People are an important part of (solo) travel. You always have an opportunity to meet people who enhance your journey.

In Alaska, it went like this.

In Sitka my foodie self was revived. It was great meeting the Michener’s who created Alaska Pure Sea Salt. They make their salt in Sitka using only water from Sitka Sound with no additives or added chemicals. Their store is a beautufl and full of great, local (and not) gourmet and entertaining goods. We had a long chat about how they came to making flake salt (one of five in the world) and our love of culinary experiences. I left a hour later happy.

I was glad to find a warm, dry seat at Highliner Coffee Co. in Sitka. My corner was surrounded by photos of fisher men and women. Even better the table next to me filled with three women who have lived in Sitka for more than 40 years. Met men in Sitka or elsewhere and moved to Sitka permanently. All in the 70’s, this was their weekly catch up. Melissa, owner of the Highliner, shared stores of the gave me women fishers on the wall.

In Juneau , the GoldBelt Tram takes you 1,800 feet into the rainforest of Mount Roberts above town. I was honored to meet members of the Huna Tlingit clan who shared their culture and history with us. I was moved by their story telling. They shared the movie Seeing Daylight. I highly recommend watching this brief but authentic overview of their lives in Alaska long before the white man arrived and after. This day began reflecting on Alaskan history and first peoples.

From there I walked into town and met Filipino families selling their culinary specialties. The wonderful smell of their sweet BBQ smoke filled the air. Long lines were forming. I had just walked past the  Filipino Community Center. I didn’t know the connection between Alaska mining and the Filipino migration. Filipinos worked as ore sorters in the Alaska-Juneau Gold Mining Company and stayed in Alaska when the mine closed in 1944. Former Filipino mine workers went on to become significant fixtures in Filipino community organizations in Alaska. I had no idea and can only imagine the adjustment from weather in the Philippines to Alaska. Everyone was enjoying their food, despite the damp, cool weather.

My walk through the SeaAlaska Heritage Museum ended in their amazing gift shop. Wonderful first people’s art available for sale – jewelry, sculptures, paintings and more. An opportunity to see and buy their authentic work.

As I was leaving, Jeff Hoover, a Juneau Ambassador, walked in. We started a brief conversation about how he came to the city (lifelong Alaskan). Then talked about the impact of six cruise ships in port (easily 15,000 tourists) on one day. And I learned about the money paid by cruise lines to the city of Juneau ($50/passenger).

While historic downtown Juneau has great charm, the walk from the pier reminded me of a Mexican port with cruise ship shops selling the same tanzanite, diamond, jewelry they sell on board. For me this is always disappointing and out of place. Surrounded by the Alaskan mountains, mist, water and rainforest with so much natural beauty - just look up. Jeff agreed and shared it is an ongoing planning issue the city is trying to pull back – with citizen opinion on every side. The cruise money is earmarked for tourism (not city infrastructure or education) and is how it is spent is negotiated with the cruise lines.

I mentioned the Juneau Jazz and Classics was holding a BYOL concert by the Imani Winds at the Juneau Arts and Cultural Center. Jeff was on his way to meet his wife and granddaughter. We walked over after grabbing some clam chowder. It was an amazing, interactive and uplifting concert. When in Juneau, be sure to contact Jeff, he’s the guide to the glacier and beyond.

Side note:

In early 1990, I toured Alaska on the Alaska Marine Highway System Ferry. Not surprisingly, none of the cities I visited then look the same today. Disappointingly, they are fully prepared to welcome hundreds of thousands tourist with shops tied to cruise line stores, to many made in China trinkets and large groups of tourist buying it all. In the lower 48 while we worried about Amazon and Starbucks putting local stores out of business, Alaska has been building a tourist trade that has left behind some first people and the character of the places built by early fishermen, miners and hunters. I preferred it before – enough info to learn about the locals and town with the charm of the past.

Be sure to take opportunities to meet people from near and far. Find places to chat, share a coffee or a meal. As well as quiet spaces to read, watch people and relax. The people you meet when traveling make a difference. You share an experience differently and see the world from a different point of view.  

Good, bad or indifferent it’s an opportunity to engage. As a solo nomad, it is important that I stay connected to those close to me but far away and connect to real people nearby. Some have become friends others not so much. The ability to be our true selves and meet people who do the same is a gift.