day 0 - Flying to Anchorage, AK

July 4th, 2005




How all these begin?

Last fall we chat with Feco about our travel "dreams" in the US. We came up with Alaska, The Last Frontier. We decided
that this is our chance, so we have to go. We had to start the bookings in time: cabin, car, air ticket..
Finally we became a team of 4 and the funny thing that 3 of them had Szabi as given name:))





We flew from Buffalo to O'Hare and from there we had to fly 5-6 hours to Anchorage




Alaska was sold by the Russians for 7.2 million in 1867, which means less than 2 cents per acres. At that time journalists
called this state as 'Seward's Icebox' (after William H. Seward who bought the land as the Secretary of State) or
"frozen wasteland". With all the resources Alaska provided for the lower 48, they wouldn't do that today:))
Alaska is the 49th. Its name came from the native word of Alakshak, which means huge area or peninsula.
Alaska is the second largest state with around 620,000 residents. If NYC's Manhattan Island would be populated
with the same density, only 16 people would live there. You can find 17 of the 20 highest peaks of North America here,
and about 5000 glaciers too.




State Flag




Feco drove me to Buffalo International..




I show you that we prepared for the trip..




E.g. this is for dinner of two..:))




I had to wait couple hours in Chicago.. This is Edward Henry "Butch" O'Hare captain's airplane




I found a pretty good exhibition on the airport..There were photos of families from different parts of the world with all they have




Funny..a bicycle or 4 cars? What makes the difference? I guess where you born, not the human..




3 of us met in Chicago, but KSZM came from Minneapolis..
They left with United, I took off 15 minutes later with American towards our Alaskan dream:))





I already saw 5 glaciers from the plane..








These lakes were seen around Anchorage before landing




Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport!




Bear hunters before action..:))
We heard on CNN that a bear killed a couple in Alaska just a week before our trip..




We upgraded our rental car, because the Cavalier would have been too small




We spent our first and then our last nights in the Spenard Hostelben..It was very good, recommended!! (http://www.alaskahostel.org)




Reception




For 3 hour-work you get a free nite...someone wants only the night:))




Our room




Lobbies









No shoes in da houz




Bicycle rental is possible




It was time for a good dinner..




Before we picked up the 3rd Szabi at the airport we checked out the view of the Cook inlet.
Some nice opinion about Anchorage (according to Lonely Planet):
"Anchorage is great; it's only 20 minutes from Alaska", or "a beer can in the wilderness".




We picked up Szabi at Ted Stevens International and after that watched the fireworks..




Forward to day 1 to see the halibuts of Homer..

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