Fairbanks

Light Pole in North Pole

Marilyn meets North Pole

Today we were in Fairbanks and general environs. I want to come back in the winter and try to photograph aurora borealis. We went to the University of Alaska Museum of the North today. They had exquisite artwork, items made by the Inuit, animals of Alaska and amazing videos. We watched the video on aurora borealis, and it was exceptional. It explained the science behind the magnetic fields and aurora borealis and borealis australias. The two are mirror images because of the magnetic fields of the earth. http://www.uaf.edu/museum/

Then to follow the beautiful culture and art, we went to North Pole for some kitsch. Yes, there is a North Pole, Alaska. They have candy cane street lamp posts, there are Santas everywhere. Some streets eschew the candy cane lamp posts in favor of year-round decorations.

Back in Fairbanks, we shopped at Material Girls fabric shop for Marilyn to have some fabric for her krewe outfit. She and Aubrey are members of Krewe de Kincaid as part of Mardi Gras in Alexandria. The 2012 theme is bears, so where better than Alaska to find good bear fabric?

Tonight we dined at Big Daddy’s Barbecue (a Guy Fieri feature). The food was very good. The cornbread was sweet and cake-like, which is a disappointment for us southern girls. Then when we walked out of the restaurant, it was pouring. But from the west, the sun was shining brightly. I got some good rainbow photos.

We returned the rental car, and are now readying for bed. Tomorrow morning we go to the train station at 7:30, and face a 12 hour ride on the train. I expect fanny fatigue to be very great by the time we arrive back at the Ship Creek Comfort Inn.