DAy 22-23 - July 6-7

Days 22-23 - July 6-7

Visiting Anchorage has been a passive experience. Slow days, no hurry, trying to stay warm and dry, until today when the sun, blue skies, and puffy white clouds have visited us this afternoon. Who knew 60 degrees could be hot. I have sought shade to sit and write this missive. It's so nice to be outside and warm.

Section of Cloister Garden

St Patrick Church - sanctuary 

Water fountain in Cloister Garden

Mary's grotto in Cloister Garden

Yesterday we did a little housekeeping, shopping, changed the oil in the car (at Sears auto care center), and went to Mass at St. Patrick parish here in Anchorage; and then treated ourselves to another movie. Guess some days we're just not your typical tourists.

St Patrick's is a beautiful, inspiring, conservatively modern facility. It holds about 500 (conservatively). 

They have built the initial phase of their Cloister Garden, which is absolutely one of the most prayer-inspiring gardens we've experienced. It is designed to encompass the Old & New Testaments. And, when it's is finished it will have stained glass, sculptures, and perhaps a roof to complete the space. Unfortunately, I can only include a few photos to try and capture the experience for you. 

Today we were determined to get going early and do some real touristy things. . . but that was not to be. Keith has been suffering with what was thought to be planter faciaitis for several weeks, which has hampered any site seeing that required much walking. The condition has only grown worse over the weeks, and finally he decided - 

(What cloud in this very blue sky has decided to rain on us. They're all white and puffy and don't look rain-like at all !! So I've retreated to the cover of Einstein.)

- to seek medical advise and perhaps a solution so we could resume our touristing. The first medical facility we visited was Providence Hospital - Anchorage, where a Dr. Dietz reviewed Keith's condition. (Hey, Brent, another cute blond female Deitz! Emily, Dr Deitz was short, like your Dad, and she was born in Alaska and knew of only one other Deitz in the state. Do you have any relatives here??) 

Can you believe this? Dr, Deitz decided we were in the wrong place and they negated all billing. No charge. Never heard of that before. She even sent us to our second facility OPA (Orthopedic Physicians of Anchorage) which has a Sunday walk-in clinic. So, four hours and two medical facilities later the diagnosis is not what he thought, but rather an aggrivated Achilles tendon, for which there is no cure. With meds in hand and instructions for exercises, we went on our way. 

Entrance to Earthquake Park -
note the "wrinkled" I-beam

View of Anchorage from Earthquake Park

We went to Earthquake Park, which commemorates the 1964 8.0+ earthquake that was centered in Anchorage. The devastation was incredible. Main street dropped 15' on average throughout the town. Valdez was devastated and the town was eventuality rebuilt 4 miles inland. Seward was also wiped out but rebuilt near its same location. (Both of these last two location we hope to see this next week. 

The park is location on the southwest section of the city, and we saw our second moose within the city limits. It lazily munched is dinner on the edge of the road while we stopped to take pictures. (Another Kodak moment).

Tomorrow we move on south to the Kenai Peninsula. Maybe the blue skies will follow us.