuffed animals dressed with big heads and fake cotton fur all over them…it really just give me the heebie-jeebies! But I took a picture of him anyway.

Boy did the sunshine feel amazing on my face! Being on the cruise ship for such a period of time..you don’t always get exposed to the sunshine, especially when we’re soaring through Alaska. So this was just divine getting sunshine poured all over us. Delightful..yes, please! Violeta and I were soaking every bit of sunshine, bliss and purity we could at this moment in time. It was always so refreshing getting off the cruise ship and wandering off on our own to get our own space and take a breather from ship life and pretend we’re halfway “normal”. I was wearing down and trying to keep my positivity…but really, I was getting quite burnt out from being on the ship for almost nine months now.

Ahhh V…you are so beautiful….inside and out my crazy fancy Macedonian…you are THE BEST!!  Keep telling yourself and others that, hahah. You crazy girl.I miss you all the time…See you sometime in the USA or if I’m able to come to your country…someday I know we will meet again, because you have to be my makeup and outfit artist when I model someday! I came back to the ship after my morning/afternoon with Fancy V….and hopped off the ship again with Aristotle. We, too, just kind of wandered around the ship and all around Juneau…walking the streets, making jokes, just enjoying the views and company. Juneau was filled with very interesting people…not that there aren’t other interesting people around the world….I just feel as though people from Alaska are so different from other parts of the world. It’s hard to explain…people are quirky, interesting, down to earth and just lovely, for the most part. And here is the lovely MS Amsterdam and me in Juneau. 

 

Icy Strait Point, Alaska

To be honest, I never got off the ship in Icy Strait Point…All of the spa was always working because it was such a short amount of time we spent there. But I can tell you some fun facts about this location. Did you know…Icy Strait Point, Alaska is where the world’s largest zip-line is located!? 5,330 feet long, 1,300 foot vertical drop, 60 mph maximum speed, 300 feet highest point from ground, 1.5 minute ride time! WHOA. I heard it’s pretty cool…but its only 90 seconds long. There you go, you learned something new.

Anchorage, Alaska

Ohh my goodness…Anchorage changed my insides…explosions of bliss and happiness ready or not, here I shall expose you! If you ever get a chance to experience Anchorage…you must and I mean must do two things….one..visit the lovely folks over at Side Street Espresso…you will be enlightened with these wonderful journals visitors and passerby’s have written in…whether it’s a story, a thought, their morning routine or just pure art…it was such a pleasant moment to share with the people there…and of course you have to make an addition to one of the journals…as you can see this one is dated 1997! Lovely, just lovely. The second thing you must experience is a bike ride through the bike trail in Anchorage…it wrap around a beautiful little pond where you may witness a moose or two, but I wouldn’t get too close to those buggers…they aren’t the friendliest creatures…but they’re so bold.  I was in absolute awe while Violeta and I were pedaling along just with the fresh air all around us and just laughing enjoying Alaska to the fullest! It’s almost as though I was completely high. I was so high on life and just swimming in all of the beauty Alaska had to offer me…I was taking it all in and loving every bit of it. Okay just for the clarification…this picture I took of Violeta, I took on the first try she jumped off the bench…but for her to take my picture the same…it literally took TEN tries for her to get me in the air…hahah oh V, you are special with the camera. Oh well, we had fun and I won’t forget her talent with the camera…ever.

Homer, Alaska

Homer put the quirk in quirky. What an interesting little town….very small in size…and the most interesting of places. We went to yet another coffee shop…this was a very interesting coffee shop…again the people are very interesting. Aris and I got free tickets into town from other guests from the ship, so that was very nice of them and saved us a few dollars.

Kodiak, Alaska

The couple times I was in Kodiak…I only went off the ship by myself. One morning I quickly got ready and jumped off the ship for a fresh air run and I do recall I was jamming to Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen…yes, this means I was screaming the lyrics while running/walking around the island of Kodiak. I don’t know that I took any pictures in Kodiak…but I did go to one of the only coffee shops in town and I did write this…

22 May 2011 Here I am…in Kodiak Island, Alaska…Harborside Coffee & Goods…outside it’s wet and rainy but I’m finding so much peace about it. After traveling all around the world in the last 9 months…and being tremendously overwhelmed by everything I just experienced. Having some beautiful, heated weather and nomadic I haven’t been able to process really everything that has occurred. 
*Process…Every destination I traveled to.
*manage…my emotions and character.
*deal with…the challenges I’m faced with everyday.
*treat…myself with respect…everyday.
*digest…the reasons why I was placed here was for a valid reason.
*absorb…everything that I’ve experienced in the last year.
*take in…
*understand…everything happens for a reason.
*accept…God and love Him.
*grasp…
*comprehend…that I’ve been to 6 Continents. Asia-Australia-Africa-Europe-North America-South America
*embrace…every experience I’m believed to learn valuable messages from.

LAUGH. It feels good.

