Kodiak, AlaskaWelcome to Alaska's Emerald Isle. Twenty thousand years ago most of the 5,000 square mile Kodiak Archipelago was covered by glaciers that scored and carved the landscape. Jagged peaks, fjord-like bays, and wide U-shaped valleys were left by the glacial retreat. Nature’s handiwork created a place of spectacular scenic beauty and a wilderness ideally suited for abundant land and marine life. At times the elements and the environment can be harsh and unrelenting, but for those 
who love Kodiak, it is simply a reminder that nature is in charge; lives and livelihoods must adapt. The reward is a unique lifestyle in an island paradise. More manly men up here....fish and fish and more fishing. Buba is excited about his ATV/4wheeler fishing trip on Friday. Yep they load the wheeler's up in the truck and take off for wherever and jump on the 4 wheelers till they find the BEST fishing spot. Buba has his eye on this unique vehicle-a 48 Ford with a "custom home" built right on the back. "Where can I order one!" A perfect fit for him. Still haven't been to a facialist so I am still on the hunt. Buba remarked, give it up. Maybe that towel o
ver the head of boiling water will have to do- or I can go to the Banya (Sweat Lodge)-this is the Native American version of the group sauna. The seminary has one....what does one wear to a seminary Banya?
who love Kodiak, it is simply a reminder that nature is in charge; lives and livelihoods must adapt. The reward is a unique lifestyle in an island paradise. More manly men up here....fish and fish and more fishing. Buba is excited about his ATV/4wheeler fishing trip on Friday. Yep they load the wheeler's up in the truck and take off for wherever and jump on the 4 wheelers till they find the BEST fishing spot. Buba has his eye on this unique vehicle-a 48 Ford with a "custom home" built right on the back. "Where can I order one!" A perfect fit for him. Still haven't been to a facialist so I am still on the hunt. Buba remarked, give it up. Maybe that towel o
ver the head of boiling water will have to do- or I can go to the Banya (Sweat Lodge)-this is the Native American version of the group sauna. The seminary has one....what does one wear to a seminary Banya?Visitors come to Kodiak to experience a wildness that is unmatched in few places on the earth. Even cruise ships are stopping here! Mostly the visitors come to step away from civilization and .jpg)
rediscover nature in its purest, unruined form. No t-shirt shops. Buba said, by the look of the condition of the speed limit signs these boys aren't much for authority-pretty much they are all shot up. I guess you can't get enough target practice in. Other than the ring of the shot guns, you can really appreciate silence broken only by the eagle or a loon. It is a place to rest weary eyes and quiet your nerves with the motion of water and color of trees-that emerald green thing again. And it is a place where the designs of man yield completely to the demands of the environment. Seraphina reminded us EVERYTHING revolves around the weather.
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rediscover nature in its purest, unruined form. No t-shirt shops. Buba said, by the look of the condition of the speed limit signs these boys aren't much for authority-pretty much they are all shot up. I guess you can't get enough target practice in. Other than the ring of the shot guns, you can really appreciate silence broken only by the eagle or a loon. It is a place to rest weary eyes and quiet your nerves with the motion of water and color of trees-that emerald green thing again. And it is a place where the designs of man yield completely to the demands of the environment. Seraphina reminded us EVERYTHING revolves around the weather.Kodiak's first settlers were the Alutiiq, a thriving hunting and gathering community. We visited the Alutiqu Museum. This is a photo of an Akhiok boy in traditional Alutiiq 
clothing, courtesy the Alutiiq Museum. Anthropologists classify the Alutiiq as an Eskimo people, as their culture and language are most closely related to those of the Yup'ik and Inupiaq. In prehistoric times, the Alutiiq shared many items of technology with other northern coastal peoples. They built sod houses which were lit by stone oil lamps. They hunted sea mammals from skin covered kayaks equipped with sophisticated harpoons. They wore waterproof clothing stitched from seal intestines, beach grass, and sinew. Additionally, the Alutiiq speak Alutiiq, one of six Eskimo languages. Many of the seminarians are Alutiq-15 in training, living here along with their wives and 35 kids. Many come from villages with no electric or plumbing. This is the first time most of the wives have seen a wash machine and some don't like it..."it beats up our clothes". Good point. Seraphina also had to dismantle the toilet in one room-the little boy never saw one and had a ball flushing, flushing and flushing. He couldn't figure out where "everything" went!
clothing, courtesy the Alutiiq Museum. Anthropologists classify the Alutiiq as an Eskimo people, as their culture and language are most closely related to those of the Yup'ik and Inupiaq. In prehistoric times, the Alutiiq shared many items of technology with other northern coastal peoples. They built sod houses which were lit by stone oil lamps. They hunted sea mammals from skin covered kayaks equipped with sophisticated harpoons. They wore waterproof clothing stitched from seal intestines, beach grass, and sinew. Additionally, the Alutiiq speak Alutiiq, one of six Eskimo languages. Many of the seminarians are Alutiq-15 in training, living here along with their wives and 35 kids. Many come from villages with no electric or plumbing. This is the first time most of the wives have seen a wash machine and some don't like it..."it beats up our clothes". Good point. Seraphina also had to dismantle the toilet in one room-the little boy never saw one and had a ball flushing, flushing and flushing. He couldn't figure out where "everything" went!
