Little Diomete

Well talk about a contrast. Seeing both was great.

WALES was pretty clean, all the people seemed well educated many had traveled to other parts of Alaska and some to the lower states of the USA. All the girls I talked with had jobs and people arrived around lunchtime that had obviously been working they had on cold water coveralls. All the families were scooting around on four wheel all teraine vehicles. Cannot imagine living there but would take that any day over Little Diomete.

As we approached Little Diomete in our zodiacs I could not believe that a community lived here. A tiny spit of land against sheer cliffs. We got off the zodiacs onto timbers and rocks. I nearly stepped on a walrus carcass. That would not have been pleasant. Polar bears come when the water is frozen and they did have polar bear skins and skulls around the town.

The town was built with a synthetic and metal walkway up the hill between all the very small houses. The local people acted as guides took us around. It gave the impression of being years behind the progress of Wales. I asked our guide if she had ever been to Wales and she said “I do not know any of those people. Our people do not travel”

There were a lot of racks for drying seal meat and skins and lots and lots of garbage. Rusting tractors on the beach, old broken down snowmobiles. There was a military building and a nice new school where they performed more dancing for us. There were two new wooden houses that had running water all the rest get it from a stream that comes down the mountain. One general store. They get mail once a week if the weather is good enough. Many of the houses looked like they were about to fall down.

Steve asked what she did for a living. She said she looks after her two girls. Her girls were adorable at 5 and 3 and dressed alike. So he asked what did her husband does for a living. She did not understand so Steve asked what her husband does when he wakes in the morning. She explained he visits with friends and plays with the girls. So I guess that means he has no job. She said a few people work in the general store and they used to be able to rent videos so those people worked but they moved away. So it appears a few work and the rest just live. Teachers are bought in to teach in the school. In the winter time she said they do go ice fishing, but in the summer they do not go fishing. They also do some crabbing in pots. They eat bird eggs and the birds.

Kids and dogs everywhere. The older children were definitely wanting to interact and the little ones were really looking us over. A little girl of 3 kept hugging everyone. Little kids just grab your hearts all around the world. The little “hugger” said to Alice “BOAT”. Alice told her she did not have on any shoes so she could not go on the boat. She ran off to come back later find Alice and show Alice she now had her shoes on and said BOAT?

I really enjoyed today and particularly the contrast between the two communities. All the people were friendly in both communities and welcomed us very warmly and seemed pleased that we were there. It was a delightful day.

The three Russians we bought over to Little Diomete and fed them with a Silversea lunch wanted to show their appreciation. So when all the zodiacs came back they got in the water for their practice swim. One Australian passenger was joining them but he did not last long in the water. They did not have on any wet suits just swim suits and bare skin. They played around like they were swimming in the Caribbean. BIG guys.

The international date line is right between Little Diomete and Big Diomete. Little Diomete is the USA and Big Diomete is Russian. The only community on the Russian Big Diomete is a military station. The Russians will probably make the swim tomorrow between the two islands and cross the international date line.

So tomorrow we have a dog sled ride and panning for gold. Muskox are in town the customs man said about 100 of them are in town right now. Hopefully we will get to see them.