Oh what to do what to do…33 days remaining on this lovely and elegant-looking cruise ship. I always feel so free and fresh and open while I’m on land…Again I have no idea what’s going to happen next with my life. I’m trying to play things out in my head and visualize what could come about…but for once I really have no idea. I just know I shall send out positive healthy energy and good things shall be sent my way.I love going back to the ship and having a potent mind. “What are you waiting for…what do you have to lose.” I feel a vast majority of the people in Alaska are angelic and always smiling...so calm and peaceful. So warm and charming…

I’m so happy.
I am very pleased where I am in life at this moment in time. I love speaking with older individuals. So much wisdom and so many stories to share.  I just love speaking with people…and learning everything.

Hubbard Glacier

Wow….glaciers…holy moly. These bad boys are absolutely marvelous in every way possible. So beautiful…again and pristine! Again, I have never seen anything like this before.

 

 

 

 

To cruise through here as delicately as a 1600 passenger cruise ship is able to…we went through here so peacefully and it was magnificent!

 

 

 

Sitka, Alaska

This was another port none of us spa junkies were able to get off the ship…we were all working, unless you earned some incentives for extra hours you could get off the ship. No go for any of us. But Sitka was so pretty from afar and from just being on the ship. Me trying to explain it doesn’t do any justice. Enjoy the views m’loves.

Victoria, B.C.

CANADA! Yes! Very shocking, I know…I run off the ship with Aristotle. We were a good travel team…we were both very laid back and easy going and we usually did whatever either of us wanted to do. Granted, most places we went to neither of us had ever traveled to so it was always something new and exciting.  Oh my goodness, okay….The Cactus Club restaurant/bar is located in Victoria, BC and Vancouver, BC…Vancouver is where I had my cruise ship interviews and a met a dear friend, Michelle D’Ambrosia…and she is pretty much amazing. Anyhow, flashback real quick…Michelle and I were the only American’s at the interviews and so automatically we hit it off and decided to take on Vancouver and wander around…well long story short, we ended up finding out we both got the job to go to training in London for the cruise ship international fitness coordinator position, so of course I needed to document my sightings in Victoria!

As we were walking around we saw the Empress Castle.

 

We saw some lovely totem poles as well!

We were just total goofs in Victoria…actually most of the time we would ever spend time together we were compete goofballs.

We sure did have fun times though. I still look at pictures and laugh like crazy just from the memories. Aris, you crazy boy! “Are you ashamed?!” Good times!

Also while I was off the ship another time by myself in Victoria, I think Aristotle had finished his contract and I was there for a cruise on my own without him..and I went for a nice run off the ship again…there was a pier right off the ship that you could run on…so I did a great workout from that. Also I did find this journal entry I’d like to share.Alaska and Victoria is AMAZING.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

LOOOK AT THE STARS…LOOK HOW THEY SHINE FOR YOU….and everything you do…they were all yellow. I came along I wrote a song for you…and all the things you do…and it was called yellow.

AHHHH yesss I just went for a delicious RUN in Victoria, BC…stunning. I presented myself a surrendered to the world. Letting go. Letting go is a process…I’ve let go…from here on out I’m being completely true and honest with myself. Must take care of myself…my soul…my head…my heart…everything.
I’m so happy. I feel high. I did a fantastic exercise blast… ran along the ocean…my lungs are open and cleared up… squats, push ups, high kicks and punches…kissed the sunset…danced to the fish and the sky. I am beautiful. “meow’” 

I’m content. Going to have the best last 14 day Alaskan cruise that I’m capable of…no distractions…putting myself out there entirely and completely. Give it my absolute BEST. Nothing Less than the BEST. …because ultimately, I DO deserve the BEST!

Such an amazing experience all of this was! <3 Onto the next adventures…let’s turn the page in this book of my journey throughout life.

Cheers and Happiness,

Jenna Margaret Hughes

International Fitness Coordinator

MS Amsterdam September 2010-June 2011

A day off in Costa Rica…emergency call home…and onto Mexico…and emergency disembark!

Puntarenas, Costa Rica….2 May, 2011

At last…a FULL day off after 18 days straight working…granted I did have a 1/2 day off but this was my first day off off the ship in a long time..started a new cruise after the 110 day Grand World Voyage…I have only a month and a half left until my contract is completed.

Went off the ship with Sarah my ye Irish friend as well as Violeta the great Macedonian…We had a quick bite to eat right off the ship and there were a huge handful of different little huts people had set up with all of their hand-made goodies.

I did purchase a lovely blue dress for very cheap…I think it was only a few dollars.

Then Aristotle and us girls all met up and went wandering around the streets…the weather was pretty warm and we were just having a fun time off the ship.

 

There was an interesting sign I found in Puntarenas….see for yourself and it may make you hungry .haha. Or……not. Organic Vanilla Fruity Monkey…Poop? FRESH STOCK.

Oh boy…can I pleaaaaaaase have some?

 

As you can see it was quite windy while we were there…but it was so beautiful. Hahah ohh and yes…Miglena my Bulgarian beauty and I decided to take a nap with one of the locals on the beach.

