Today, I went on an escorted tour in Skagway. Madam Shirley Wood from the Red Onion Saloon showed me around the small town.
Skagway Alaska.
My leg was very sore when I woke up this morning, and I wasn't looking forward to my tour of Skagway because of the pain. I had considered not going but decided to go as I probably won't get back here ever again. Before I did anything else onboard today, I went for an acupuncture session. I had needles and electrotherapy treatment to my back, legs, shoulders, knees and even my skull. It definitely started to ease the pain in my knees, and after some breakfast, I was ready for my short tour into Skagway.
When I got off the ship, I was met by a lady dressed up as a Madam from the Red Onion Saloon and Brothel. Her name, very cleverly, was Shirley Wood. While waiting for other people who were going to be on the walking tour, I stood and talked to the beautiful young lady. She was originally from New York and was a trained actress. Her parents were originally from Brighton in Hampshire, close to where I used to live in Fareham. We chatted for a while until the other guests all arrived for the tour, and she then went back into character as Madam Shirley Wood.
We boarded a small bus for the very short ride into Skagway. When we got off the bus, Madam Shirley Wood walked us around Skagway, telling us all about its history, the history of the buildings, and the people who lived there. The tour only lasted a couple of hours but was probably one of the most interesting walking tours I have ever been on. Our guide told us the sad history of the people who came to Skagway during the gold rush looking to make their fortune and of the girls who worked in the brothels and streets.
Our last stop was at the Red Onion Saloon, but as we had paid for the tour, we were also taken upstairs into the brothel. Once again, we were told all about its history and about the people who had run it, worked there or owned it. I was amazed by how small the rooms and the beds were. People must have been a lot smaller in the days when it was a thriving business. I was also surprised how much of the original building has been kept as it was. It hasn't been restored, and you can still see the original wallpaper in parts and feel the wind blowing through the gaps between the boards of the wall.
When we had been shown through the brothel, we went down into the Red Onion Saloon below, where you can still get a meal or a drink. I settled for a t-shirt and then took a slow walk back to the ship.
This evening, I ate in one of the ship's buffets rather than go to one of the restaurants, and afterwards, I sat in the Local Bar talking to a man from Hawaii. He was very pleasant, and he introduced me to his wife. She later invited me to go with her and a group of her girlfriends on another cruise later in the year, but I had to decline as I didn't know where I would be when they went. After several beers, I went back to my cabin to sleep at around 10 pm.