We woke up and noticed out the window of our hotel room that some kind of event was taking place. There were rows and rows of small white tents and lots of people heading that way. Al, Robin, and I investigated. It was a craft fair and the tents were actually booths where native and non-native Alaskans displayed their goods. Besides the native American presence in Anchorage there is also a Russian influence here. Stores in town and booths here sell Russian wares, including Babushka doll sets and it is common to hear Russian accents around town. Russian dancers were performing while we walked around the fair. Two other noticeable influences in town and here are fish and furs. Normal restaurant fare includes halibut, salmon, and crab, all locally caught. Halibut and chips is common fare. We were also amazed at the number of stores and booths at the fair that were selling furs and leather goods. All these influences were represented at the craft fair. Here are a few photos taken at the fair.
Craft and Music Fair - Anchorage, Alaska - 2007
Biker at craft and music fair in Anchorage.
Musicians at craft fair in Anchorage.
Craft and music fair on Saturday, July 21, 2007.
Alaska is known to still have an abundance of salmon, five different species. That influence is currently being featured by a display spread all over town of decorated and painted salmon figures. Here are a few representative photos of the display.
**Salmon Display
In the evening we went for a walk along a local creek laced with fishermen. We viewed magpie, beaver, and hundreds of salmon heading up stream to spawn before they die. Salmon return to the stream from which they hatched to spawn. So, as these lives were ending, new life was beginning.
Salmon Run
Magpie
Sunset in Anchorage