Once we got back to the ship…Sarah, Violeta and I were having our own little dance party in the corridor…of course blasting our music loud and having the best time, ever. Then my room phone was ringing…the phone was for me…it was Julie the human resources manager, I thought she was calling because she wanted me to write this months health newsletter. Definitely not why she was calling…she called to tell me my mother had emailed Holland America Line and I needed to call her ASAP. My heart absolutely sank. I knew it wasn’t good news she was going to tell me. My grandfather had been sick for a while and his health was failing fast…I was praying so much and I was keeping positive but I knew my mom was going to tell me the news. So I scurried over to the other corridor to purchase a ten dollar calling card…Aristotle was in the room with me while I made the call.

Sure enough my mom told me on the phone that her father, my grandfather, had passed away earlier that afternoon. I was absolutely crushed. I didn’t know what to do. I was glad Aris was there with me so I could mourn the death of my grandfather.…who we both were blessed enough to spend some time with back in December. I informed my manager and I had no idea what was going to happen from here on out. I needed to be there with my family for my grandfathers funeral.

Since all of that happened…I still needed to work and give my all to the guests on the ship…so the show must go on….and onto Mexico we went!

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico was the next stop…here we are. I tried to enjoy myself as much as I could. Good news though…I was able to get off the ship in San Diego, California…emergency disembark, so I could fly to Sacramento, California to attend my grandfathers funeral and mourn the death but celebrate my grandfathers life with all of my family….and then RE-JOIN the ship in Seattle. This was amazing. It was all meant to be.

I was going to make the best of this experience in Mexico as much as I could…my life was still happening…granted, yes it was so terribly difficult to put a smile on my face some days…or even instruct some of my fitness classes…but I knew I could get though anything.

So I enjoyed Mexico to the fullest with my cast buddies, Alexa and Eli and my roommate, Violeta! Making the best out of every situation.

 

And now….We are in San Diego, California….I needed to pack my entire room up…as if I was actually disembarking the ship…and not coming back. This definitely was a pain in the rear because I was coming back, but I understand their precautionary measures they need to take just in case. So there I was…packed up my entire life from the past 8 months traveling to heaps of different countries. Two huge suitcases plump full. I spent my morning with Aris…at Starbucks and one of the shopping centers right off the port. There were so many emotions I was feeling…I was so happy I was getting off the ship for a ‘mini-vacation’ but mostly to see family and breathe for a minute off the ship…I knew this was going to be a difficult trip off the ship…but I was so grateful I was able to do this…the timing couldn’t have been better. In San Diego after I got all of my luggage…two really wonderful friends from a previous cruise, Grand Asia/Australia, MaryAnn and Hank picked me up and took me over to their lovely condo…I was an emotional wreck…they treated me to dinner and margaritas downtown San Diego and then took me to the airport and I was on my way.

Once I arrived in Sacramento I came upon my brother and my father waiting for me…Oh my goodness..as soon as I saw them I knew I was about to collapse…and that is exactly what I did. I gave my dad the biggest hug ever and I completely melted in his arms. I had nothing left inside of me…I was physically, emotionally, mentally absolutely exhausted. kaput. My dad just held me…and I cried and laughed and cried…and he did the same.                        Then big brother gave me a big hug as well! Ahh this was going to be an OVERWHELMING special trip.

All in all it was a beautiful time to spend with all of my family on my mothers side….yes, it was incredibly overwhelming but I’m so pleased it was able to happen. Grandpa…may he rest in peace, I love you so much and so happy I was able to see you in December with my dear friend, Aris. I will never forget. xoxo

Seeing my baby cousins and other cousins I had never even met or hadn’t seen in so many years…we were all re-united and able to start fresh new relationships…family really is so special to me. Oh my goodness and all of the first, second, third cousins….there’s so many of us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love my family so much…they are so important to me…and I feel so blessed to have such a loving family as I do.

 

It doesn’t get much better than all of this LOVE!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are family!

Once the family gatherings were over….duty still called. I needed to hop on a plane again and set back to Seattle to re-join the cruise ship so I could finish strong with a few Alaskan Cruises. Once I arrived in Seattle I was swarmed with yet another blessing of LOVE!! By my dear friends, Kevin and Nick.

Re-united and it feels so good! They were lovely enough to let me stay with them at their place in Seattle…so I could get loaded up with oodles of more love. I’m telling you this was one of the most overwhelming experiences ever…I felt so much love and I didn’t know how to react so I would just smile and laugh and cry all at the same time. Ahhh such marvelous people I am surrounded by.

And then it was time….time to go back to the ship to finish off my contract strong with 14-day Alaskan cruises. So they had a proper send off for me….again, full of love and goodness. Dropping me off back to the office!! Love you guys…you are part of my family…I shall always keep you near and dear to my heart…and that goes with my blood family…I love you all dearly and feel so pleased to have you in my life.