2014 August Trip to TX and Alaska

I went home to the USA to visit with my family and friends. My first 5 days was spent in Galveston, Texas to visit two of my sons, Jeremy and Dustin. Most of my time was spent shopping for things I wanted to take back with me to Albania, buying new clothes because my luggage got lost, and riding bikes and visiting non-stop with Jeremy and good friends. There might have been a little bit of cleaning and cooking in there too! The time was short and I didn't sleep much!

Jeremy and I 

Jeremy and I riding bikes with some friends on the Seawall. 

 Jeremy and I at my favorite place to eat....SUBWAY!!

My Dustin :)

ALASKA

The next week was spent on The Golden Princess on a cruise from Seattle, Washington to Alaska, USA. With a group of 10 people, including by best friend from Hawaii, Sonya and her two sisters, their spouses and grown children, etc. It was a great group of people to spend a week on a ship! Although I have 100's of pictures, I tried to narrow it down to a few of the best.

After a night in Seattle, Sonya and I ride the Bremerton Ferry to the cruise ship. 

And it is very big! 

So what do you do on a cruise ship? Line dance lessons... 

Fancy dinners with roommates and friends! 

 We played games and walked around the deck to watch for whales, seals, etc.

We admired and explored our new home for a week!

In Juneau, our first port, I met the family of a PCV in Albania who lives there. Such a great family! 

 Also in Juneau, I took a hike, went shopping, did internet and had dinner with Suzanne's family.

In Skagway, I did more shopping, site seeing, computer, had local rhubarb wine, etc. 

Skagway, Alaska. I helped discover it :) 

Glacier Bay is just what the name says. Lots of Glaciers. The day is on the ship looking at awesome glaciers, whales, seals, etc. 

More of Glacier Bay  

Our group photo of all 10 of us.

Dinners are always an adventure on the ship!

Ketchikan, Alaska was the last stop in Alaska. We shopped, toured, etc.

This is our final group shot with the addition of one of the sisters, we are now 11 people! 

Our final day is in Victoria, Canada. We went to the Empress Hotel for High Tea!

High Tea at the Empress Hotel, Victoria, Canada 

Between ports we fixed hair and dressed up.. 

Enjoyed live music and the beautiful ship... 

 Dressed up every night to enjoy amazing, delicious meals...

Celebrated birthdays...  

And spent quality time with my best friend in the world, Sonya :)