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Cruise West Alaska Reviews

July 19, 2006

My Nome

This week's post is submitted by John Krielkamp, Vice President of Land Operations, Cruise West.

Q: What is your connection to Nome?
A: I lived in Nome from 1978-1987.

Q: Do you have a funny story or little known fact about Nome you’d like to share?
A:I joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in '78 after graduating from Seattle University. I asked the Jesuits to send me someplace far off and romantic....they sent me to Nome.

Q: What is your favorite time of year in Nome and why?
A: Albeit it is brief....but the fall is spectacular in Nome and the surrounding Seward Peninsula. The tundra becomes a quilt of orange, red, green and yellow. This makes for memorable moose hunting, whether you bag one or not.

Q: Is there a particular food or song that reminds you of Nome?
A: Food: Moose heart, stuffed with wild rice, mushrooms and garlic. Nome Song: "Fall on me"....The Pussette-Dart Band.

Q: What is on your “must see” list for visitors when in Nome?
A: Go to the Museum and check out Marguerite Lee's picture ( Chuck's wife)...it is in the in the archives...of the Kegoyak Kozga building in Nome. Also, the Nome nugget has a picture of her stepping off the plane in Nome after being crowned the First Miss Alaska in the 30's.

Q: Do you have a favorite area of the city?
A: Front street is always pretty entertaining day or night...Nome has 12 bars and just as many churches.

Q: Is there a favorite activity that you enjoy in Nome?
A: Living in Nome as 25 years ago was pretty special....I lived in a geodesic hut, right on the beach and had a dog team...hung out with a lot of other folks that had teams as well...as fun as it was, I learned that having a team is a great way to ruin any love for dogs.

My life moment in Nome came one December evening...I was standing on the runners of my sled about 5 miles out of Nome, it was at least 20 below based on the icicles that were building on my beard and mustache, it was a crystal clear evening, and I was listening to nothing but the trot of the dogs feet on the trail as we headed for Nome under with the lights of the City glowing in the distance...within minutes, the black starlit sky came alive with the Northern Lights were dancing from one horizon to the other in several different colors.

Q: Is there a particular restaurant that you’d recommend for visitors?
A: The Moose Lips Cafe....a.k.a. the Polar Cub Cafe....it's a folksy, friendly kinda place....often people would have their left over fries brought to my table for lunch...as they knew I would eat them.

Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: Take the time to experience how others cultures live...it can give you a much better appreciation for what you have.