Watching the Fur Rondy parade At the end of February, Tim went to Anchorage to attend the ASTE conference. ASTE is the Alaska Society for Technology in Education. Since Tim had a hotel room to himself and I could bring my work with me (mothering Kaylee), and we had some airline miles we could use to get a plane ticket, he talked me into tagging along.
The timing couldn't have been better. The conference was at the same time as Fur Rendezvous, known as Fur Rondy. It is a 10-day winter festival held in Anchorage every February. It was started in the 1930s to give the residents of Alaska some social fun and was scheduled to coincide with when the trappers and miners came to town with their yields. Since then it has grown bigger and more popular. So while Tim worked each day, Kaylee and I took advantage of all the festivities.
Saturday, Feb 21, we attended the parade, which was right outside our hotel. I have never been to a colder parade in my life. We were completely bundled up, winter coats, hats, gloves, and still freezing. I found it amusing to look around at all of us "crazy Alaskans" who will come out to a parade in freezing temperatures just for fun. I'm glad I wasn't marching in the parade; some of the uniforms and outfits didn't look very warm. I think most people who march in parades worry about overheating, not hypothermia.
The timing couldn't have been better. The conference was at the same time as Fur Rendezvous, known as Fur Rondy. It is a 10-day winter festival held in Anchorage every February. It was started in the 1930s to give the residents of Alaska some social fun and was scheduled to coincide with when the trappers and miners came to town with their yields. Since then it has grown bigger and more popular. So while Tim worked each day, Kaylee and I took advantage of all the festivities.
Saturday, Feb 21, we attended the parade, which was right outside our hotel. I have never been to a colder parade in my life. We were completely bundled up, winter coats, hats, gloves, and still freezing. I found it amusing to look around at all of us "crazy Alaskans" who will come out to a parade in freezing temperatures just for fun. I'm glad I wasn't marching in the parade; some of the uniforms and outfits didn't look very warm. I think most people who march in parades worry about overheating, not hypothermia.
Later that afternoon Kaylee and I went to an ice skating performance at the university. I had never been to one before. The skills levels of the performers ranged from beginner to world-class. It was a lot of fun to watch, but we had to leave before the final number was over because Kaylee had enough.
Alaska is a small state: not geographically, but socially. When we returned from the ice skating performance and got back to our hotel room, I looked out of the window just in time to see our former neighbor/coworker from Togiak crossing the street. I wasn't quick enough to open the window and yell down to Mike, but I texted him and he came to visit us that evening. This was not the first time that we have run into someone who lives in Alaska, but hundreds of miles away from us.
Alaska is a small state: not geographically, but socially. When we returned from the ice skating performance and got back to our hotel room, I looked out of the window just in time to see our former neighbor/coworker from Togiak crossing the street. I wasn't quick enough to open the window and yell down to Mike, but I texted him and he came to visit us that evening. This was not the first time that we have run into someone who lives in Alaska, but hundreds of miles away from us.
Blanket Toss Sunday we attended church with Kaylee's birth family. We love being able to see them and stay in touch with them.
That afternoon we walked around downtown and found ourselves in the middle of a full-on carnival, with rides and funnel cakes and everything. I laughed to myself as I watched the kids all bundled up in their winter coats waiting in line for a ride and then trying to get buckled into the ride with all those puffy extra layers on.
We were able to watch the blanket toss while at the carnival. A native man was there with a big blanket made out of leather. It was constructed and used a lot like the parachutes we used to play with in elementary school. The man would yell for volunteers to pull until there were enough people surrounding the blanket and holding onto it. He would then make them practice saying 1, 2, 3, together and pulling on the blanket on each count. He then let the kids line up and one by one they climbed on the blanket and were tossed high into the air on "3".
That afternoon we walked around downtown and found ourselves in the middle of a full-on carnival, with rides and funnel cakes and everything. I laughed to myself as I watched the kids all bundled up in their winter coats waiting in line for a ride and then trying to get buckled into the ride with all those puffy extra layers on.
We were able to watch the blanket toss while at the carnival. A native man was there with a big blanket made out of leather. It was constructed and used a lot like the parachutes we used to play with in elementary school. The man would yell for volunteers to pull until there were enough people surrounding the blanket and holding onto it. He would then make them practice saying 1, 2, 3, together and pulling on the blanket on each count. He then let the kids line up and one by one they climbed on the blanket and were tossed high into the air on "3".
We were able to meet up with Kim, another former neighbor/coworker from Togiak for dinner. We decided to eat at the City Diner. I always want to eat there, but then I'm disappointed in the food. They do have really good brownie sundaes though and it's a bit nostalgic. City Diner was the first restaurant that Kaylee ever went to-she was just days old at the time-and we ate brownie sundaes.
Monday I took Kaylee shopping. One thing about living in the bush is you have to take advantage of your shopping opportunities when they come. Afterward we headed to the zoo. I don't know why, but I've always wanted to go to the Anchorage Zoo. I pretended we were going for Kaylee, but really we were going for me. Unfortunately it was on 10 degrees Fahrenheit at the zoo and we were freezing. The zoo was nearly empty and of course all outdoors. Kaylee cried much of the time, I'm sure because she was too cold. My fingers and toes felt like they would fall off. Kaylee did like the snow leopard though and it was cool to see some polar bears.
We had lunch at McDonalds. Kaylee had never been there before and it was fun to order her a happy meal. Although she only ate some fries and that was about it. When we got back to the hotel I took her swimming in the pool. It was also her first time in a pool. She seemed a bit nervous. I'm not sure if it was the size of the pool or that she didn't like the cold water, but we had a great time playing in the hot tub.
Monday I took Kaylee shopping. One thing about living in the bush is you have to take advantage of your shopping opportunities when they come. Afterward we headed to the zoo. I don't know why, but I've always wanted to go to the Anchorage Zoo. I pretended we were going for Kaylee, but really we were going for me. Unfortunately it was on 10 degrees Fahrenheit at the zoo and we were freezing. The zoo was nearly empty and of course all outdoors. Kaylee cried much of the time, I'm sure because she was too cold. My fingers and toes felt like they would fall off. Kaylee did like the snow leopard though and it was cool to see some polar bears.
We had lunch at McDonalds. Kaylee had never been there before and it was fun to order her a happy meal. Although she only ate some fries and that was about it. When we got back to the hotel I took her swimming in the pool. It was also her first time in a pool. She seemed a bit nervous. I'm not sure if it was the size of the pool or that she didn't like the cold water, but we had a great time playing in the hot tub.
Tuesday we went with Kim to see the ice sculptures. I think anyone in the community can enter the contest. There were about 20 sculptures and they ranged from dragons, mammoths, and bears.
